mail fowarding

[hottubkid]

Were going to be gone for about three months. Trying to decide what to do about the mail. which forwarding service or have it delivered next door?

[TexasH]

We have used the USPS temporary forwarding order for several years. We usually go to one spot for 3-4 months and have the temporary forward to there from the time we leave to about 30 days before we anticipate coming home. Then we issue a hold mail for that last 30 days and that mail is there when we get home.

We do use online statements and bill pay so we can still do business while we are gone. Most of our bills are set up to autopay to one credit card and I pay it online monthly.

All this has worked for us without problems for several years, and costs nothing. The forwarding and holds can be set up on line and changed on line if your plans change.

Be aware that some mail in not forwardable. Mostly things like bank statements, credit cards, some credit card statements. That'w why online statements are good.

[GGeorge]

I did a lot of research on mail forwarding and the "servies" of GS and FMCC. I plan on using the local UPS Store for this service, for several good reasons.

1) This would make a permanent change to my address with a POB.
2) I can still get packages.
3) I can be gone as long as I want to be gone.
4) If I come home I can go to the UPS Store to retreive my mail when I want(3 miles in town).
5) I can leave whenever I want, without the hassle of notifying anyone or the US Postal service.
6) I can get rid of that box out front that everyone else continues to hit with a baseball bat, and because there is no longer an address I dont have to replace the mailbox.
7) The UPS Store has most of the same services as the other companies.

The one reason I will not utilize GS or FMCC is when I am home why should I pay to have my mail sent to me. I can pick it up at my convenience.

Of course this is just my $.02.

[J-Rooster]

We set up a mail forward with the USPS when we go to Lake Havasu City, AZ. are mail is waiting for us when we get there. If we do not know where we are going we have the USPS hold are mail for us until we call for it. The Post Office is very good to work with.

[Billinwoodland]

And BTW, crooks can get into your Facebook page. I never post vacation pictures on it until I am either home, or almost home.

[Billinwoodland]

My biggest concern about stopping mail or the newspaper is tipping off crooks that the house will be empty. Some years ago one of the investigational news programs did a special on this. Here is an example: http://abcnews.go.com/US/men-accused-stealing-homes-la-newspaper-vacation-list/story?id=18362554

[darsben]

The problem with the USPS service is that when the regular mailman is off the sub may delivery the mail to your house where it will sit.
I used to use the P.O service but they could never get it right long term. With the move to temporary employees by the P.O. the quality has gone down and where I am we never have the same delivery person long term.

Did not work for us but it may in a small town where you know everyone

[aztortuga]

Why not simply use the us postal forwarding service? The USPS will forward mail, I think up to one year on a single request. They will do this for free. IF you check this out on line, be SURE to go to the official usps web site. There are many forwarding services that try to mimic the USPS site but they are private services, will charge you, and some are dubious companies. We leave Oregon during the winter and always use the usps. If you are going to one address while you are gone this will work fine, but if plan on moving around one of the rv forwarding sites would be better.

[hipower]

Since we are settling in one place for the winter the past several years we just place a forwarding order with the USPS and we get deliveries at our campground for the four plus months we are gone. Obviously that doesn't work if you are traveling around.

[lostdog]

Good Sam has the one we use. Believe that you can get it for only three months.

[Trumpet_Player]

hottubkid wrote:
Were going to be gone for about three months. Trying to decide what to do about the mail. which forwarding service or have it delivered next door?

If you are an FMCA member, take a look at their service. They have recently changed their service a bit (different provider), but they claim for even better service. Have used them in the past and it worked very well.

Safe travels.

[darsben]

The post office rules are that mail will be held a maximum of 30 days. Your Post Office may hold it longer BUT if they are found out then they are in trouble.

[army_guy1]

We have been using Your Best Address out of Sioux Falls. They have been extremely helpful with all of our mailing needs. If only going three months, can't the post office hold and then forward?