An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?


--
"In our post-modern world, climate science is not powerful because it is
true: it is true because it is powerful."

Lucas Bergkamp

On Mon, 21 Nov 2016 10:34:55 +0000
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?



Have somebody with a key go in every couple of days and gather the post
together in a pile on a table, or in a bag.

--
Davey.

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?



Build a big external mailbox, ours holds about 6cu ft of mail and crap.

On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Royal Mail Keepsafe stores incoming mail for up to 66 days.
http://www.royalmail.com/personal/re...-mail/keepsafe

£23 for up to 31 days, £44 for up to 66 days.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

Poste Restante is for travellers on the move needing a temporary address.

Owain

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?


He needs to check his home insurance too. Many policies only cover
absences of 30 days. Having someone go in to check the place is normally
classed as sufficient by insurers.

In article ,
Davey wrote:
On Mon, 21 Nov 2016 10:34:55 +0000
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?



Have somebody with a key go in every couple of days and gather the post
together in a pile on a table, or in a bag.

And generally check things over. It's not just mail piling up that tells a
neredowell a property is empty. You'd have thought that stating the
bleeding obvious to one like Turnip who knows so much.

--
*I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas & electricity.

Empty freezers & fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days & check the place out.

harry wrote:
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas& electricity.

Empty freezers& fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days& check the place out.

Scaremongering. The risks are minimal if you don't have a modern
boiler. If you turn off the heating, you give yourself lots more
problems, like having yo put anti freeze into toilets etc. BTDTGTTS!

On 21/11/16 16:48, Capitol wrote:
harry wrote:
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas& electricity.

Empty freezers& fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days& check the place out.

Scaremongering. The risks are minimal if you don't have a modern
boiler. If you turn off the heating, you give yourself lots more
problems, like having yo put anti freeze into toilets etc. BTDTGTTS!

I have (someone else) chest freezer that I haven't opened for a year now.

I certainly wouldn't turn off a freezer.

I'll be around to sort some of his stuff out, but not all the time.



--
Microsoft : the best reason to go to Linux that ever existed.

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
news
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont hold
5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed with
weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

One obvious alternative is to get a neighbour to collect the mail.

That's what we do.

On 21/11/16 18:22, Hankat wrote:


"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
news
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

One obvious alternative is to get a neighbour to collect the mail.

That's what we do.

If I can organise that for him, that is best. I wont be there myself




--
€œIt is hard to imagine a more stupid decision or more dangerous way of
making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people
who pay no price for being wrong.€�

Thomas Sowell

"harry" wrote in message
...
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas & electricity.

Empty freezers & fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Mad to do all that for just 5 weeks.

Makes a lot more sense to get someone to check daily etc.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days & check the place out.

On 21/11/16 16:48, Capitol wrote:
harry wrote:
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas& electricity.

Empty freezers& fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days& check the place out.

Scaremongering. The risks are minimal if you don't have a modern
boiler. If you turn off the heating, you give yourself lots more
problems, like having yo put anti freeze into toilets etc. BTDTGTTS!

One useful and cheap thing is a couple of timers to switch lights on -
one downstairs and one upstairs. Or in a couple of different rooms if a
bungalow or flat on one level.

--

Jeff

"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
news
On 21/11/16 16:48, Capitol wrote:
harry wrote:
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas& electricity.

Empty freezers& fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days& check the place out.

Scaremongering. The risks are minimal if you don't have a modern
boiler. If you turn off the heating, you give yourself lots more
problems, like having yo put anti freeze into toilets etc. BTDTGTTS!

One useful and cheap thing is a couple of timers to switch lights on - one
downstairs and one upstairs. Or in a couple of different rooms if a
bungalow or flat on one level.

Its far from clear that that does actually make any significant difference.

Apparently most of the crims knock on the door to see if there is anyone
home.

We really need some decent stats now that its so easy to log when that
sort of thing happens with so many with decent surveillance systems
but I spose they arent likely to be too keen on publishing the stats
even if they have them.

In article ,
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

It's called "Keepsafe". The local sorting office will hold mail until you
return. Collect form at any Post Office or look at Royal Mail's website

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England

On 21/11/2016 10:58, Davey wrote:
On Mon, 21 Nov 2016 10:34:55 +0000
The Natural Philosopher wrote:

An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?



Have somebody with a key go in every couple of days and gather the post
together in a pile on a table, or in a bag.

Yes.

As others have said, it's sensible to check and the insurance probably
requires it.

Because any mail that comes through my letterbox ends up on the floor
where it can be seen, when I go away for any time, I rig up a pillowcase
behind the slot so that the mail drops into that and remains out of
sight behind the door.

Nick

On 21/11/16 20:46, Rod Speed wrote:


"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
news
On 21/11/16 16:48, Capitol wrote:
harry wrote:
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas& electricity.

Empty freezers& fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days& check the place out.

Scaremongering. The risks are minimal if you don't have a modern
boiler. If you turn off the heating, you give yourself lots more
problems, like having yo put anti freeze into toilets etc. BTDTGTTS!

