topic Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill in General Credit Topics

UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

TheFIGuy — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:16:11 GMT

I wanna provide DP's for the process I just went through and as usual YMMV.

Applied for DCU membership with my CMRA mailbox that's on all (3) Credit Reports. DCU wanted address verification—(Not unusual as AMEX and NFCU wanted the same) but usually I can just provide my bank statement, tax documents, SSN, cellphone bill, credit card statements, or Drivers license that all have the same address. DCU online membership team would not accept anything accept a Utility bill from my address. I sent all the typical verification documents and they just would not budge unless I provided a Utility bill. I obviously cannot provide a Utility bill for a CMRA/UPS Mailbox for obvious reason so I withdrew my membership application and their processing a refund of my membership/savings deposit.

FYI, I don't pay utilities at my current address as there built into my rent payment. Thought this was an awesome thing in the beginning and learning this actually causes a lot of issues with address verification.

I have used my UPS Mailbox for all CC and Banking information for security purposes for sometime now but as the years go on it's becoming harder and harder to continue using it. Yes, I'm aware of the patriot act and I know what the law is I work in government security and is the EXACT reason why I use a UPS Mailbox.

AMEX was the only CC company so far that has given me any real issues and requested I provide my home address for internal records but I could keep my UPS Mailbox for all other information—(even let me keep it on the website and it's the zipcode used at gas stations).

I wanted to provide this to the forums for a DP's and discussion.

Do any of you use UPS Mailbox for CC and Banks?

I'll be applying for a BofA CC shortly will they have issues with my UPS Mailbox/CMRA?

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

DaveInAZ — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:12:54 GMT

I used to use a UPS mailbox as my mailing address in the 90s & early 2000s as I'm single and traveled alot for business, but since I bought my home in 2005 I just use that - it's a rural area with a locked USPS group mailbox for the road . Many financial institutions allow you to enter your home address and also a separate mailing address but I just checked my DCU account and it only allows one address. If you run into this again I suggest you give them your home address which you can verify with a utility bill, and then after the account is open change your address to the UPS mailbox.

Since your UPS mailbox is on your credit report (mine was also) you should be fine with BoA.

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

TheFIGuy — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:17:20 GMT

@DavelnAZ

Good callout, I just updated my topic with "I don't pay utilities it's included in my rent"

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

DaveInAZ — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:59:23 GMT

@TheFIGuy wrote:
@DavelnAZ

Good callout, I just updated my topic with "I don't pay utilities it's included in my rent"

As, I've seen that come up before, also for young folks still living with their parents, or shared housing where the utilities are in another person's name. Pretty stupid for banks like DCU only accepting a utility bill, no if ands or buts, not everyone has a utility bill.

But don't you have even a mobile phone bill or internet service bill with your home address?

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

TheFIGuy — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 18:17:38 GMT

As, I've seen that come up before, also for young folks still living with their parents, or shared housing where the utilities are in another person's name. Pretty stupid for banks like DCU only accepting a utility bill, no if ands or buts, not everyone has a utility bill.
But don't you have even a mobile phone bill or internet service bill with your home address?

Well sounds like they do allow "cell phone bills and Internet service bills" they just didn't like my UPS mailbox/CMRA address. They obviously never stated this via writing or phone but was admit on my supplying a Utility Bill ONLY in this case. I'm going to take it that DCU doesn't like UPS Mailboxes/CMRA's or my particular CMRA flagged in their system.

I have NFCU and BECU so I'll apply for a Auto Loan with one of them and take my business elsewhere. Nothing negative against DCU but CU's are extra careful with fraud now.

I have nothing being sent to the "Home" address except shipping stuff from amazing etc. All my bills, tax documents, and even my DL has my UPS Mailbox on it. Funny thing is my DL is now a Federal ID—(REALID ACT) and has the UPS Mailbox because that's where I get my mail and is easiest to deal with.

Just a data point for DCU

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 18:37:58 GMT

Unless it changed and I am unaware? The United States Postal Service has a format for a four line address that is utilized by their sorting equipment:

Name
Physical Address (Street/Avenue or Whatever)
PO Box (if you have one)
City State Zip Code

Used it just as I wrote it out to deal through the issues you have mentioned. Got lot's of BS from various mailers, and the postal service said our equipment sorts starting with the last line on the right [zipcode] and works up. Another words, it reads Zip and PO Box as the sort features and it worked very well.

Do understand the personal security features as mail theft is a situation and in the rural areas who's to see the thief? My mail box was on a state highway hundreds of feet down another road so "what security"? Switched to a PO Box not realizing it was sacrilege in the outer world!

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

TheFIGuy — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 20:43:42 GMT

@Dinosaur Just sent you a direct message for more context.

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

Andypanda — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 21:11:12 GMT

@DaveInAZ wrote:
@TheFIGuy wrote:
@DavelnAZ

Good callout, I just updated my topic with "I don't pay utilities it's included in my rent"
As, I've seen that come up before, also for young folks still living with their parents, or shared housing where the utilities are in another person's name. Pretty stupid for banks like DCU only accepting a utility bill, no if ands or buts, not everyone has a utility bill.
But don't you have even a mobile phone bill or internet service bill with your home address?

