Tips on forwarding mail

[TJLAMPHERE]

We leave for TV in one week. We rent in one location till March 1, then move to another location for the rest of the month.

Last year, my forwarded mail attempt was a disaster.

Any tips on how to make the process go smoothly???

I do know not to put both requests through at the same time. The USPS informed me of that after the fact.

[retiredguy123]

I would suggest you set up an account at USPS.com. Then, you can rent a PO Box at a post office close to your rental location, forward your mail to the box, and pick up your mail there.

[TJLAMPHERE]

I would suggest you set up an account at USPS.com. Then, you can rent a PO Box at a post office close to your rental location, forward your mail to the box, and pick up your mail there.

Closest Post Office is over in Lady Lake....not real convenient. Should be a smooth way to get my mail at the mail boxes 1/4 mile from my villa.

[DAIII]

Try PREMIUM FORWARDING. About 20 a week... your local PO will box up your weekly mail and send it in a box 2 day mail to your temp location.

Works great -- but $$$$

Best to find what you get monthly and move to EMAIL!

[dewilson58]

If we are gone for a short period (<2weeks), we tell "the postal person" at our station we will be gone and he will set aside our mail until we return.

[TJLAMPHERE]

Try PREMIUM FORWARDING. About 20 a week... your local PO will box up your weekly mail and send it in a box 2 day mail to your temp location.

Works great -- but $$$$

Best to find what you get monthly and move to EMAIL!

That is probably the best option....but...it would cost me about $ 240. I am looking for a no cost way to forward my mail...which should be an option the USPS both offers and can do with minimal disruption. Am I asking too much ???

[TJLAMPHERE]

If we are gone for a short period (<2weeks), we tell "the postal person" at our station we will be gone and he will set aside our mail until we return.

I will be gone for about 12 weeks, so won't work for me. The majority of my payments are via Direct Debit, but not all. And for my Medicare and other insurance claims, I get hard copy benefit payment information via the mail, and I do want those.

[dewilson58]

I will be gone for about 12 weeks, so won't work for me. The majority of my payments are via Direct Debit, but not all. And for my Medicare and other insurance claims, I get hard copy benefit payment information via the mail, and I do want those.
ask your postal person........he/she might have a larger box

give your key to a neighbor.

[photo1902]

ask your postal person........he/she might have a larger box

give your key to a neighbor.

Both of which are excellent suggestions

[TJLAMPHERE]

Both of which are excellent suggestions

The thing is, I kind of look forward to getting mail, and enjoy stopping by the mail boxes near my villa rental to pick up mail...kind of keeps me connected with home....if that makes any sense.

[retiredguy123]

Have you signed up for the USPS Informed Delivery service on USPS.com? They will send you email copies of your mail before it arrives in your box. It's a free service.

[SIRE1]

This is the reply I gave to a similar question to mail forwarding. We are snowbirds, in The Villages for 5 months and in Michigan 7 months but the same things apply whether it if for 3 months or 5 months. Based on our experience, I have some recommendations for mail forwarding.

First, set up either email delivery of many of your bills (e.g. credit cards, cable, utilities) or set up Electronic Fund Transfer to automatically pay for them without relying on the mail. The forwarding process is sometimes very slow and bills may not arrive before the due date.

Second, use the US Post Office web site to enter your forwarding request. Using the web site cost $1 but at least you know it was entered and the dates and forwarding address are correct. We used to send in the post card, which is free, but had some bad experiences when the info was entered into their computer incorrectly. By using the web site at least you will know what is entered into the post office computer system. It always amazes me that it cost me money for saving the post office from doing something they have to pay someone else to do, but that is the process.

Third, set your start and stop dates with enough lead time for mail that will be in the pipeline. We usually set the START forwarding date about 5 days before we leave. That way, any mail that has already been processed will arrive before we leave. And STOP forwarding about 10 days before you plan to leave. That way any mail that has already been processed and directed to the new address will arrive before you leave. It really does take around 10 days or so for forwarded mail to arrive vs. the 2-3 days for mail sent directly to the new address.