One useful and cheap thing is a couple of timers to switch lights on - one
downstairs and one upstairs. Or in a couple of different rooms if a
bungalow or flat on one level.

Its far from clear that that does actually make any significant difference.

Apparently most of the crims knock on the door to see if there is anyone
home.

We really need some decent stats now that its so easy to log when that
sort of thing happens with so many with decent surveillance systems
but I spose they arent likely to be too keen on publishing the stats
even if they have them.

Probably not. I guess the idea is to dissuade the crims. If there are 10
houses in a street with lights on, whether occupied or not, and a couple
without lights, I think they would try those first. I wonder if those
"fake TV" lights flashing various colours behind closed curtains are any
better?

--

Jeff

Well can you not redirect it or set it up as an alternate address say a uk
relative. its done a lot for those going into hospital for long periods so
it has to be possible though of course knowing the post office probably not
free.
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
news
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont hold
5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed with
weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?


--
"In our post-modern world, climate science is not powerful because it is
true: it is true because it is powerful."

Lucas Bergkamp

On 22/11/2016 08:25, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 21/11/16 20:46, Rod Speed wrote:


"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
news
On 21/11/16 16:48, Capitol wrote:
harry wrote:
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

He also needs to turn off water and drain down tanks in loft.
Including central heating.
Also gas& electricity.

Empty freezers& fridges.
Get rid of perishable food.
Clean and leave doors open.

Hide/remove all valuable items.

Leaving houses empty this time of year is bad news.

Get someone to go in every few days& check the place out.

Scaremongering. The risks are minimal if you don't have a modern
boiler. If you turn off the heating, you give yourself lots more
problems, like having yo put anti freeze into toilets etc. BTDTGTTS!

One useful and cheap thing is a couple of timers to switch lights on
- one
downstairs and one upstairs. Or in a couple of different rooms if a
bungalow or flat on one level.

Its far from clear that that does actually make any significant
difference.

Apparently most of the crims knock on the door to see if there is anyone
home.

We really need some decent stats now that its so easy to log when that
sort of thing happens with so many with decent surveillance systems
but I spose they arent likely to be too keen on publishing the stats
even if they have them.

Probably not. I guess the idea is to dissuade the crims. If there are 10
houses in a street with lights on, whether occupied or not, and a couple
without lights, I think they would try those first. I wonder if those
"fake TV" lights flashing various colours behind closed curtains are any
better?

I've got one of those. It looks convincing to me but then a) I haven't
got a real telly to compare it with and b) I'm not a burglar whose
livlihood depends on such discernment.

Nick

On 22/11/2016 23:53, Nick Odell wrote:
On 22/11/2016 08:25, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 21/11/16 20:46, Rod Speed wrote:


"Jeff Layman" wrote in message
news On 21/11/16 16:48, Capitol wrote:
harry wrote:
On Monday, 21 November 2016 10:34:58 UTC, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to
visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?

We have a friend come and pick it up every few days. We didn't bother
one year and couldn't open the door when we came home. So much junk mail
and something jammed perfectly under the door.

Mike

On Monday, November 21, 2016 at 10:34:58 AM UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?



What about setting up 'mail redirection' to a friend's house? It does;'t cost much. He can cancel it when he comes home again.

Robert

On 24/11/16 15:12, RobertL wrote:
On Monday, November 21, 2016 at 10:34:58 AM UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?



What about setting up 'mail redirection' to a friend's house? It does;'t cost much. He can cancel it when he comes home again.

Robert

He has organised another neighbour to come in and put the mail in a safe
place.


--
"Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social
conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the
windows of my apartment. (I live on the twenty-first floor.) "

Alan Sokal

On 21/11/2016 10:34, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?




Just typed Royal mail hold post ...
http://www.royalmail.com/personal/re...-mail/keepsafe

They will hold mail for up to 60 days

On 25/11/2016 23:00, Huge wrote:
On 2016-11-25, rick wrote:
On 21/11/2016 10:34, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?




Just typed Royal mail hold post ...
http://www.royalmail.com/personal/re...-mail/keepsafe

They will hold mail for up to 60 days

Said solution now having been repeatedly mentioned.

I only read the 1st 7 posts - didn't read them all... never mind

On 26/11/16 20:46, rick wrote:
On 25/11/2016 23:00, Huge wrote:
On 2016-11-25, rick wrote:
On 21/11/2016 10:34, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
An elderly friend is going abroad over Christmas for 5 weeks to visit
family, and wants to know what to do about his letterbox, which wont
hold 5 weeks of mail and would rather give the game away if left
stuffed
with weeks old letters.

Poste Restante seems to only hold mail for two weeks.

What are the alternatives?




Just typed Royal mail hold post ...
http://www.royalmail.com/personal/re...-mail/keepsafe

They will hold mail for up to 60 days

Said solution now having been repeatedly mentioned.

I only read the 1st 7 posts - didn't read them all... never mind


S'all right. Good responses all round, and as I said, all been sorted by
neighbour coming in.

--
€œBut what a weak barrier is truth when it stands in the way of an
hypothesis!€�

Mary Wollstonecraft