1257 Post Office Box

How easy (should that be DIFFICULT) is it to open a PO box? I have been told there is a waiting list unless you know someone with inside contacts.
Our house is at the end of a 1km dirt track, has no phone line or official address so when we move in permanently at the end of the month we are going to be isolated from the outside world - which is the main reason for going there! No more Cherie Blair,John Prescott, speed cameras, Eastenders, yob culture - oops I seem to have wandered off the subject,
We are going to need an address of some sort if we are to receive bills etc but more importantlyto receive our regular supply of PG Tips from UK.
Also, any idea on how much it costs if I am able to get one?
Anyone in the same position?

Category
Cost of living - Utility Services

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/05/2005 - 10:21

We went to our local Post Office who have PO boxes 'on offer'. If you ask nicely, the PO are also happy to hold on to your post until you collec it from them...well, at least ours is!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/05/2005 - 12:13

That sounds too easy - does it have to be the main post office for the area, in my case Ostuni, or do all the smaller post offices in surrounding area offer the same service?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 09/05/2005 - 12:43

We are just outside San Vito dei Normanni with no address etc. The Post Office in town didn't have any vacant boxes but all our mail goes to Post Office address and we collect it a couple of times a week. No Problem.......

They said they will let us know when they have a free box ( which will save queueing...although we've found going about 1.30-2.30 pm is best...everyone having a siesta..so no queues !) but so far nothing..4 months down the line.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/06/2005 - 04:01

[QUOTE=j.bowles]That sounds too easy - does it have to be the main post office for the area, in my case Ostuni, or do all the smaller post offices in surrounding area offer the same service?[/QUOTE]

My local post office held mail 'in the back' for us until we completed the purchase of our house - our estate agent asked them to do it [he speaks better Italian than me!] - we just went in and collected when we were around

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/06/2005 - 04:17

I live in a similar location, for similar reasons, although Eastenders on Sky (Will Chrissy really get away with it !!!!!) errrm, ohh yes post.
My local postie and I have worked out a very acceptable system, I go down to the bar, parking in much the same place each time, she see's the mighty panda drops in for a coffee, I get my mail, the local gossip and some excellent coffee, there are spare boxes in the post office, but, it's all so "Civilised" this way :) :cool:

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/06/2005 - 04:41

Many thanks for all the replies, I feel somewhat better now knowing I do not need an official Box to receive mail. Also I assumed all post offices would be shut at siesta time.
I have heard stories of people going to the Post Office, getting their numbered ticket and going down to the beach for a few hours before returning to take their place in the queue - is it really like that?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/06/2005 - 06:08

[QUOTE=j.bowles]Many thanks for all the replies, I feel somewhat better now knowing I do not need an official Box to receive mail. Also I assumed all post offices would be shut at siesta time.
I have heard stories of people going to the Post Office, getting their numbered ticket and going down to the beach for a few hours before returning to take their place in the queue - is it really like that?[/QUOTE]

I think we've all heard all kinds of stories about all kinds of things, most of them are precisely that.... STORIES.

LOOK, you are planning to come to Italy to live, you are leaving dear old blighty behind, there will be several things which initially irritate you, THEN, one day, you may suddenly realise that, maybe... Some things here happen for a good reason, unfathomable maybe, but, you will adapt, and, maybe, start to enjoy living here, or, you will sell up and rush back to GB stating that you couldn't cope with whatever, and, really missed baked beans from a tin, or, whatever. I really hope that you do get to like life here, because your life will be better and probably longer for the experience. ;)

Ohh, BTW most PO's DO close at Lunch time, but the fine ladies and gents of the postal service in their vans and scooters labour on... YES, there is actually a postal service here, some of them even smile...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 09/07/2005 - 04:10

[QUOTE=GeorgeS]Eastenders on Sky (Will Chrissy really get away with it !!!!!) :[/QUOTE]

Doubt it - some UK papers have been running articles about her prison haircut - but it could be a red herring
[the story - not her coiffure]