Getting a personal PO Box - so frustrating! | ExpatWoman.com
 

Getting a personal PO Box - so frustrating!

984
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 February 2015 - 11:11

Hi ladies,
I'm trying to get a personal PO Box at Emirates Post but they are so frustrating!

I've been to the Trade Centre, Karama and Wasl post offices and they say they dont have any available po boxes. They always say "Go and check at xxxx branch' and when I ask them to just check on the system instead of me having to go all the way down there, they say they cant help me.
I find it kind of ridiculous that they dont have a central system to tell you where there is availability.

Has anyone been able to get their own PO Box recently? I'm looking at the MyBox service which is AED 250 a year, but I'm open to other options.

984
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 February 2015 - 14:30
I have a box in Rashidiya - parcels usually come Rashidiya post office and I get a slip in my mailbox to say I have a package awaiting collection. Just take the slip into the main post office and collect (so if you're expecting a package make sure you go in working hours as you cannot collect 24 hours a day unlike the PO Boxes - I learned the hard way! :) ). Thats good to know Zoco thanks! One more Q - They said they'll send an SMS when I have a package, is it a reliable service or should I go keep checking?
162
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 February 2015 - 14:18
I have a box in Rashidiya - parcels usually come Rashidiya post office and I get a slip in my mailbox to say I have a package awaiting collection. Just take the slip into the main post office and collect (so if you're expecting a package make sure you go in working hours as you cannot collect 24 hours a day unlike the PO Boxes - I learned the hard way! :) ).
984
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 February 2015 - 14:02
Thank you all for your input, was such a help! As nix.dubai mentioned, I went to the [b'>Al Badaa post office next to Coop and they have lots of boxes available[/b'>! I was able to get mine in 10 minutes, just needed 1 passport copy and 2 passport pictures. I got MyBox which cost 300dhs, renewal will be 200dhs. Its close enough to me since I live on SZR :) Another question, do packages/parcels come to the post office where your box is, or do you need to go to a main post office like Karama to pick up those? Thanks! <em>edited by sourskittleashnut on 16/02/2015</em>
2
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 February 2015 - 10:06
We have post boxes in our building each assigned to our apartment so we signed up for one as it wasn't too expensive however it is really hit and miss on what post we actually receive. Funnily enough our bills always arrive but we are still waiting for Christmas cards from last year and the tear before as well as a couple of small gifts. IT seems anything that looks like it may have good stuff in it never arrives!
21
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2015 - 21:50
I got one in Al Quoz very recently... just went on spec. Told none available, I was shocked not expecting that. Then told to SIT, which I did! 20mins later had a box and key, perhaps time was just right and luck on my side.
274
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2015 - 14:49
The rent on post boxes in Dubai is payable by 31st January each year. So I guess now is a good time to look for a new one, as people who don't renew have their boxes locked, and then the lock is changed and the box rented out to someone else. Where do you live? There are boxes available in Muhaisnah and Mirdiff.
23
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2015 - 14:26
I got a PO Box at Rashidiya Post Office about 10 days ago. The search function does not work. I did a search and was told there was no availability but I was able to get one an hour later at Rashidiya !! Even finding the website for the Emirates Post Group is difficult. I couldn't do it even on google using various combinations......go and try it yourself.....but you will find it easier to simply type in www.epg.gov.ae I had done the search online several times over the years and always got told there were no vacancies. So I decided to pay a bit more and use the 'My Home' service where they install a box on the wall of your villa and deliver 3 times a week. I went to hand in the paperwork at Rashidiya (No objection letter from landlord else they wont attach the box to the wall, passport copy, 2 photos and visa) and just before I gave it to them I asked if they had any boxes. I was told yes because it was change over time! The lady behind the desk then asked me where I lived and I said Silicon Oasis. She then told me to try there. I asked her if they had boxes at Silicon Oasis and she said yes. So I drove to silicon oasis and was told that they only had business boxes. I then drove straight back to Rashidiya and took the box that they had. So that proves that they don't know where they have availability. Try finding out if there is a changeover time. I guess if a bank of boxes was opened on a certain date then they will also all have to renew on a certain date......you might get lucky like me. Otherwise, if you are in a villa, their 'My Home' service might be ok........I asked a colleague about it and she didn't have any complaints.
384
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 February 2015 - 11:52
On the Emirates Post website it says that there are no boxes available in Dubai. These seems hard to believe. The head office is in Garhoud, may be worth popping in. http://www.epg.gov.ae/epweb/_en/index.xhtml;jsessionid=51923C56797F151278EF9F93B11F4620
115
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2015 - 11:20
I'm not completely sure, but I think a new post office might have opened beside Union Co-op behind SZR (beside Wellington Primary School). Might be worth a try.
 
 

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