Fourth, for mail that you expect to receive on a regular basis (e.g. credit cards, cable TV, utilities, bank statements) , use their company web site and change your address on their Profile page. That way, this mail will be sent directly to your new address and avoid the long forwarding lead time delay. Then, before you return, use the company web site and change your address back. And remember, even though you submit a forwarding request to the post office, in addition to the junk mail that won't be forwarded, they also do NOT forward certain financial related mail. For instance, some of the income tax statements are not forwarded (learned this the hard way when we first became snow birds). So these must either have the address changed on the company's web site or you have to print on your computer. Also, new and reissued credit cards are not forwarded, even though they are mailed in a regular looking envelope. So if you are expecting tax statements, newly issued credit cards, or even new books of checks, you must use the web site to change your mailing address.

Also, be aware that the post office will only forward magazines for a month or 2 (can't remember what it is but it is not long). So if you are going to be gone longer than that, make sure you go to the company web site and change your address on their Profile page or contact them by phone. That way, this mail will be sent directly to your new address. Then, before you return, use the company web site or phone again and change your address back.

Finally, Remember, if you change your address on a credit card web site, the new zip code is your address. We have a credit card that always requires me to enter my zip code at the pump when I get gas, and I have to remember which zip code to use.

Hope this gives you some advice.

[photo1902]

The thing is, I kind of look forward to getting mail, and enjoy stopping by the mail boxes near my villa rental to pick up mail...kind of keeps me connected with home....if that makes any sense.

Totally makes sense. Hopefully you’ll find a happy medium :)

[TJLAMPHERE]

This is the reply I gave to a similar question to mail forwarding. We are snowbirds, in The Villages for 5 months and in Michigan 7 months but the same things apply whether it if for 3 months or 5 months. Based on our experience, I have some recommendations for mail forwarding.

First, set up either email delivery of many of your bills (e.g. credit cards, cable, utilities) or set up Electronic Fund Transfer to automatically pay for them without relying on the mail. The forwarding process is sometimes very slow and bills may not arrive before the due date.

Second, use the US Post Office web site to enter your forwarding request. Using the web site cost $1 but at least you know it was entered and the dates and forwarding address are correct. We used to send in the post card, which is free, but had some bad experiences when the info was entered into their computer incorrectly. By using the web site at least you will know what is entered into the post office computer system. It always amazes me that it cost me money for saving the post office from doing something they have to pay someone else to do, but that is the process.

Third, set your start and stop dates with enough lead time for mail that will be in the pipeline. We usually set the START forwarding date about 5 days before we leave. That way, any mail that has already been processed will arrive before we leave. And STOP forwarding about 10 days before you plan to leave. That way any mail that has already been processed and directed to the new address will arrive before you leave. It really does take around 10 days or so for forwarded mail to arrive vs. the 2-3 days for mail sent directly to the new address.

Fourth, for mail that you expect to receive on a regular basis (e.g. credit cards, cable TV, utilities, bank statements) , use their company web site and change your address on their Profile page. That way, this mail will be sent directly to your new address and avoid the long forwarding lead time delay. Then, before you return, use the company web site and change your address back. And remember, even though you submit a forwarding request to the post office, in addition to the junk mail that won't be forwarded, they also do NOT forward certain financial related mail. For instance, some of the income tax statements are not forwarded (learned this the hard way when we first became snow birds). So these must either have the address changed on the company's web site or you have to print on your computer. Also, new and reissued credit cards are not forwarded, even though they are mailed in a regular looking envelope. So if you are expecting tax statements, newly issued credit cards, or even new books of checks, you must use the web site to change your mailing address.

Also, be aware that the post office will only forward magazines for a month or 2 (can't remember what it is but it is not long). So if you are going to be gone longer than that, make sure you go to the company web site and change your address on their Profile page or contact them by phone. That way, this mail will be sent directly to your new address. Then, before you return, use the company web site or phone again and change your address back.

Finally, Remember, if you change your address on a credit card web site, the new zip code is your address. We have a credit card that always requires me to enter my zip code at the pump when I get gas, and I have to remember which zip code to use.

Hope this gives you some advice.

THANKS !!!!! These tips are very helpful. I will use them and hopefully, a much easier forwarding process than in the past....the $ 1 will be money well spent.

