Make sure your mail moves with you. Use this list to help keep track of all the people and organizations that need to know where you live.
1. CANADA POST: A change of address form can be filled out online or at the post office to have your mail forwarded for either a 6-month or 12-month period. A fee is charged. Arranging this at least two weeks before your move will ensure that your mail moves with you. www.canadapost.ca
2. DRIVER'S LICENCE: Within 10 days of moving, you will need to notify ICBC to have your address updated on your driver's licence. This is free. Three ways to do this: online www.addresschange.gov.bc.ca or in person at any Driver Service Center or by phone. Monday to Friday 8am-5pm call 604-775-0011, Monday to Friday 5-7pm call 1-800-950-1498 and Saturday 9-5pm 1-800-950-1498.
3. ICBC for AUTO INSURANCE: Go to any autoplan broker to update your address. The amount of your premium depends on the "territory" where your vehicle is primarily used. Moving to a different location (even in the same town) could result in a premium refund or increase.
4. MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN: This can also be updated online at the same time you update your driver's licence. www.addresschange.gov.bc.ca
5. BCHYDRO: www.bchydro.com or 604-224-9376
6. TV: www.shaw.ca or 604-629-8888
7. CELL PHONE, INTERNET AND HOME PHONE: www.telus.com or 604-310-2255
8. CREDIT CARD COMPANIES
9. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
10. BANK OR CREDIT UNION: This includes all the places you have savings, loans, stocks or safety deposit boxes.
11. YOUR CHURCH
12. YOUR DOCTOR, DENTIST and SPECIALISTS: Don't forget the vet.
13. THE GOVERNMENT: Make sure your GST rebate, tax refunds and family allowance checks will follow you...this also means your income tax will follow you.
14. ANYONE WHO HAS YOU ON THEIR MAILING LIST: Lots of us receive "junk mail" that is interesting and that we want to read. Start saving the address labels when you first think about moving and then you can decide which ones you need to update. For example, your favorite cruise line for those vacation specials.
15. SCHOOLS: Arrange to have records transferred if necessary.
16. ANY CLUBS YOU BELONG TO
17. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES: Canada Post has email postcards you can send to up to 50 addresses on their site www.smartmoves.ca
18. THINGS THAT ARE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR: Your newspaper carrier or the milkman. Transfer or cancel their services.
19. PEOPLE WHO HELP WITH THE UPKEEP OF YOUR CURRENT HOME: Transfer or cancel the services of your house cleaner, gardener and landscaper.
20. AIR MILES: Change your address online www.airmiles.ca or by phone 1-888-AIR-MILE. The AIR MILES that you receive from buying or selling your home with CENTURY 21 will appear online several months after your move. AIR MILES are calculated at two miles for every $1000 of your sale or purchase price.
21. ELECTIONS CANADA AND ELECTIONS BC: This can also be done online. For Canada www.elections.ca and for BC www.elections.bc.ca
22. BCASSESSMENT: This is important if you are not selling your current home but renting it out. You want all correspondence about the property to go to your new address. BC Assessment will notify your local municipality. www.bcassessment.ca or drop by your city hall to fill out a form that they will fax or BC Assessement for you.