How to Get My Own PO Box

It is worrisome to miss out on a mail especially if it is totally important or if you paid for it. Unfortunately, most mail services do not guarantee a secure and fast mail delivery if the mail is posted in a physical address. It is a good thing that another option is available for us to receive our mails. This is where a post office box comes in.

Once you have a post office box, you will be entitled to a lot of advantages that are so favorable you will never go back to having your mail delivered in your street address again. Gone will be the days where you have to wait for your mail man in the front porch and the times when you are left wondering where your October issue of Time Magazine is.

Before you think of these possibilities, learn first how you could get your own post office box. Don’t worry. It is really simple and sooner than you know it, you can have your mails sent to your post office box.

The normal practice is that post office boxes are for rent. So the first step in getting your own PO Box is to look for the most convenient place to rent one. There is an alternative to the UPS post office box. Aside from the United States Postal Service, there are other places where you can rent a post office box such as shipping establishments and grocery stores. Take into consideration that these places have waiting lists. For you to land on your ideal location, plan ahead. If you are one of those people who switch residence thrice or more times a year, settle down on a location that is accessible to the freeway.

To avoid the hassle of running from the rental place to your home and back again, don’t forget to bring valid identification cards. The reasonable number is three IDs. You can use your driver’s license, passport, any of your bank cards, birth certificate, your social security number, even a mail with your current address. If you are renting a post office box which is not in the area of your current address, the verification process may take a longer time.

Go to the counter person upon entering the rental place for post office boxes. He or she will give you an application form. Fill out the form accurately. If you encounter a question that needs clarification, better ask for assistance so that it will not lead to future inconveniences.

You have key decisions to make before you rent a post office box. Decide on how long you are going to rent one. Your choices vary from a month up to a year. However, your selection may be limited depending on the availability of the boxes. Here’s a tip for you: longer rentals are eligible for discounts.

Another factor that affects the rental fee is the size of the post office box. Sizes range from small size, which is 3” x 5.5”, to large size, which is 22.5” x 12”. Be wise in choosing a box size. If you are going to use your post office box mainly for mails, better stock with the small size. If you are expecting regular large packages, then, by all means, rent the large size. Just remember, the smaller the box is the cheaper is the rent. A case in point is the rent of a small post office box is about $40 a year.

The accepted payment method differs from one establishment to another. It is safe to say that it will be any of the three Cs: cash, check, or credit card. Pay for your box and get your key. The counter person will give you your post office box key and your box number. If you are getting another key, you are going to be charged for it. It is advisable, though, to get at least two keys for emergencies. When you already have your key and number, you’re good to go.