Last year, we had a heckuva time with our forwarded mail. I ended up having to go over to the Lady Lake P.O. and find out what happened. I didn't get mail anyplace for about 2 weeks, then in a couple of days, it all caught up and I got a couple of weeks worth of mail in a matter of a couple of days. And part of my problem is that I change rental units while I am in TV, so we have to have 2 Change of Addresses. And last year, for the second forwarding order, I did it from my Villages Rental 1 to my Villages Rental 2, instead of my home address in NY to my Villages Rental 2....but this year, I hope it will go more smoothly....and again, thanks for the helpful tips!!!

[thelegges]

Op who takes care of your home? 95% of our bills is emailed. What is left our caretaker other than junk mail puts in a priority box send every 3-4 weeks. It’s tax time and it’s worth the $8 a month

[TJLAMPHERE]

Family watches the house. Your option would work. Informed Delivery is a plus.

[thelegges]

Family watches the house. Your option would work. Informed Delivery is a plus.

Pics are sent of mail, I tell them what to box, and when. If you are changing residents here, it’s the best option. If we forward it’s a 4-6 week turnaround. Once a month priority is faster

[bowlingal]

have someone from your hometown fed-ex your mail to you once a week

[Alaska Butch]

On he cheap just forward to general delivery to po of your choice. Go pick it up. Suggest earlier for shorter line.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

My suggestion would be to get a PO box outside of the villages in the closest town, and because we are moving there I'm not sure what the closest town is but I think it is Leesburg. I would get a post office box with everything going to one location and that way you wouldn't have to keep worrying about it not showing up to where you're moving.

[Dotneko]

We are on week 7 of our mail not being forwarded from our box in Massachusetts to our box in Wildwood.
I waited on hold for 2.5 hours to speak with someone at the USPS. They started an investigation and the local
MA post office called. They told me the info was entered incorrectly in their system and they would now forward
my mail. That was December 23. Guess what? STILL no mail from MA in my FL box.

[Girlcopper]

The thing is, I kind of look forward to getting mail, and enjoy stopping by the mail boxes near my villa rental to pick up mail...kind of keeps me connected with home....if that makes any sense.
I think you need to do the way that gets you your mail regularly rather than convenience. Rent a box and take the drive every few days

[Singerlady]

That is probably the best option....but...it would cost me about $ 240. I am looking for a no cost way to forward my mail...which should be an option the USPS both offers and can do with minimal disruption. Am I asking too much ???
Sign up for delivery on your medical bills, etc. Then buy a small, travel printer and print them out. A lot easier than trying to chase them down in the mail.

[ribil]

Last year, all the Christmas cards we sent out to our snowbird friends were returned as undeliverable. You would think that if there was an order to forward their mail from the TV address to their hometown, then that should have happened. Was ALL their TV mail returned to the senders?

[Cranford61]

We leave for TV in one week. We rent in one location till March 1, then move to another location for the rest of the month.

Last year, my forwarded mail attempt was a disaster.

Any tips on how to make the process go smoothly???

I do know not to put both requests through at the same time. The USPS informed me of that after the fact.
I suggest you just move here and have one address.

[njbchbum]

We leave for TV in one week. We rent in one location till March 1, then move to another location for the rest of the month.

Last year, my forwarded mail attempt was a disaster.

Any tips on how to make the process go smoothly???

I do know not to put both requests through at the same time. The USPS informed me of that after the fact.

Because of your short time frame I suggest you go to your local PO and ask their mail forwarding Rep or Postmaster for their recommendation.

We use premium mail forwarding ($20 setup and $20/wk on a charge card). You would likely just have to change your delivery address one or rwo weeks prior to your relocation - but your PO Rep can best advise on that. From NJ it is taking about one week between forwarding and delivery. And we only hafta go to pick up mail once a week!

[Debboguch50]

Do you have any friends that live here permanently? If so check to see if you can forward to the their address! I am not sure if you can do this?

[Janet1946]

We came down to Florida in October this year and are still having problems getting our bills forwarded. This is the first year we’ve had any problems at all.