As I wrote in the Go Digital post,  you need the US address.  That can be established when you subscribe to the mail forwarding service. What is the best mail forwarding service for us?

My husband found out that the number of mail forwarding services and plans was overwhelming. While trying to include most popular (or promoted) ones, he surely missed way more. But his quest was to find the best match for us, rather than evaluating them all, so he just stopped after finding one. Things also may change with time. So keep it in mind.

While theoretically, you get what you pay for, as with everything else, many things here take digging. You really need some clue about how things work and what to ask for.

For instance, some services out there only provide PO BOX (Paperless), or charge extra for the real street address (EarthClassMail), don’t provide scanning /on-line mail managing option (MyUs), have many complains (Bongous), or have limited life support hours (USAMail1) or none at all (USA BOX) and so on.

In addition to the services, plans and prices, he also looked at simplicity of use, Better Business Bureau, and viral Web complains, years in business, and even number of full-time employees. He also actually tested their customer service by contacting them!

Some other considerations for retirees can be getting an actual street address in a tax-friendly state, with a plan of possibly establishing a legal residency there (Domicile (law), like in Florida, Taxes, Nevada etc…)

Upon reviewing more than 11 Mail Forwarding Services, his personal choice was Traveling Mail Box , to our surprise, I should say. New kid on the block and rather small, it makes up more than enough for it by simple, straight-forward business model and user interface, unmatched plan/price ratio, free giveaways (no signup fee and free mail storage!!),  and a sharp 24×7 life customer service.

The rest of the service providers are listed in the Appendix in the end.

Good luck finding yours!

Appendix:

Service Providers reviewed:

• USAMail1 (life support only during office hours)
• Earth Class Mail (separate location – monthly charge $14.95)
• Mailforwarding, MyUs, US Global Mail, USA2ME, USA BOX (no life support)
• MailLink
• Bongous
• Paperless
• Traveling Mail Box

Parameters researched:

• Real Street Address
• On-line mail management option
• Scanning Mail
• Junk Mail Disposal
• Signup Fee
• Monthly Rates
• Bonuses
• Complains BBB & Viral
• How Long in Business
• Full time Employees
• Customer Service
• Check Deposit Solution
• Critical Items watch
• Mail Pickup when in Neighborhood,
• Personal Shoppers Service