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Topic: Mail Forwarding Services - Physical Address vs Mailing Address (Read 214 times) previous topic - next topic
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Mail Forwarding Services - Physical Address vs Mailing Address
A question to the same group of people.  What are you doing for mail.  We are about to sell the house and head out on roads in a southerly and then a westerly direction.  No real time table but generally heading to Tucson AZ.  We are members of FMCA and thinking of using their service.
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #1 –
I've used two mail services: Escapees Mail Forwarding Service in Texas and DakotaPost in South Dakota. I'm with DakotaPost now.

If you're selling the house, I assume you plan to RV full-time, as I do. In that case you'll need a legal domicile. The most popular states are South Dakota, Texas, and Florida, all of which have no state sales tax and fairly easy licensing and vehicle registration. Choosing a domicile is a topic with lots of pros and cons; probably too many to get into details here. You'll find lots of discussion about it in groups such as the Escapees forums.

With regard to email: Escapees did a fine job for years, but they were too casual about internet security for my taste. Things like unsecured web forms and asking me to send my credit card info in an email rubbed me the wrong way. When I and others mentioned security loopholes, we were shrugged off with "We've never had a complaint" and "We don't want to confuse our members." (Huh?) That attitude really rubbed me the wrong way. Don't get me wrong; Escapees is a great organization, but when it comes to security they're behind the times.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #2 –
Thanks Andy and Joan.  When we get to Tucson we will be looking to buy.  We will be transferring our Virginia residence to a friends home until we settle.  
If we don’t like Tucson, or find the housing market over valued we will move on.  Fortunately the housing market in this part of Virginia is also on fire so we should be in good shape finically, it is more about how we feel.  If it looks like we will start leaning from a month or two toward a more full timer status we will look into declaring residency in another state. 
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #3 –
"Things like unsecured web forms and asking me to send my credit card info in an email"
---
That apparent lack of basic security awareness surprises me; surely that is not an example of current Escapees'  'transaction' security protocols?
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #4 –
We've used the Escapees mail service in Texas for about 6 years now.  We also use the Escapees domicile address in South Dakota.  We've been very happy with the service.  We use the mail service where the fronts of cards and envelopes are scanned and we get an email notification.  We then go to our account on the Escapees website to view the scans and decide whether to have each item forwarded, destroyed or opened and each page scanned.  Virtually everything ends up being marked for forwarding.  We've only had contents scanned a couple of times in 6 years.  They also notify us of packages (mostly mail order prescriptions).  We'll then ask for things to be forwarded (usually via USPS Priority Mail) to an RV park we'll be at for a while or General Delivery at a post office we will be near.  Small town post offices work better that big cities.

We visit Tucson frequently.  We were there for most of last December due to the winter COVID situation.  But Tucson has become a big city, so be prepared for that (but still much better than the greater Phoenix area!).  Summers are goings to be very warm.

Art
Art and Barbara
Settled in Atterdag Village of Solvang
2015-2022 fulltime in a 2016 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP
2002-2015 2002 LD MB
Art's blog
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #5 –
I’ve visited Tucson in August to see my wife’s sister.  That was many years ago. Also I in deserts growing up. Again that was many years ago.  But we understand the heat.  You know the Desert dweller will say “but it’s a dry heat”. The correct reply is “Yes, so is the inside of another”.
because of my skin I spend mid days indoors.  If I do that in the north or in the south I’m still indoors.  Lucky for me I like photography and the best times are morning and evening.  So I’ll be in the shade during the mid day or home in the ac.   We are tired of ice.  We want a pool in a place where we can climb in more than the 2-3 months this area allows.  So it will be hot most anywhere we go.  
Currently: 2008 36' Tiffin Open Road
Previously: 2007 Mid Bath
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #6 –
"surely that is not an example of current Escapees' 'transaction' security protocols?"

It was as of a year ago, when I renewed. (Yes, I kept my membership even after re-domiciling to South Dakota.) And I just looked at my account settings; the login page is not https, nor are the settings pages, and I'm guessing the page where I'd submit payment to renew my account isn't either--I didn't go that far. Perhaps someone else can confirm.

They're going to have to take security more seriously sooner or later; I just hope it doesn't take a major breach to make them do it.

By the way, DakotaPost offers the same "scan and view online" services Art described. I think most major mail forwarding services do by now. It's a big improvement compared to the way things used to be done.