Some peple are on a family plan when ur comes to cell phones, and only one persons name is on the cell bill.

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 09:50:17 GMT

I ran into something similar with BECU and the utility nonsense. My roommates pay the utilities, my responsibility is the Comcast bill, and Comcast isn’t considered a utility.

DCU had to do something to their system for it to take my address. I don’t remember what it was but it was getting kicked out because of a glitch. They took my Social Security award letter for POI and that was it.

The BECU mess has turned me off of opening any new CU accounts for awhile.

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

CreditInspired — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 14:29:08 GMT

@DaveInAZ wrote:
I used to use a UPS mailbox as my mailing address in the 90s & early 2000s as I'm single and traveled alot for business, but since I bought my home in 2005 I just use that - it's a rural area with a locked USPS group mailbox for the road . Many financial institutions allow you to enter your home address and also a separate mailing address but I just checked my DCU account and it only allows one address. If you run into this again I suggest you give them your home address which you can verify with a utility bill, and then after the account is open change your address to the UPS mailbox.
Since your UPS mailbox is on your credit report (mine was also) you should be fine with BoA.

I wonder if DCU would accept OP's lease as proof of physical address.

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

TheFIGuy — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 18:06:40 GMT

@Saeren

Yeah I guess we both ran into similar situations with the same financial institutions but both eventually was approved by one of them. BECU approved me but denied you and DCU denied me but approved you.

I was hoping for NFCU, BECU, and DCU but I'm going to have to settle for NFCU and BECU for the long haul. I'm done opening any CU's accounts for awhile myself.

Also, I don't think you're using a CMRA/UPS Mailbox for your physical address—(DL,Tax Documents, CC statements, etc.)? I travel/move a lot and like to know my mail and important documentation isn't going to be lost at an old address or worse stolen.

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

TheFIGuy — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 18:12:38 GMT

@CreditInspired

I asked the "Online membership team" if they would accept anything other then the Utility bill. They said no, I even called in and spoke with a CSR about the issue and she called the online membership team directly and told her ONLY a Utility bill. IDK who butthurt DCU but in my situation they wouldn't budge. Funny thing is, I have all other documentation with my UPS Mailbox/CMRA on it. I mean everything except a Utility bill as stated above I can't get a Utility Bill for a UPS Mailbox/CMRA—(well at least to my knowledge).

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 15:12:51 GMT

@TheFIGuy wrote:
@Saeren

Yeah I guess we both ran into similar situations with the same financial institutions but both eventually was approved by one of them. BECU approved me but denied you and DCU denied me but approved you.

I was hoping for NFCU, BECU, and DCU but I'm going to have to settle for NFCU and BECU for the long haul. I'm done opening any CU's accounts for awhile myself.

Also, I don't think you're using a CMRA/UPS Mailbox for your physical address—(DL,Tax Documents, CC statements, etc.)? I travel/move a lot and like to know my mail and important documentation isn't going to be lost at an old address or worse stolen.

No I get all of my mail at home since I’m always home anyway. I’m just saying address issues seem to be common with their system.

As for BECU, they didn’t outright deny me, they wanted me to snail mail the documents and I told them off. Last time I checked my online access is still restricted and if I really wanted to, I could probably get in but I already got my $25 refund from the NWCUF so I’m just going to stick with NFCU/DCU.

I am actually kind of glad I found out how awful it can be to work with a FI that’s not in my area, it kept me from making a stupid mistake and leaving my bank.

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

TheFIGuy — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 21:01:50 GMT

@Saeren

That's weird that DCU and BECU still wanted extra address verification even though all your previous mail and CC are showing the current address on your Credit Reports.

Yeah I agree, NFCU is in my state so I can drive to a branch just in case something goes wrong!

Re: UPS Mailbox—DCU Utility Bill

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 13:09:42 GMT

@TheFIGuy wrote:
@Saeren

That's weird that DCU and BECU still wanted extra address verification even though all your previous mail and CC are showing the current address on your Credit Reports.

Yeah I agree, NFCU is in my state so I can drive to a branch just in case something goes wrong!

BECU wasn’t address verification. They didn’t like that I used Zelle to make my initial deposits to open the account, a few minutes after the transfer came in they froze everything. I don’t really understand that since Zelle runs on Early Warning Services’ info which would have clearly shown the account that I was sending from was in my name but whatever. They also said that my having two other credit unions opened in less than a year was odd plus all the new credit accounts and the new DCU checking in February.

Credit unions really like their verification... SSFCU put me through a similar process last year but they had an online document upload service so once the phone calls back and forth had been made to figure out what documents they could take in lieu of a utility bill and what would constitute acceptable POI given me being on disability meaning no taxes or paystubs, it was just a matter of uploading them.

DCU had me upload them.

NFCU never even asked for any documentation whatsoever, they don’t even have a copy of my drivers license or Social Security card on file which I found odd since I’ve never been able to open a checking account without that stuff before — maybe they just decided since I already had a credit card with them for three months that there was no fraud risk.

NFCU has a branch about 15 minutes away and if I ever manage to get off disability and back to work, I’ll probably switch from my bank to them, it’s just that the idea of switching my SSDI direct deposit around is stressful since if something goes wrong, getting ahold of someone who can fix it? Yeah, not so easy.