US Approved Corvid Stimulus Package- Where's The Money

[earthdome]

51 minutes ago, Tommy T. said:

What is that? I have never seen nor heard of that before. Is this because you use Clint Eastwood's photo so they think you are a born again Paladin?

If the address you use for SS is outside the US or the account where the money is direct deposited is outside the US you have to complete a form each year to show you are still alive.

[Tommy T.]

10 minutes ago, earthdome said:

If the address you use for SS is outside the US or the account where the money is direct deposited is outside the US you have to complete a form each year to show you are still alive.

Ah... okay, thanks, Dome. No wonder I have never heard of this. I guess, to me, it's another reason to keep accounts and mailing address in USA? Another hassle reducer?

I just hope those who receive their checks by mail here in Phils get them soon!

[hk blues]

17 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

I have never tried to send anything outbound as the few things I really needed to send were worth spending $25 on DHL.

My inbound is a joke.  When I get something I always check the dates stamped on the letters.  It usually gets to the Philippines in a reasonable time and even to Zambales not bad.  Then it takes a month to get to me.  There is one guy on a motorcycle who delivers the entire Subic Freeport, which is not really that many postal addresses.  He has told us a few times "I have been so busy that I have not been up here in a few weeks" and then you see him parked in the shade along side the road.  The post office is staffed by 3 or 4 people and everytime I have been there they seem to overstaffed by 3.5 head.

For LBC to the UK it's $60 - pretty expensive so I'd only use it for something really necessary i.e. passport.  Everything else has gone normal/registered and so far. no issues i'm aware of.  Takes 3 weeks give or take.

Inbound - takes 2-3 months.  I'd say the same as you - the issue is getting from Manila to my local office.  Sounds like your system is like ours - the postman brings it periodically.  In theory twice a week but I usually get a bundle at the same time so more like once a month.  To be fair, he does bring any packages quickly even though we are supposed to pick them up.  

All in all, I do wish the inbound post was quicker but I cannot say it's that bad given it hasn't caused me any issues in the 5 years I've been here.  

[OnMyWay]

10 minutes ago, hk blues said:

For LBC to the UK it's $60 - pretty expensive so I'd only use it for something really necessary i.e. passport.  Everything else has gone normal/registered and so far. no issues i'm aware of.  Takes 3 weeks give or take.

Inbound - takes 2-3 months.  I'd say the same as you - the issue is getting from Manila to my local office.  Sounds like your system is like ours - the postman brings it periodically.  In theory twice a week but I usually get a bundle at the same time so more like once a month.  To be fair, he does bring any packages quickly even though we are supposed to pick them up.  

All in all, I do wish the inbound post was quicker but I cannot say it's that bad given it hasn't caused me any issues in the 5 years I've been here.  

You might want to try DHL next time.  Might be cheaper.

[GeoffH]

You guys have a postman?  As far as I can tell the local Post Office staff never come to our subdivision.

We have to go to the Post Office and ask.

[hk blues]

2 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

You might want to try DHL next time.  Might be cheaper.

I'll look into it - I don't see a DHL anywhere but there will be an office somewhere in the city.  

[hk blues]

1 minute ago, GeoffH said:

You guys have a postman?  As far as I can tell the local Post Office staff never come to our subdivision.

We have to go to the Post Office and ask.

I do but a couple of my neighbours say the same as you - they don't get mail delivered and have to pick it up.  Strange given we live in the same community.  

[Tommy T.]

55 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

You might want to try DHL next time.  Might be cheaper.

I will second DHL, OMW, although I use snail mail rarely. I am not sure whether they are cheaper, but the service here and back is impressive. I can track anything easily online and coming here from Seattle usually happens in 5 working days on average. I have had mail packages go "missing" at the post office, only to be returned months later to sender in USA.

[OnMyWay]

1 hour ago, Tommy T. said:

I will second DHL, OMW, although I use snail mail rarely. I am not sure whether they are cheaper, but the service here and back is impressive. I can track anything easily online and coming here from Seattle usually happens in 5 working days on average. I have had mail packages go "missing" at the post office, only to be returned months later to sender in USA.

DHL also has a long history of operating during trying times, war zones, etc., when the other guys shut down.  So their service might be better during this Covid scare.

[hk blues]

2 hours ago, Tommy T. said:

I will second DHL, OMW, although I use snail mail rarely. I am not sure whether they are cheaper, but the service here and back is impressive. I can track anything easily online and coming here from Seattle usually happens in 5 working days on average. I have had mail packages go "missing" at the post office, only to be returned months later to sender in USA.

I had a birthday card make its way here 9 months or more late.  The sender forgot to put the country on the envelope so it made its way to Savannah, Georgia - I live in Savannah, Iloilo.  Credit to them for showing some initiative and geographic knowledge but I wish they had just searched where Iloilo was.  Regardless, kinda impressive that it made its way here at all.  Just in time for the next year!