DakotaPost also has an excellent personal assistant service to help with vehicle registrations. The woman is very experienced, and will talk you through the process on the phone, correct errors if necessary (I had a few), and then walk the paperwork over to the DMV office, where DakotaPost is well known. I've registered several vehicles this way in the past few years, and it has always gone smoothly. They do charge a fee for this service, but given how complicated dealing with a motor vehicle department (especially at a distance) can be, it's worth every penny to me.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #7 –
There may be tax implications going full time and choosing a domicile. A lot of full-timers  choose S. Dakota and get mail forwarded from there for a variety of reasons.  I’m posting one video but there are tons of good videos, people tend to do repairs in the parking lots of stores where they can get the right supplies . Like Home Depot. Foresty Forest (great youtuber btw) did his whole van build in mid winter in Canada at a Home Depot parking lot.  Regarding domicile-  https://youtu.be/jOJzYzULl9w
Or go to YouTube and put in “choosing a domicile taxes” and there are a lot of helpful videos
AlphPup
 2001 TK “Dazi”
Question about domicile
Reply #8 –
Last December I flew to Sioux Falls to setup my domicile in South Dakota.  I did this in anticipation of becoming a full timer later this year.  The process was really easy and only required a hotel stay for one night.  If anyone’s interested, I can give the details, but the end result is that I flew back the next day with an SD drivers license, Sioux Falls library card and Sioux Falls mailing address.

Now for my dilemma and question to fellow full timers.  I’ve been trying to change my bills, banks and credit cards to the new SD (DakotaPost) address.  Bills like the cellphone are no problem, but the banks and credit card companies require a physical address and they won’t accept the DakotaPost address as a physical address.  It has to do with the Patriot Act and they say there’s no way around it.  They will let me use the DakotaPost address as a “mailing address” but not as a “physical address”.  It’s hardwired into the system to not allow commercial addresses no matter how you list it (apt, suite, #, etc).  I could use my daughter in CA address as the physical and DakotaPost as the mailing address but my fear is that the bank will send a 1099-INT form to my daughters address and trigger CA to think that I’m a CA resistant and should be filling taxes there.  How do other full timers handle this dilemma?  Any and all comments are welcomed.

- John
Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #9 –
Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
"surely that is not an example of current Escapees' 'transaction' security protocols?"

It was as of a year ago, when I renewed. (Yes, I kept my membership even after re-domiciling to South Dakota.) And I just looked at my account settings; the login page is not https, nor are the settings pages, and I'm guessing the page where I'd submit payment to renew my account isn't either--I didn't go that far. Perhaps someone else can confirm.

That's odd I just checked my account and it is using HTTPS for login and account renewal. I tried forcing it to HTTP and it redirected it to HTTPS. I'm using Firefox, but that shouldn't make a difference.

J Sadler
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #10 –
Quote from: JohnR  - 
Now for my dilemma and question to fellow full timers.  I’ve been trying to change my bills, banks and credit cards to the new SD (DakotaPost) address.  Bills like the cellphone are no problem, but the banks and credit card companies require a physical address and they won’t accept the DakotaPost address as a physical address.  It has to do with the Patriot Act and they say there’s no way around it.  They will let me use the DakotaPost address as a “mailing address” but not as a “physical address”.  It’s hardwired into the system to not allow commercial addresses no matter how you list it (apt, suite, #, etc).  I could use my daughter in CA address as the physical and DakotaPost as the mailing address but my fear is that the bank will send a 1099-INT form to my daughters address and trigger CA to think that I’m a CA resistant and should be filling taxes there.  How do other full timers handle this dilemma?  Any and all comments are welcomed.

It may depend on the bank and how they interpret the regulations.  Our brokerage and a credit card company haven't complained about our Escapees SD address.  We still have most of our mail sent to the Texas mail service address.

Art
Art and Barbara
Settled in Atterdag Village of Solvang
2015-2022 fulltime in a 2016 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP
2002-2015 2002 LD MB
Art's blog
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #11 –
Quote from: J Sadler  - 
That's odd I just checked my account and it is using HTTPS for login and account renewal. I tried forcing it to HTTP and it redirected it to HTTPS. I'm using Firefox, but that shouldn't make a difference.

I basically did the same and saw the same results.  I even went into their web store and up to the checkout page it was an https: connection.  Same behavior using Firefox and Edge.

Art


Art and Barbara
Settled in Atterdag Village of Solvang
2015-2022 fulltime in a 2016 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37AP
2002-2015 2002 LD MB
Art's blog
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #12 –
Quote from: JohnR  - 
Last December I flew to Sioux Falls to setup my domicile in South Dakota.  I did this in anticipation of becoming a full timer later this year.  The process was really easy and only required a hotel stay for one night.  If anyone’s interested, I can give the details, but the end result is that I flew back the next day with an SD drivers license, Sioux Falls library card and Sioux Falls mailing address.

