Full Timing Canadians - address?

[Janshark]

Hello all, I tried to find an answer for this little problem but didn't find anything.

Is there a service in Canada which we can use as a mail drop and street address?

I've been using my former home address for all my mail, etc. My ex has the house now and he's great about e-mailing mail to me and after we separated and I moved into the motorhome there didn't seem to be any point in trying to get a new address. Here's the problem though. I used that address for filing my income tax returns and now I have to convince the CRA that we're not living together as common-law even though we're divorced.

This is all because I now qualify for the HST refund (I've received a total of $486 woo hoo) but because they think we're in a common-law relationship and he makes bags of money that I need to return it. The CRA ain't too happy when you don't live in a building without wheels.

What are other Canadian full timers doing?

Thanks so much,

[pdq_bc]

Hi Jan

we use a mail & business service (independent)
we have a 'regular' address
we looked at an UPS services (lots of locatons) - but liked this one better
they will;
- hold mail
- forward to you
- receive faxes

regards, pdq

[southwoods46]

Hi:
We use UPS as our address and it is considered a legal address for government such as licences and income tax etc because there is a street address and the "Suite #" is accepted as opposed to a Box #. They will hold, forward, receive instruction via email and call if you received a package. Great service!
When we first began to fulltime, we used a close relative, but then they wanted to travel too, so we set up a contract with UPS. Good luck!

[bgsc]

You can go to Canada Post and they will forward your mail to any address you want

[Ottawa]

You also need an address to get automobile/RV insurance. Need to be careful here, as your insurance rate is to some extent determined by your postal code, and if they find out that you do not actually live there, they may refuse to pay for any damages.

[pdq_bc]

Ottawa - if you inform this up front with the insurance carrier, it is fine.
When purchasing insurnace, we stressed the point that we are full timing and while this limited the number of insurance carriers; however, it also ensure the full facts we being disclosed up front.
pdq

[pdq_bc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgsc You can go to Canada Post and they will forward your mail to any address you want

this was not going to work so well for us full timing
yes - canada post will do this; but you need to pay their fee each time you have a new address and with full timing we move
as well, the above solution assumes you're at a place that will accept your mail (not all rv parks will)

so far for us (full timing) the solution of the "mail service" is working quite nicely

pdq

[TW]

CRA is not happy?? Also the US Immi.! You are welcome as a Tourist, but not with all your Household STUFF. Normal Tourist don't bring that.

Some people get turned around at the BORDER, because of FULLTIMING and no stick or so in Canada.

[Dgm072]

We use our daughter's address. We also have most things ( bank, c/c statements )
coming by e-mail. Not a lot of bills when you full-time. If I order something over
the net, I have it shipped Genereal delivery to the nearest post office. Where we
winter in Osoyoos BC, we can get mail delivered in care of the RV Resort.

[heritage2006]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dgm072 We use our daughter's address. We also have most things ( bank, c/c statements ) coming by e-mail. Not a lot of bills when you full-time. If I order something over the net, I have it shipped Genereal delivery to the nearest post office. Where we winter in Osoyoos BC, we can get mail delivered in care of the RV Resort.

I do the same as above. Use my Aunt's address and she forwards anything to me. But it is minimal as I do everything online ie. Banking etc.

[Captain Ahab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TW CRA is not happy?? Also the US Immi.! You are welcome as a Tourist, but not with all your Household STUFF. Normal Tourist don't bring that. Some people get turned around at the BORDER, because of FULLTIMING and no stick or so in Canada.

My wife and I were turned back at the US border last year because we are full-timers and didn't have have a sticks and brick home.
In fact we were handed over to Homeland Security and put into their database because as they said " we did not have reservations for where we were going and might be trying to jump the border so we could live full time in the USA."
We now have both a residential address (basement suite at a friends house) and a UPS PO box so that our mail can be forwarded.
I write for a few magazines and since writing about being turned back and why I have heard from dozens of other Canadians who have experienced the same and at times worse treatment for the exact same reasons.
I wouldn't even be going t the states if there was a way of getting our 5th to Mexico without going through the US.
Until that time comes I will do what is required to get across.

[heritage2006]

I find it so disturbing that a Canadian would be turned back at the Border just because they want to Winter in a warmer climate.

[Captain Ahab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by heritage2006 I find it so disturbing that a Canadian would be turned back at the Border just because they want to Winter in a warmer climate.

Truth be known the main reason that we were heading south (Arizona) was because my wife has Lupus and I wanted to see if spending a winter in a warmer and dryer climate might alleviate her symptoms and I didn't want to be rude and tell the Border official that I am a patriotic Canadian and would never give up living in Canada nor did I want to get into the fact that many, MANY Canadian snowbirds spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the US every winter just for the privilege of enjoying their climate. I didn't think that this was a winnable argument and the outcome could only prove disastrous for us.
The old discretion is the better part of valor applies.
I have also bee told by someone who wishes to remain anonymous that Homeland Security wants every single person living in the USA in their database. Who knows what the truth is but one can only imagine.