Well, it doesn't look like Kansas . . .

By NANCY PARADIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 17, 2000

I am confused and would like an answer. What city do I live in, and what city and ZIP code should I use for mail?

I moved into a new villa on 99th Way N in the Shores of Long Bayou in June. At the time, I was informed that this was in the city of St. Petersburg and the ZIP code was 33708, but that as of January, we would be incorporated into the city of Seminole.

In January, I called the Seminole city hall and was informed that we are in Seminole. After conferring with my neighbors, I find some are using St. Petersburg with the 33708 ZIP code and some are using Seminole with the same ZIP code as their mailing address. On April 3, I called the U.S. Postal Service's 800-number and was turned over to the Madeira Beach Post Office. It informed me that my mailing address was Madeira Beach, 33708.

Can you please find out what city and ZIP code we are to use? Joseph Hutsko

Response: First things first. You live in Seminole. According to the city manager's office, Seminole annexed the Shores of Long Bayou condominium complex on Nov. 24, 1998, and a referendum to annex three additional buildings was held Feb. 23, 1999. Your property taxes are the best clue as to where you live. You pay yours to Seminole.

The situation is not so simple with your mailing address, however. Gary Sawtelle, U.S. Postal Service spokesman in Tampa, said that ZIP code boundaries do not follow city or county lines. That's why, in cases such as yours, you can live in one city but have a mailing address that makes it appear you live in another. This is operationally necessary, he said. It would take many more ZIP codes and offices for each community to have its own. Guess who would end up bearing the cost?

Sawtelle said your mail should arrive if it's addressed to you in Seminole or even Madeira Beach. However, 33708 is a St. Petersburg ZIP code, and that's the city that should appear in your address line. Madeira Beach enters the picture because your mail flows in and out of that post office. In fact, it delivers mail to Madeira Beach, St. Petersburg, Seminole and several smaller communities and unincorporated areas.

CompuServe complaints

I recently read an item in Action about CompuServe and I'm hoping you can help me. I, too, purchased a computer and printer that came with a $400 rebate offer from CompuServe. I charged the purchase to my credit card. I mailed the receipts and all other requested information to CompuServe on Oct. 11.

On Nov. 29, I received a letter from Les Baer thanking me for choosing CompuServe. The letter stated I would receive my rebate within eight to 10 weeks. I waited until Jan. 26 and called. I was told my rebate would be mailed within two weeks. I called again in early March and was told I wasn't in the system, but that a request would be put through to headquarters and I could expect my check in early April. I called again at the end of April and was told my name was in the system and I should be getting my rebate soon.

I have been with CompuServe since December and each month since then my credit card shows it is charging me $21.95 a month. Any help you can give me would really be appreciated. Mary Edwards

Response: Oh my, another CompuServe rebate complaint. We're not the only ones hearing from disgruntled consumers, however. Assistant attorney general Stephen A. LeClair in Fort Lauderdale said his office is involved in an on-going investigation of CompuServe. A fairly steady stream of complaints about its rebate program is coming in, and in the next couple of weeks, he said the attorney general's office will be sitting down with the folks at CompuServe to discuss the problems. Consumers who wish to file a complaint with his office should forward the relevant documents to Office of the Attorney General, 110 SE Sixth St., 9th floor, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.

We also suggest filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Under its Mail or Telephone Merchandise Rule, companies are required to send rebates either within the time frame promised or within 30 days. Although the FTC does not become involved in individual consumer problems, it does look for patterns of possible law violations. Complaints may be made by writing to: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20580; or by calling its toll-free number, (877) 382-4357 (FTC-HELP). Complaints may also be filed online at the FTC's Web site, http://www.ftc.gov.

Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, (800) 333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request.

Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check.

We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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