Community Forums

Dale777 · 05-05-2006, 01:44 PM

What do you do to handle your mail when you are on a trip longer than 30 days? The Post Office will only hold mail for 30 days.

Dale777 · 05-05-2006, 01:44 PM

What do you do to handle your mail when you are on a trip longer than 30 days? The Post Office will only hold mail for 30 days.

DancinCampers · 05-05-2006, 02:07 PM

We have our neighbor pick it up for us.

Last year when we were gone for 3 months we had him forward it (letters only) to us on our route twice using the Priority Mail boxes.

Retird2Golf · 05-06-2006, 02:56 AM

I have belonged to American Home Base in Pensacola Florida since 1999. You put in a temp
forwarding addy at your PO and a phone call to AHB they will mail to General Delivery at whatever PO (Zip code) you are near.
Very flexible program, Its called GOOD SAM MAIL
You can call them and they will do all by mail and tele.

American Home Base 800-422-4663,

Hope this helps, Clyde

Wayne R · 05-06-2006, 04:03 AM

Dale check out Premium mail forwarding service from the post office. With it you maintain your permanent address. It is more expensive than a service like Escapees but probably worth it if your not full timing. You can also file a temporary change of address online and have your mail sent to a neighbors or family member.

htg3 · 05-06-2006, 02:44 PM

We planned a four month trip when we picked up our coach. A few months before, we rented a box at a "mail store" (like a Mail Boxes, etc) and changed the address of our "importantant" mail to the store. When we were on the road, and were going to be one place for a few days, I would call and have the mail overnighted to us. It worked well.
Also prior to leaving, I had set up many of our bills to pay via online banking.
If you are going Full Time, some of the RV organizations (Escapee, etc.) have mail forwarding services. Good luck in your travels.

Mac and Chris · 05-06-2006, 03:58 PM

Here's some general information about mail service.

We also use Good Sam Mail Forwarding (American Home Base) Pensacola, FL.

Mac

camper1b · 05-08-2006, 09:57 AM

We went on a 7 week trip last year. We preaddressed 3 Express Mail envelopes, paid for the posatge and put postit notes on each one with the date it should be mailed. The post office held our mail until the date on the earliest postit, stuffed the envelope with our mail and mailed it out. We got our mail 3 times at three different campgounds out west. Worked great!

Tom N · 05-08-2006, 10:56 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by camper1b:
We went on a 7 week trip last year. We preaddressed 3 Express Mail envelopes, paid for the posatge and put postit notes on each one with the date it should be mailed. The post office held our mail until the date on the earliest postit, stuffed the envelope with our mail and mailed it out. We got our mail 3 times at three different campgounds out west. Worked great! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is against US postal code. I'm assuming you live in the US.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-08-2006, 11:27 AM

Some local postmasteres will still provide non-standard services like Rich & Kay used, but it is becoming increasingly rare. Apparently the USPS is cracking down on procedures and not allowing this sort of thing any more. I used to be able to call our small town post office and give them a new forwarding address or change Another change is that from "Hold" to "Forward", but now have to mail them a signed document, een though theyknow who I am.

Forwarding is typically being handled by the regional sorting facility theses days, rather than the local post office. Your local P.O. may never even see your mail once a forwarding request is filed.

Jim A · 05-08-2006, 04:59 PM

We recently went on a 6 day trip, and the neighbor we usually impose upon to pick up the mail and newspaper for us was also gone. We had our mail held at the post office, and a stop put on our paper. Neither one did it. Our neighbor came home two days before us and found papers piled on the driveway and mail in the box. (Fortunately we have a big mailbox.) I hope your luck is better than ours!!

Lyle & Cath · 05-08-2006, 06:37 PM

The USPS will forward mail on a temporary basis for 6 months. We use My RV Mail www.myrvmail.com. USPS forwards to them, then they post your mail by return address. You have the choice of either forwarding or trashing your mail after reviewing it on their web site. We have been very happy with this company. They will call if they have questions or concerns. They charge $8.95 per month and of course forwarding mail charges.

camper1b · 05-10-2006, 06:25 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by camper1b:
We went on a 7 week trip last year. We preaddressed 3 Express Mail envelopes, paid for the posatge and put postit notes on each one with the date it should be mailed. The post office held our mail until the date on the earliest postit, stuffed the envelope with our mail and mailed it out. We got our mail 3 times at three different campgounds out west. Worked great! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is against US postal code. I'm assuming you live in the US. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Huh?? How so? Yep to the US assumption.

Dale777 · 05-10-2006, 02:08 PM

Thanks to everyone for so many good ideas about "mail hold" or "mail forwarding". This group is great for coming up with SOLUTIONS. I really like the cooperative nature of the posts on various topics.