Now for my dilemma and question to fellow full timers.  I’ve been trying to change my bills, banks and credit cards to the new SD (DakotaPost) address.  Bills like the cellphone are no problem, but the banks and credit card companies require a physical address and they won’t accept the DakotaPost address as a physical address.  It has to do with the Patriot Act and they say there’s no way around it.  They will let me use the DakotaPost address as a “mailing address” but not as a “physical address”.  It’s hardwired into the system to not allow commercial addresses no matter how you list it (apt, suite, #, etc).  I could use my daughter in CA address as the physical and DakotaPost as the mailing address but my fear is that the bank will send a 1099-INT form to my daughters address and trigger CA to think that I’m a CA resistant and should be filling taxes there.  How do other full timers handle this dilemma?  Any and all comments are welcomed.

- John


I had posted this question to the group as a new topic because I didn’t want to hijack the OP’s original question.  Nevertheless, the administrator thought it was a good idea to combine topics.  So... if anyone has a suggestion or comment to my question, I would still greatly appreciate it.

BTW - To John Dacrema’s question... I’m using DakotaPost too.

- John
Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #13 –
Quote from: Older_Fossil  - 
It may depend on the bank and how they interpret the regulations.  Our brokerage and a credit card company haven't complained about our Escapees SD address.  We still have most of our mail sent to the Texas mail service address.

Art

Thanks Art,

USAA, Fidelity, American Express and Citi Visa all said the same thing.  I can use a mailing address but must have a physical address too.  You may be grandfathered in or maybe just under their radar.

- John
Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #14 –
"I even went into their web store and up to the checkout page it was an https: connection."

I'm glad to hear that. It's odd that I got straight http when I tried it just now. My comments about their dismissive attitude are based on when I and others raised this issue couple of years ago, but it is to be hoped that they've "got religion" since then. :-)
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Mail Forwarding Services
Reply #15 –
For what it's worth, I've had two banks, credit cards, a financial advisor, and two insurance companies all using my South Dakota PMB (Personal Mail Box) address, and before that my Texas PMB address, for a combined total of more than fifteen years. In that time I've changed insurance companies several times, added a new bank, and moved my domicile from TX to SD, so I don't think it's just a case of my being grandfathered in.

I know this doesn't help with the institutions you mentioned, but I'd suggest asking around. You may need to change providers to ones that are more accommodating. Again, I suggest searching the Escapees forums, where I know this topic has been extensively discussed.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Mail Forwarding Services - Physical Address vs Mailing Address
Reply #16 –
Quote from: Andy Baird  - 
I know this doesn't help with the institutions you mentioned, but I'd suggest asking around. You may need to change providers to ones that are more accommodating. Again, I suggest searching the Escapees forums, where I know this topic has been extensively discussed.

Thanks Andy, I’ll check out the Escapees forums.

- John
Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶
 
Re: Mail Forwarding Services - Physical Address vs Mailing Address
Reply #17 –
This is a follow up to the problem I was having getting the bank and credit card companies to accept my mail forwarding address as a physical address.  Trying different address formats (i.e. apt, suite, #, etc.) didn’t work and calling the financial companies to plead my case didn’t work either.  Well, after several tries, I finally discovered the magic on-line method and thought I’d pass it along in case someone else runs into this problem.  I don’t know if all these steps are necessary, but it has worked for me in all cases.  Also, all of my bank/cc accounts were already active.  I have not tried this on a new account and don’t know if it will work or not.

STEPS FOR CHANGING BANK/CC TO MAIL FORWARDING ADDRESS

  1.  Login to your bank/cc companies website.
  2.  Edit your profile addresses.  Use separate “mailing” and “physical” addresses when editing your profile info, even though eventually they will be the same.
  3.  On the “mailing” address 1st line, put your mail forwarding street address, but not the box number.
  4.  On the “mailing” address 2nd (optional) line, put your mail forwarding box number in the format #1234.
  5.  On the “mailing” address zip code line, put the full <5digit>-<4digit> zip code.  This is to get past the website address check.
  6.  Enter your “mailing” address city and state.
  7.  On the “physical” address repeat steps 3, 5 and 6 but leave off your mail forwarding box number.
  8.  OK, continue or accept the changes you made and logout.
  9.  Login to your bank/cc companies website again.
  10. Edit your “physical” address 2nd (optional) line and put your mail forwarding box number in the format #1234.
  11. OK, continue or accept the changes you made and logout.

That’s it... a bit long and convoluted process, but so far it has worked every time.  I’m hoping that will be the end of it.

- John
Fulltimer with a 2021 MId-Bath “Babe”, 1996 Cherokee “Scout” and “Bandit” the wonder dog 🐶