[Mallory]

Just wondering if this dust-up may be caused and has come up on the radar screen by a number of factors not generally found in an ebay business, home watch, MaryKay parties, etc. home business type of operation which have been mentioned previously -

1. TOTV is incorporated.
2. TOTV accepts paid advertising.
3. TOTV has locations in multiple states (PA, TN) and countries (Canada).
4. TOTV is expanding the business to other areas in FL (Polk County if I recall correctly).
5. TOTV uses "The Villages" name and phrase "The Villages, Florida. Your online Community Connection", which may infer or imply that TOTV is an official and authorized entity of The Villages, which we all know it is not.

As far as the relationship with the Post Office goes, I have no idea. I've long since given up trying to figure out their business and how they do it.

PS - Why would a TOTV member blow the whistle on this operation?

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by chelsea24

This is all very strange. We get corporate mail all the time. But I did find it very interesting that when we moved here two years ago, I went to the Wildwood Post Office to open up a separate post office box. Although we do not do business from our house, I wanted a P.O. Box during the transition of many things. Long story short, the Wildwood Post Office said I would have to get permission from The Villages to open up a separate box there. Isn't that odd??? Or am I missing something. Kind of creepy!

I would say there was a misunderstanding regarding the "get permission" from The Villages. If you request a PO Box a couple of things can slow the process. First - if you request a box in a different location from where your residence or business is located the post office often verifies your physical address. Same applies if your ID does not match the information submitted on the PO Box application. (Done to prevent fraud - someone opens a box, gets a bunch of checks through some scheme, then skips out.)

[Keedy]

Originally Posted by Mallory

Just wondering if this dust-up may be caused and has come up on the radar screen by a number of factors not generally found in an ebay business, home watch, MaryKay parties, etc. home business type of operation which have been mentioned previously -

1. TOTV is incorporated.
2. TOTV accepts paid advertising.
3. TOTV has locations in multiple states (PA, TN) and countries (Canada).
4. TOTV is expanding the business to other areas in FL (Polk County if I recall correctly).
5. TOTV uses "The Villages" name and phrase "The Villages, Florida. Your online Community Connection", which may infer or imply that TOTV is an official and authorized entity of The Villages, which we all know it is not.

As far as the relationship with the Post Office goes, I have no idea. I've long since given up trying to figure out their business and how they do it.

PS - Why would a TOTV member blow the whistle on this operation?

Just a thought....Could it have been a detected troll who has been thrown off TOTV and now seeks revenge? There has been trolls who have posted here with a taste for baiting people.

[SteveFromNY]

[QUOTE=Mallory;217241]Just wondering if this dust-up may be caused and has come up on the radar screen by a number of factors not generally found in an ebay business, home watch, MaryKay parties, etc. home business type of operation which have been mentioned previously -

1. TOTV is incorporated.
2. TOTV accepts paid advertising.
3. TOTV has locations in multiple states (PA, TN) and countries (Canada).
4. TOTV is expanding the business to other areas in FL (Polk County if I recall correctly).
5. TOTV uses "The Villages" name and phrase "The Villages, Florida. Your online Community Connection", which may infer or imply that TOTV is an official and authorized entity of The Villages, which we all know it is not.

QUOTE]


All that and an address in TV. Sounds like a business to me, and if the way to get around the deed restrictions is to have a PO Box outside TV, then that's what's got to happen.

While it may not be bothering anyone, and you may have been ratted out by someone, it doesn't change the fact that by all indications you're breaking the rules, even if it's a technicality. Your choice as to whether or not to fight, or change your address.

Granted the rules can be stupid about certain things, but they are the rules that we (consciuosly or not) signed up for. So either obey them, or get them changed. And of course you should always be careful about what people know about you.

[chuckster]

TH..Seems as though keeping the PO Box until you moved and then leave a forward with the PO would have kept it simple even considering the additional rental for the PO Box.

Just a thought..................................Good luck on your move.

[downeaster]

Cassie said:

"Doesn't Deed Compliance have better things to do with their time??? There are tons of homes in violation of their Deed Restrictions all over TV's....they should focus on what is important."

And Steve said:

"All that and an address in TV. Sounds like a business to me, and if the way to get around the deed restrictions is to have a PO Box outside TV, then that's what's got to happen.

While it may not be bothering anyone, and you may have been ratted out by someone, it doesn't change the fact that by all indications you're breaking the rules, even if it's a technicality. Your choice as to whether or not to fight, or change your address.

Granted the rules can be stupid about certain things, but they are the rules that we (consciuosly or not) signed up for. So either obey them, or get them changed. And of course you should always be careful about what people know about you"

Two excellent points.

Although I feel deed compliance is over zealous in this case, if they didn't act on a complaint they could be considered derelict in performing their duties.

Someone earlier suggested modifying the rule to exempt any business that does not impact on anyone.

I would also suggest a method of granting a waiver for an individual case. TH's "business" would qualify for a waiver. Were I to apply for a waiver in order to manufacture widgets in my garage, I would be denied.

[villages07]

Maybe I'm missing something, but, I don't see what the supposed 'violation' is for TH. I just looked up his deed restrictions and his reads just like mine:

"Properties within the subdivision are intended for residential use and no commercial, professional, or similar activity requiring either maintaining an inventory, equipment, or customer/client visits may be conducted in a home or on a homesite"


So, what's the issue? I really think the responses to this thread are all over the place and creating unnecessary hysteria.

As Bogie Shooter often recommends, has TH (or anyone else) actually spoken with an official in the Deed Compliance office for a clear interpretation of the supposed infraction?

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by downeaster

Cassie said:

"Doesn't Deed Compliance have better things to do with their time??? There are tons of homes in violation of their Deed Restrictions all over TV's....they should focus on what is important."

