Originally Posted by MrLonzo (Post 2264647)

Closed on my (resale) house in the Villages (Monarch Grove) in June, finally moving in, and having a lot of difficulty with mailbox.

Realtor told me it’s simple to get a key for your mailbox, just take some proof of ownership to the U.S. post office in Wildwood and pick up your key. She didn’t seem to know the location of my mailbox or the number. I went to the PO, and they said they don’t handle TV issues, and that I’d need to go to the Lady Lake PO on Teague Trail. A 40-minute drive, but I went there only to be told they, too, do not handle TV issues, and I’d need to go to the PO on LaGrande Blvd, also in Lady Lake. There, I was told I’d need to pay $35 to replace the lock and it would take up 10 days. I paid the $35, she gave me 2 keys and said to check the lock every day – if it opens, that means the lock has been changed, but didn’t bother telling me the location or number of the mailbox! I finally figured out my mailbox location is at Swallowtail. I showed my keys to the attendant there and she told me they are the wrong kind of key -- they are for PO boxes, not TV mail station boxes. So now what do I do? I don't know who to believe anymore!

I called the PO, sifted through their menu for 20 minutes, and finally got someone to talk to. She told me I’d need to go back to Lady Lake (1.5 hour drive roundtrip) and explain the situation. She said she could not tell me the mailbox number.

What a waste of time when I have so many other moving issues to address! And leaving me confused -- I would think it reasonable that when someone buys a house in TV, they would get a mailbox, the mailbox location, the mailbox number, and the mailbox key when they close, but I received none of these and now have spent many hours over 2 days still with no solution!

Are my expectations too high? And wondering if others have had problems like this?

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2265069)

Please clarify what type of key you are referring to. I pick up my mail at a free standing postal station in my neighborhood. The mailboxes are owned by the Federal Government, (not The Village) and they install the locks and issue the keys. My key has " U.S.P.S. DO NOT DUPLICATE" stamped on it. I have taken the key to ACE Hardware, Lowe's, Home Depot, and to a locksmith. None of them would copy the key. Amazon does not sell the key blank. As I understand it, official U.S. mail can only be deposited in a Federal mailbox.

Originally Posted by jarodrig (Post 2265086)

Not all the postal keys are what you described. Our first two homes they were.

Our current mailbox key (third home) looks like the image I posted .

Anyone that has such a key type CAN get them copied at ACE or anywhere that has the blanks .

I have copied dozens of such keys while working at the ACE at Southern Trace Plaza

These “blanks” have no USPS markings of any kind and can be bought in bulk for about $2.50 each.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2265069)

Please clarify what type of key you are referring to. I pick up my mail at a free standing postal station in my neighborhood. The mailboxes are owned by the Federal Government, (not The Village) and they install the locks and issue the keys. My key has " U.S.P.S. DO NOT DUPLICATE" stamped on it. I have taken the key to ACE Hardware, Lowe's, Home Depot, and to a locksmith. None of them would copy the key. Amazon does not sell the key blank. As I understand it, official U.S. mail can only be deposited in a Federal mailbox.

Originally Posted by Dusty_Star (Post 2264826)

Sorry, I don't know which department it is. My guess would be district property management & the sub department that is in charge of postal stations. But that is only a guess.

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 2264648)

We got ours at closing as I recall.

Originally Posted by MrLonzo (Post 2264647)

Closed on my (resale) house in the Villages (Monarch Grove) in June, finally moving in, and having a lot of difficulty with mailbox.

Realtor told me it’s simple to get a key for your mailbox, just take some proof of ownership to the U.S. post office in Wildwood and pick up your key. She didn’t seem to know the location of my mailbox or the number. I went to the PO, and they said they don’t handle TV issues, and that I’d need to go to the Lady Lake PO on Teague Trail. A 40-minute drive, but I went there only to be told they, too, do not handle TV issues, and I’d need to go to the PO on LaGrande Blvd, also in Lady Lake. There, I was told I’d need to pay $35 to replace the lock and it would take up 10 days. I paid the $35, she gave me 2 keys and said to check the lock every day – if it opens, that means the lock has been changed, but didn’t bother telling me the location or number of the mailbox! I finally figured out my mailbox location is at Swallowtail. I showed my keys to the attendant there and she told me they are the wrong kind of key -- they are for PO boxes, not TV mail station boxes. So now what do I do? I don't know who to believe anymore!

I called the PO, sifted through their menu for 20 minutes, and finally got someone to talk to. She told me I’d need to go back to Lady Lake (1.5 hour drive roundtrip) and explain the situation. She said she could not tell me the mailbox number.

What a waste of time when I have so many other moving issues to address! And leaving me confused -- I would think it reasonable that when someone buys a house in TV, they would get a mailbox, the mailbox location, the mailbox number, and the mailbox key when they close, but I received none of these and now have spent many hours over 2 days still with no solution!

Are my expectations too high? And wondering if others have had problems like this?

Originally Posted by MrLonzo (Post 2264647)

Closed on my (resale) house in the Villages (Monarch Grove) in June, finally moving in, and having a lot of difficulty with mailbox.

Realtor told me it’s simple to get a key for your mailbox, just take some proof of ownership to the U.S. post office in Wildwood and pick up your key. She didn’t seem to know the location of my mailbox or the number. I went to the PO, and they said they don’t handle TV issues, and that I’d need to go to the Lady Lake PO on Teague Trail. A 40-minute drive, but I went there only to be told they, too, do not handle TV issues, and I’d need to go to the PO on LaGrande Blvd, also in Lady Lake. There, I was told I’d need to pay $35 to replace the lock and it would take up 10 days. I paid the $35, she gave me 2 keys and said to check the lock every day – if it opens, that means the lock has been changed, but didn’t bother telling me the location or number of the mailbox! I finally figured out my mailbox location is at Swallowtail. I showed my keys to the attendant there and she told me they are the wrong kind of key -- they are for PO boxes, not TV mail station boxes. So now what do I do? I don't know who to believe anymore!

I called the PO, sifted through their menu for 20 minutes, and finally got someone to talk to. She told me I’d need to go back to Lady Lake (1.5 hour drive roundtrip) and explain the situation. She said she could not tell me the mailbox number.

What a waste of time when I have so many other moving issues to address! And leaving me confused -- I would think it reasonable that when someone buys a house in TV, they would get a mailbox, the mailbox location, the mailbox number, and the mailbox key when they close, but I received none of these and now have spent many hours over 2 days still with no solution!

Are my expectations too high? And wondering if others have had problems like this?

Originally Posted by Rodneysblue (Post 2265149)

They, (the seller) is supposed required to give you the keys and location of the mail station and box number. It’s not the post office’s responsibility to do that at closing. The post office can replace lock and keys but only if they are given the correct box number and mail station. We received only one key at closing and with a reimbursement of $35.00 to cover the cost.

Originally Posted by star20166@yahoo.com (Post 2264995)

Realtor should have solved that issue.

Originally Posted by Topspinmo (Post 2265201)

I bet at closing no keys and mailbox number no check. I bet keys and mailbox would materialize pretty quick.