rhintransit - 5-2-2007 at 05:59 AM
I'm now spending 9 months a year in Baja, and would do more if the batteries would run an ac unit! Am trying to figure out mail management for my USA
address. I've been forwarding my mail to a tolerant and competent sister but the six month forwarding limit has been a problem. USPS says you can
forward for 'up to a year' but every year around the six month mark I get a letter that they are cancelling it.
I've heard of mail forwarding services but neighbors here tell me stories of late and no forwards, etc. and I would have to have it bundled and
mailed to Loreto. am not clear on what circular route that would take, and how reliable the Mexican Post is.
how do other people manage mail? most stuff I wouldn't miss, but there are things...the odd jury summons, etc...I guess I need to get. thanks.
Bob and Susan - 5-2-2007 at 06:55 AM
the forward for the USPS is good for ONLY a year
if you forward mail about 1/2 your bills get returned...
remember the mailpiece does NOT belong to you until you open it...
it BELONGS to the person applying the postage...
bills are endorsed in a way that the sender can get the letter back if it is not delivered to the address on the mailpiece
credit card companies make ALOT of money on those late charges...
actually there is a system in place that matches the USPS database and changes your address on SOME mailpieces so they go directly to the new
address...
the USPS forwarding system is NOT set up to accomadate "snowbirds" no matter what a postal employee may tell you.
the BEST way to receive your mail is to KEEP IT delivered at your permenate address and have a neighbor collect it when they collect theirs...
then...
have someone "Global Priority" mail it to you in baja once a month.
this way you don't screw up the "poor" mailman...
the BEST thing ANYONE can do is pay ALL bills ONLINE!!!
if you're in baja you don't need to serve as a juror
shari - 5-2-2007 at 07:22 AM
Mexican mail system.....I just got a christmas card from 2006! ya never know.
bajabound2005 - 5-2-2007 at 07:38 AM
just got our telnor bill on Monday, April 30; it was mailed at the beginning of April from TJ to Ensenada and was due April 17. Fortunately, we KNOW
the due date and had already paid it weeks ago. Definitely get and pay what bills you can online.
tjvagabundo - 5-3-2007 at 10:34 PM
Here's a new mail service that I saw recently:
http://www.remotecontrolmail.com/
Pescador - 5-4-2007 at 10:10 AM
We actually pay a neighbor to pick up the mail and he puts it in large boxes. We have gone to automatic pay for as many bills like electricity, gas,
health insurance, and all that stuff. The only problem we experienced last year was a bill for an x-ray that was not paid completely by the insurance
company and since they had not heard from us, it went to collections, but a few phone calls got that straightened out. This sounds pretty smooth, but
admittedly, it has taken us several years to get this working smoothly. The other thing that works is if you are in an american community is to have
occasionaly have someone coming down bring you a package of your letters and things. Catalogs and sale items can wait for your return.
rhintransit - 5-5-2007 at 12:52 PM
thanks, am on bill payer and have just done what tjvagabundo recommended. agree with Bob and Susan with mail forwarding in states...never works well
there, so fault at start of chain. so a neighbor is collecting and sorting. he gets all the 'free coupons' and special offers he wants, two sets
now. and so far is good enough friend not to charge.
Bob and Susan - 5-5-2007 at 01:45 PM
remember you can NEVER move out of a CRMA (mailbox place etc)
NEVER
and...
they MIGHT go out of business....they do...
then you are really screwed...
if you want to get a new address and move to another CRMA you need to make a "deal" with the owner to forward your mail to the new address otherwise
it's SENT BACK....period
people who rent boxes from a private mailbox place ALWAYS have a hidden adjenda or problem
people who rent from the post office have to be "legal" or the postal inspection service can "put them away"
DENNIS - 5-5-2007 at 02:13 PM
I rent from Postal Annex for a lot of reasons, not the least that it is a street address and will accept UPS. The post office won't.
Bob and Susan - 5-5-2007 at 03:22 PM
yes dennis and your actual problem or or better reason to get a box at a CRMA is that live in mexico
just remember when that place go belly up....don't gripe
or
you want to change CRMA's
It's ALWAYS better to have a residential steet address and have a neighbor or relitave assist with the mail
I did tell my daughter that she should open a business like http://www.remotecontrolmail.com/
nice idea!!!
you don't have to reinvent the wheel to make a fourtune
DENNIS - 5-5-2007 at 05:33 PM
This Postal Annex did belly-up about fifteen years ago, before my time with them. Seems a border patrol agent bought the franchise for a second
job. The mail volume got out of hand as did his patrol job and he would accumulate the overload of mail in his garage.
When the authorities caught up with the problem, they had a row of tables piled with undelivered mail in the parking lot to be claimed by owners.
882 W. San Ysidro Blvd.
Bob and Susan - 5-5-2007 at 06:28 PM
nope not illegal...the mail WAS indeed DELIVERED
the postal service met its obligation
he was the "agent" for those poor saps
he can do anything he wants with their mail including throwing it into a dumpster...
your ONLY recourse is to to sue in court...and you'll lose