And Steve said:

"All that and an address in TV. Sounds like a business to me, and if the way to get around the deed restrictions is to have a PO Box outside TV, then that's what's got to happen.

While it may not be bothering anyone, and you may have been ratted out by someone, it doesn't change the fact that by all indications you're breaking the rules, even if it's a technicality. Your choice as to whether or not to fight, or change your address.

Granted the rules can be stupid about certain things, but they are the rules that we (consciuosly or not) signed up for. So either obey them, or get them changed. And of course you should always be careful about what people know about you"

Two excellent points.

Although I feel deed compliance is over zealous in this case, if they didn't act on a complaint they could be considered derelict in performing their duties.

Someone earlier suggested modifying the rule to exempt any business that does not impact on anyone.

I would also suggest a method of granting a waiver for an individual case. TH's "business" would qualify for a waiver. Were I to apply for a waiver in order to manufacture widgets in my garage, I would be denied.

I agree that they may go to the extremes in bringing our attention to the deed restrictions. I question if sometimes they use the "complaint" to make it that they aren't the "bad" guy. Shortly after I moved into my CYV I got a note under my wiper from Community Watch that two of my wheels were on the pavement, not my driveway. (I had parked there when my wife was out with her car.) No big deal, I made sure my wheels were never on the blacktop. Recently I had a knock on the door. "Someone" had "complained" that one of my wheels was on the gravel at my house, not on the concrete. Sure enough, I checked it out, vehicles must be "wholly within the driveway, garage, or other non-visitor parking spaces".

Oh well, off the soapbox.

[Frangyomory]

I don't think you are "conducting a business" in the Villages but unfortunately, the interpretation is what apparently counts. Your best bet is the P.O. Box. Good grief Charlie Brown!!!!!

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by villages07

As Bogie Shooter often recommends, has TH (or anyone else) actually spoken with an official in the Deed Compliance office for a clear interpretation of the supposed infraction?

Oh Yes, I spoke with Deed Compliance office. They said I'm in violation and need to cease. They said that my address is not to be used as the mailing location for my business mail. They were pretty clear about it.
I told them that I am moving and they said that it is a moot point.

I asked about the situation if I was not moving. They didn't seem to have an answer for me. The guy said that they would "turn it over to the county."


JLK

[villages07]

Jan,

I just wonder if the person you spoke with was well-versed or not. I would think they should be able to cite you the specific item in your deed restrictions that they say you are violating.

If it is the passage I have quoted now 3 times, then I strongly disagree with this person's interpretation. What you are doing, or anyone else who runs a for-profit informational website, is not a violation of the rules.

As others have stated, The Villages has no jurisdiction on how mail is sent to you.

[beady]

Wow...... for all the good things that go on in TV, it is sad to see that neighbors are actually checking on each other to make sure your car wheels are in the driveway.......those peeps, like whoever found out corporate mail was going to TH's house, have way to much time on their hands.

Bottom line, if this was my situation....someone would have to explain to me who knows , beside the post station employee( who are contractors, not USPS employees) what mail is being delivered to my home...and why it is any of their business. This is ,in my estimation,not a compliance issue but a privacy issue. Unless you are suspected of mail fraud or some other Federal violation no one can monitor your mail.

[EdV]

Originally Posted by beady

.......This is ,in my estimation,not a compliance issue but a privacy issue. Unless you are suspected of mail fraud or some other Federal violation no one can monitor your mail.

Well, not necessarily. It could have been delivered to the wrong recipient's mailbox, and then turned into the TV office for correct delivery where the potential for a violation was determined.

The other day I got a magazine that was addressed to someone else who lives on the other side of town. So I popped it back into an outbound mailbox, but sure enough, there it was the next day back in my inbound mailbox. It can be annoying.

[Cassie325]

Originally Posted by beady

Bottom line, if this was my situation....someone would have to explain to me who knows , beside the post station employee( who are contractors, not USPS employees) what mail is being delivered to my home...and why it is any of their business. This is ,in my estimation,not a compliance issue but a privacy issue. Unless you are suspected of mail fraud or some other Federal violation no one can monitor your mail.

I have seen some of these people and they have the USPS uniform on and have ID....what kind of contract employees are they?

There are certainly CDD employees that pick up the Amenity/Utilities mail box but they are different from the real postal service employees....

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by Cassie325

I have seen some of these people and they have the USPS uniform on and have ID....what kind of contract employees are they?

There are certainly CDD employees that pick up the Amenity/Utilities mail box but they are different from the real postal service employees....

The Postal Service hires various classes of employees to deliver mail. In certain situations they may even allow employees to "cross crafts" to get the mail delivered.

Career postal employees fall into these categories:

Management
City Letter Carriers
Clerks
Mail Handlers
Rural Route Carriers

(There are more, but you won't see them here, such as nurses, doctors, attorneys, etc. Mostly professionals that work at HDQRS or very large facilities.)

After the career employees you have contractors. (No benefits, just a contract to transport or deliver mail.) Examples are:

Large trucks that haul mail between cities.
Custodial services
Aircraft
Delivery in remote areas
Delivery in new areas (TV) that were not previously designated as city or rural delivery.

After 9-11 all postal employees and contractors that enter postal facilities were required to wear readily visible ID.

Uniforms are generally worn by City Delivery carriers and clerks that wait on you at the Post Office. They get a clothing allowance for their uniforms.

Some casual carriers and other that are in the public eye are provided postal shirts to make them more recognizable as postal employees. Some buy their own.

The majority of delivery in TV is done by contractors.

I know this is a little lengthy but hopefully it will give you an understanding of why you are seeing mail delivered in a manner that is most likely different than any thing you have seen in the past.