Mail Forwarding Continued…

How does it work?

The mail forwarding service will collect your mail and hold it for you until you request that it be shipped to a certain location. You either set up automatic forwarding dates or alert them when you want items sent. Many services will inform you, often by way of the Internet, that you have received mail and usually tell you what it is. If you are waiting for a certain package you can have it sent right away or have certain items held.

Most mail forwarding services provide a list of other services they provide, sometimes for an additional fee. They can hold and sort or toss junk mail at your request. Mail forwarding services also tend to use trusted, well known carriers to forward your mail including, United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express (FedEx) or DHL.

Why Choose Mail Forwarding?

You make one call to the forwarding service instead of multiple calls to every company and publication that you receive mail from. Why not just change your address with the post office you ask? When forwarding mail through the post office others are alerted of your move through mailing lists that contain your new name and address. The post office sells these lists to companies for a profit. This can result in more junk mail. Also, mail will be returned to the sender with your new information for correct shipping. Junk mail will follow you!

The mailing service will alert you of mail that is received and you can instruct them whether to ship it, hold on to it, or throw it out. You can also request that the service watch for a particular item that you are expecting. Some companies even have a junk mail service where they will automatically filter any mail that is junk. This can cut down on the cost of receiving your mail, which is charged according to weight. It would be disappointing to pay to finally get your mail only to find that most of it is junk.

How much does it cost?

The cost of mail forwarding can vary greatly depending on a few factors. Where your mail is getting forwarded to, how much it weights, and how often it is being sent to you. The general cost can also vary greatly depending on which company you choose. Some charge an annual fee and some do not. Some have hidden fees and some will charge for extra services. Cost can run anywhere from $10 to more than $200 annually, with shipping fee adding up to as much as $2,000. So, although it may be more expensive, the convenience and piece of mind could be worth the cost.

By Jeanne Rongitsch