Virtual Mail For Cruisers

[Jdornick]

Hi All,
Im not sure if this topic has already been discussed but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with virtual mail services. We will be out of the country indefinitely and would like to change our mail to virtual. I have done some research on Earthclass, Travelingmailbox and docksidemail and while all could possibly fit the bill each had there set backs. If anyone has experience with this or has a service they love could you please share with us. Thanks again as always.

 

[mvweebles]

St Brendan's Isle
411 Walnut St
Green Cove Springs FL.

They are legendary in rhe cruisers and RV set. You won't be disappointed.

Peter

 

[Simi 60]

Why not just get all bills and statements sent electronically?

Service providers in Oz do it, surely the US can.
Saves on postage and paper costs.

 

[mvweebles]

Why not just get all bills and statements sent electronically?

Service providers in Oz do it, surely the US can.
Saves on postage and paper costs.

For me, need a base address for credit card companies, etc. Need a billing address. I sold my house last year and although I have another base of operations, I don't spend much time there. Having someone receive the mail and scan the envelop let's me know what to have them shred, what to forward to me. They will also open mail and scan the contents so you don't have to wait for the mail.

Finally, you can actually use it to establish residency in Florida, a no-tax state. I have lived there for 17 years so not a benefit for me (though it was one of the reasons I chose Florida).

For $15/mo (plus fees for shipping), it's a pretty convenient service.

Peter

 

[Simi 60]

I think your missing my point
Service provers, banks etc here instead of printing what's on the screen onto paper and posting simply send it by email if requested.

No need for someone to open and scan mail.

 

[twistedtree]

I've been using TravelingMailbox for about 2 years now, and am pretty pleased with it. I picked it over Dockside & St Brendon's because you can set up your address in a number of different locations, and I wanted one in my resident state. They can handle packages, but I don't use them for that - just at a catch-all for the stuff that still comes via regular mail. I have as much as possible emailed to me directly, but there is always stuff that will only go via the post office.


The only down side is that although they have address all over the country, they are just drop locations, and everything gets forwarded to either SC or NC (can't recall which) where it's scanned. As a result there can be some delay, but it's still better than the delays forwarding through the USPS.

 

[twistedtree]

I think your missing my point
Service provers, banks etc here instead of printing what's on the screen onto paper and posting simply send it by email if requested.

No need for someone to open and scan mail.

I don't know if it's a US thing, but some stuff will only go via postal mail. Credit Cards, debit cards, debit card PIN numbers, drivers licenses, renewed passports, documentation certificates, just to name a few. Also, all my municipal bills for property taxes, city water, and excise taxes are only sent via regular mail.

 

[mvweebles]

I don't know if it's a US thing, but some stuff will only go via postal mail. Credit Cards, debit cards, debit card PIN numbers, drivers licenses, renewed passports, documentation certificates, just to name a few. Also, all my municipal bills for property taxes, city water, and excise taxes are only sent via regular mail.

Yep. Need some sort of physical address. Even where paper mail is de-selected in favor of electronic notifications, banks and such require a physical mailing address on file.

Peter

 

[Moonfish]

Dockside Mail. We use their services when away from home for more than 3 weeks at a time. Created and owned by a liveaboard/cruiser who fully understood the boater’s perspective and unique requirements.

https://www.docksidemail.com/

 

[Simi 60]

I don't know if it's a US thing, but some stuff will only go via postal mail. Credit Cards, debit cards, debit card PIN numbers, drivers licenses, renewed passports, documentation certificates, just to name a few. Also, all my municipal bills for property taxes, city water, and excise taxes are only sent via regular mail.

Gee that's tough.

For us here in Oz we get new Debit Master/Visa cards get sent to a convenient bank branch en route
Drivers licence, passports and parcels get sent to a free "Parcel Collect" address at the nearest post office
All other stuff including all property rates, water, boat and vehicle rego, insurance etc is via email.

The only thing we had to get sent to an actual house was our Medicare card (Free health care)

 

[tiltrider1]

Since OP appears based in Seattle I would recommend Dockside at 7001 Seaview Ave. One advantage is the physical address is acceptable to the Government as a physical residence. I have had trouble using my office address. Some times the government says not acceptable as a home address. I have not had that problem when using Dockside.

 

[fgarriso]

St Brendan's Isle
411 Walnut St
Green Cove Springs FL.

They are legendary in rhe cruisers and RV set. You won't be disappointed.

Peter

 

[Hippocampus]

While I would give St. B a +1 but found having family and advisors involved was very helpful. We went cruising for 8 years. Kept a house (in fact had it built while we were away) but also used financial advisor, accountant, and at times lawyer(s) as surrogates. Had one daughter also available to monitor mail. She was given some limited abilities to act as surrogate as were the others. Yes, all bills were placed on autopay. But some (taxes) vary so placed on autopilot using surrogates. During this period had major real estate transactions. Both sales and purchases. Hardest part was finding ways to have signatures witnessed as USA (and state of residency) recognized as notaries and lawyers with USA credentials were hard to find or charged silly money so were unacceptable. Many things didn’t have that need. Could get documents via encrypted satellite communications and respond the same way.
Obligations can be divided as things to pay (easy) and things to have legal witnessed actions (hard). Was taught conversations over the phone are pretty secure. But internet (even vpn) is problematic even if you avoid Wi-Fi. Used our satellite system following that advice and had no troubles.
Think everyone’s life is different but generally speaking if you set up a really good support team, play the “what if” game, plan ahead, and use a virtual mail service this isn’t an obstacle. We were able to have no communication with home except at our discretion. Utilized this ability for weeks at a times. We did set up mechanisms for urgent contact should a catastrophe occur but that’s it. Fortunately never happened. Having everything possible on autopilot was wonderful. Mail is just one part of the plan.

 

[Jdornick]

Thanks everybody. I appreciate it.

 

[MOJO]

Been using TravelingMailbox for years with no complaints at all. Super easy to set up, inexpensive, personal service whenever needed including being able to talk to the owner. Great to get email copies of the outside of all envelopes. On a number of occasions I've asked them open things and scan the content. This was always done the same day. Highly recommend them! I use the North Carolina address...

 

[AquilaCat]

physicaladdress.com

Most things are electronic these days, but we've used this service for 5 years https://physicaladdress.com All envelopes are scanned: can be forwarded, content scanned, stored, or shredded. Has multiple US locations and good support. I don’t see First Class International mail as a forwarding option, so you would have to contact them.

The hardest part of virtual mail is the change of address with all companies, banks, etc. and getting off all of the catalog and junk mail lists, which automatically follow your change of address. It took months to track down the senders and force them to stop.

Florida does not accept mail forwarding addresses as a domicile so we used a marina address for drivers license and voting. Banks and insurance accepted it. The Feds don’t care what your address is. Mail ballots and registrations go to our "mailing” address but ballots cannot be scanned, so you can forward a ballot or arrange for overseas voting. We use a virtual notary service for wills, contracts, etc. Visa service for travel visas, but you still have to send your passport. We've been printing scanned copies of registration documents and then once a year we bulk forward our mail to a marina we’re staying at.

Lyle & Jan Huff

 

[Phantomflyboy]

Washington Address

Few of things to consider if you want to use Dockside to become a Washington resident. Washington does not have a State income tax. It does have a substantial Estate Tax, with an exemption way below the CURRENT Federal level. Washington is a community property State. They recently passed a capital gains tax, which is under dispute. These should be evaluated depending on your circumstances.