Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is mail forwarding ?
Mail forwarding (sometimes called mail redirection) is the resending of mail from
a specified address to one nominated by a customer. When people move home, location
or have a mobile lifestyle, providers of such a service can either forward mail to
a particular address for a specific period of time or to one that changes as the
recipient changes location. Customers can also choose to have mail sent to a Post
Office (Post Restante service) for collection. Increasingly, users of auction sites
(such as e-Bay) who live in other countries other than UK, are using a mail forwarder
for their purchases.
Who are boatmail.co.uk ?
boatmail.co.uk was originally conceived as a specialist mail forwarding service for
continuously cruising narrowboats on the canals of England. As development of the
concept took place, this expanded to include all individuals who require mail forwarding
services from the UK to anywhere in the world. boatmail.co.uk has been formed from
a group of waterway enthusiasts who have work and management experience from within
the mail industry. The service has been designed for people who require their mail
on the move so we are able react to a changing delivery address.
Why should you select boatmail.co.uk ?
boatmail.co.uk has nearly 30 years of experience of the mail industry. We can draw
on personal experiences from being senders of mail, suppliers and management of mail
services in such areas as customer interface, quality of delivery and customer service.
What period can I have my mail forwarded for ?
Mail can be forwarded for any length of time from as little as a one off item, for
a month, any period up to a year or for a continuous period to suit your individual
circumstances. We have annual, monthly and pay by item service offerings
How are items forwarded ?
Items are forwarded by Royal Mail 1st class post in the UK so can delivery can be
made to every address across the UK and by Royal Mail Airmail services across the
world. We do not use other carriers. Customers using our mail scanning service will
have their items forwarded to the last advised e-mail address with the scanned mail
as an attachment (PDF) to the e-mail
What is the mail2email service ?
When we receive mail, we electronically scan the items and forward as a PDF attachment
as part of an e-mail to you. Therefore, wherever you are in the world and able to
receive/view e-mails, you can see any mail sent to you many days before physical
mail could be seen. We retain the scanned items for a month and then destroy (shredded).
If you require any of the scanned items to be forwarded to you, we can do this on
receipt of your instruction at cost.
What is the email2mail service ?
Wherever you are in the world, access to email will provide you with the ability
to compose a letter or greeting, forward to us electronically and we will print and
send on your behalf. Although the world is moving to communication by electronic
means, some people are not able to receive in this format and physical mail is still
regarded by some as more personal.
What are your fees ?
Our fees are based on what is reasonable for the service offered and are presented
to be simple, clear and easy to understand (entering ‘mail forwarding’ into one of
the popular search engines will show other service providers in the market). We have
two membership fee based services and one based on the number of items forwarded.
For all offerings, we also have an item charge so that every item handled incurs
a cost. Full details of our current fees can be found here.
How do I apply ?
The ‘Apply’ section of the website has an application form which can be printed,
completed and sent to us for service to commence. An acknowledgement will be sent
on receipt of the form which will include full instructions on what is required for
the service to operate. Some companies will accept on line applications, however,
as mail security is a sensitive subject for individuals, we require each applicant
to sign to agree to have their mail forwarded to help prevent any fraudulent activity.
How long does it take to set up the service ?
Once we have received your application form (the application form can be completed,
scanned and sent by e-mail) and payment (we accept payment by PayPal or by cheque)
your mail forwarding service can begin. We expect to be able to commence service
on completion of the above and within a day.