Mail forwarding problem
 

We have been having our mail forwarded to Ohio for the last few weeks while we came back to load more furniture. Since we will now be full time in TV I am trying to stop the forwarding process while we are in transit so that it doesn't go back and forth. We live in Fenney so I called the Wildwood Post Office and they said to call Lady Lake, that number has been busy since 9:00 AM and still is. I tried to stop it on line but I need the forwarding confirmation number that I cannot find. Does anyone know how I can do this? I also just sent an e-mail to USPS customer service asking for advice, when I clicked send it stated unable to process at this time, try later. I called the USPS customer service number and after going through the entire computerized process was told the hold time is over one hour. I can't believe how hard it is to make a simple change. Please help if you can, maybe one or more of you used to work for USPS. Thanks Nick.

Based on my experience, multiple changes really confuse the system. If I were you, I would do nothing. Ask your Ohio Post Office to hold any mail. After a reasonable time, call them and arrange for someone to pick it up. I've done this to the point that I'm on a first name basis with the old (North) P.O. folks.
If you are expecting something important, call the sender, explain the situation and request it be sent to you via email.

What I'm trying to accomplish is not having my TV mail forwarded to Ohio and then have Ohio forward it back down here. By the time I get my bills I'll be late in paying them.

We have had similar problems in the past. We drove directly to Lady lake PO and had the corrections made face to face.

If you can't stop the forwarding before you leave Ohio, go to your Ohio Post Office and ask them to hold your mail for a week or 10 days, and then mail it to you in TV. They will charge about $16-$18. Make sure you have them hold it long enough for you to get to TV and stop the forwarding, and, enough time for the forwarded mail to arrive in Ohio. We have done this successfully from Michigan.

Rubicon. Can you tell me which post office it is in Lady Lake, I believe there are two of them.

Main Post Office
850 Teague Trl, Lady Lake
[also known as Rt 25]
352-753-3888
USPS.com® - Location Details

Sub-station by Shell gas station on 441/Griffin Ave
[across from El Ranchito restaurant]
23 Lagrande Blvd, Lady Lake
352-753-9499
USPS.com® - Location Details

What I would suggest is that you call the Lady Lake Main P.O. and tell them you want to:
* cancel your forwarding to Ohio on your desired date [approx one week before leaving Ohio - this should avoid the loop effect]
* start a hold mail with Lady Lake P.O. the day after that cancellation date;
* and then select a date to restart TV delivery the day after your return to Florida.

So now nothing is coming from TV to Ohio and your mail should be on hold until the day after you get back.

That is the system I use when traveling back and forth and it doesn't cost us anything. If you processed your forwarding to Ohio via computer you should have received a confirmation email - you would find that elusive confirmation number in it! Search your email for USPS - that has helped me a number of times!

I tried calling the number you show above and it has been busy all day long. I did the forwarding via the card rather than the internet so no confirmation number available. I don't have to worry that they would start delivering immediately as in Fenney we have to pick up our mail at the Sales Office as the postal facilities are not yet open. I just thought there would be a way to do this without the confirmation number or a way to get the confirmation number.

Another reason for online payment.

Do you have an online account with USPS? If not, set one up and do all of this online. Calling the Post Office on the phone is about the worst way to get anything done.

Not everything can be paid on line, we have other properties with HOA fees that have to be mailed, property taxes, annual insurances, event notices, etc. We still haven't completed a list of address changes that have to be made, our life and businesses are a little more complicated than the average. It's not as simple as "online payments"

I do have a USPS online account however I explained above that the mail forward was handled via paper in this case and I most likely have the confirmation in our bank security box but I'm not there to get it.

AMEN! That was my best advice. We've been going back and forth for 8 years now. Dealing with the Lady Lake PO is spotty. Sometimes you get lucky. Not always. Nothing beats online bill pay for a multitude of reasons. Good luck with your new home and your mail.

Sorry...I didn't see your post #12, OP. My bad. As a matter of fact, I have a couple of tax bills I'm tracking down myself. Again, mail forwarding is never reliable.