Address when travelling

Submitted: Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 10:15
ThreadID: 88479 Views:1974 Replies:10 FollowUps:2
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Hi,

We're heading off on our travels at the end of September. We've sold our house, so obviously won't have an address, so what do we do for address details when we're travelling? ie: for the bank, Medicare, Centrelink etc We can plan ahead for where we're going to be staying for family and friends to post items to, but I just don't know what to do for the others. Do we need Auspost to hold post for us, or can they forward it on? Help :)

Thanks
Rachel
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Reply By: Member - Vince M (NSW) - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 10:46

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 10:46
years ago when I travelled I arranged with my local post office to hold mail & then when I knew where I would be, I would have them send it care of that post office & it worked fine. I no my local post office is still doing this. For locals & visitors. now when I am away from work for a while the book keeper just scans the mail & emails it all to me, I can check it, pay it, or respond to it & that's worked fine for years as well & its a lot nicer paying the bills sitting next too a nice water hole,on top of a, etc... & no stress or distraction's other than the surroundings
Good luck
AnswerID: 462638

Reply By: snoopyone - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:19

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:19
We used a friends address and all our mail went to them.

We put in a redirection order from our old house address to their PO Box.
We used their street address for our residency address.

We also notified all of the above places of the change and again after the trip when we settled down

They opened it and if we needed it the either gave us the details or scanned and emailed documents that needed paying.

Every so often they would put what they had in an express bag and post it to where we expected to be in a couple of weeks.

Worked for us.

With Centrelink if you get rent assistance you have to notify them EVERY

TIME you move or they wont pay you retrospectively.

You can now tell them NOT to send a new pension card each time as they

used to do prior to July 2009.

I dont think Auspost offer a service other than a redirection order for a fixed period to one address and at a cost.
AnswerID: 462644

Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:26

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:26
VKS-737 run such a service, forwarding mail to travellers for a fee. See their web site, you will find a link there somewhere.

You can have mail (marked "hold for") forwarded to any post office in Australia and collect it there with photo ID.

We usually have a friend or family member sort the mail before forwarding to us on our travels. There are also "secretarial" (spelling?) services that provide a similar service.

See also Campervan & Motorhome website for service providers
regards
Fred B
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AnswerID: 462647

Reply By: just goin - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:34

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 12:34
Hi Rachel,

When we done ouy lap of the island we got a PO Box and a family member checked it for us every week or so. We made sure it was in a convenient location to where the normally go shopping and they just posted it to us when we could let them know were we would be.

Anything important or official looking we just got them to open it and read it over the phone.

Where possible we arranged for phone bills, school stuff (for the kids), bank statements ect to be sent electronically.

Hope this helps


Happy trails

JG
AnswerID: 462648

Reply By: Member - John and Lynne - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 13:00

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 13:00
We would arrange to use a family member's address for those times when you must fill in a form with a residential address, not a PO box. If you are travelling for a lengthy period and have sold your home this enables you to remain on an electoral roll, not be registered as "homeless" for a census, acquire a driver's licence etc without a lot of hassle.
In preparation for this long term travelling we are getting rid of as much mail as possible with electronic bill paying, telephone banking, cancelling subscriptions, asking to be taken off mailing lists (you can ask to be put on an email list of any that you like to receive from your favourite charities, wine clubs etc!). Otherwise mail is redirected to a family member who forwards the little that is necessary. On our last trip there was NO mail that needed forwarding to us in three months! So we are getting there! Once you have got rid of mail you might want to receive you can soon stop paying Australia Post's exhorbitant fees for redirecting or holding mail and just leave the unnecessary stuff to be thrown out by the new residents of your old house! Cheers Lynne
AnswerID: 462649

Follow Up By: Member - John and Lynne - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 16:02

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 16:02
Remember it is necessary to notify all friends and family and people you do business with that, in future, you can only be contacted by email or mobile phone. You can stay in touch with people the same way - a group email or web blog helps make this easy. Everyone will be SO pleased to find they don't need to send you Christmas or birthday cards. Do make sure your bank doesn't keep posting crdit or debit cards to your old address - we intend to arrange to collect them from a convenient branch when they are due for renewal.
We really look forward to being free of the whole issue of mail! Lynne
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Reply By: Shaker - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 16:52

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 16:52
Try Googling 'poste restante', not sure if it will appply for your situation.
AnswerID: 462667

Reply By: kidsandall - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 18:55

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 18:55
When we did our trip we used a friends address. That's where we lived and were just on holidays. When they got mail they rang us and we told them where to send it. They simply wrapped tape around the bundle and wrote "Redirect to ...Address". They also wrote Please Hold on it. No stamp, no redirection fees. In 3 yrs we never lost mail and never paid for redirection. We did get taken off the electrol roll cause apprarently we didn't provide enough detail and they said it would just be easier to re enroll when we got back. Once we changed direction and mail had been dent already. We rang the PO and asked them to forward it to us. Not a problem. At the end of the day you are just on a long holiday. Give them a friends address and say your boarding with them when not on holidays.

Josh
AnswerID: 462674

Reply By: Motherhen - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 19:50

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 19:50
Hi Rachel

With many mail forwarding (or scan and email) services to choose from, mail isn't as much of a problem as no fixed address is when it comes to vehicle and driver's licences and insurance. All are geared to bricks and mortar address. A few issues here: Full time on the road

There are many others out there with a home on wheels - have a wonderful time.

Motherhen
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 19:55

Monday, Aug 15, 2011 at 19:55
PS: Although not full time on the road, we have toured for months at a time, and handled all correspondence, bills and business mail (farm) on line. We are lucky to have a family member to collect the mail (from post office box) screen and email anything important. When we get home, aside from bills and a few important documents that need saving, boxes and boxes of mail just goes into the fire. Most of it is just unsolicited junk. With shares and the like, i choose the electronic mail only option.

Mh
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Reply By: claretandblue - Tuesday, Aug 16, 2011 at 10:24

Tuesday, Aug 16, 2011 at 10:24
Thanks so much for your advice guys, it is really appreciated.
AnswerID: 462716

Reply By: Puma1 - Thursday, Aug 18, 2011 at 00:19

Thursday, Aug 18, 2011 at 00:19
Ha! We just sold our house too (only took a couple of days) and should be settled 6 weeeks so will be heading of at the end of Sept too!
We're going for 2/3-10 years. If we love it we keep going if we get sick of it we stop. No time limit, No budget restraint, No commitments, Healthy & No worries, can't wait!
Heading north to the Sunshine coast via Mudgee from Wollongong got to be there (sunshine coast Caloundra) by 28th Oct we've got tickets to see Cold Chissel that night.
Sealing the deal with my partner of 30years on the beach 11/11/11 then heading south by the coast road (cans 'n' boots on tow).
Summer in Vic & SA then up the middle to Darwin for next winter and across the top then down the west coast for the summer and back up for the winter.
Should have burnt about $14,000 in diesel by then - so I guess it will be time to
"DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN"!!
In 11 years when I'm 65 I may even retire! Then the fun will really begin:-)

You guys have a great time, keep you're eyes open for us.
2011 Silver Nissan Navara STX 550 tuggin a White 28.5ft 5th wheeler (Puma). NSW plates
Cheers Nigel
AnswerID: 462847

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