ur auto insurance rates aren’t just about your driving record. Insurance companies also use your ZIP code to assess various risks like crash rates, theft, vandalism, and weather. This issue isn’t limited to drivers; it poses significant concerns for homeowners too.<\/p>\n
Cheryl Dougherty is one of those concerned homeowners. Ask her where she lives and the answer is not very simple.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Cheryl Dougherty attends WINK Listens, Lehigh Acres<\/p>\n
“That’s the dispute. I’ve lived in Lee County\u00a0for just over four years,” said Dougherty. “The ZIP code that we have is a Lehigh Acres ZIP code, but geographically, we live in Fort Myers.”<\/p>\n
This confusion has financial implications for Dougherty and others in her community.<\/p>\n
“We pay a higher rate of insurance because we are ZIP code as Lehigh versus Fort Myers. So it’s not just a minor change, it’s a monetary change for us,” said Dougherty.<\/p>\n
U.S. Postal Service statement:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Postal Service established ZIP Codes and delivery boundaries to ensure efficient mail delivery and good service. They are not intended to determine town, city, municipal or other identities.\u201d<\/p>\n
This issue extends beyond Dougherty’s neighborhood. She told us it also impacts parts of Sherwood and Asher Park.<\/p>\n
“All of those have been labeled as Lehigh Acres also,” added Dougherty.<\/p>\n
Dougherty approached WINK Listens to address the issue on behalf of her community.<\/p>\n
“A lot of people talk about it, but I like to try to do something about it, so that’s why I’m here today, and I thought it would be a great topic for WINK News to tackle,” she said.<\/p>\n
How to request a change:<\/p>\n
This problem is not new to the U.S. Postal Service, which has participated in\u00a0 congressional hearings on the matter. A 12-page document outlines the process to request a ZIP code change.<\/p>\n