Premium Forwarding Service (PFS)

This information kit is designed to inform Postal ServiceTM employees about Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) and contains the following:

• Fact Sheet.

• Frequently Asked Questions.

• Postmaster Checklist.

• Stand-Up Talk for All Employees at Districts and Plants.

• Stand-Up Talk for All Employees at Associate Offices, Stations, and Branches.

• "Disposition of Mail Chart (Post Office Copy)" (tear out) - see page 9 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin. Note: The "Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy)" will be distributed to all Post OfficesTM in late July.

Fact Sheet

Introduction

Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) offers customers an alternative to hold-mail service and traditional temporary change-of-address service provided through the Computerized Forwarding System (CFS). PFS is designed for residential customers (retirees, seasonal travelers, etc.) who wish to receive all of their mail at a temporary address for a specified period of time of not less than 2 weeks and not more than 1 year. The Postal Service reships the mail on a weekly basis to the temporary address during the specified period of service.

PFS replaces all informal forwarding arrangements commonly referred to as "Snowbird Service" offered by some Post Offices. A benefit of PFS is that it provides a nationwide consistent service offering to all customers at a uniform price.

Facts About PFS

• PFS is available as follows:

- Available to residential delivery customers beginning August 7, 2005, as part of a 2-year experiment.

- Available from and to domestic addresses only.

- Available to, but not from, APOs, FPOs, and commercial mail receiving agencies (CMRAs).

- Not available to customers who have on file an active Change-of-Address Order (PS Form 3575). PFS mail is not processed through CFS.

• PFS provides weekly reshipments (on Wednesday) of most of a customer's mail for a period of not less than 2 weeks and not more than 1 year. Some exceptions apply (see the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Post Office Copy)" on page 9 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin).

• PFS provides reshipment of mail to a temporary address for an entire household or an individual addressee.

• Enrollment requires completion of PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application (see pages 2-4 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin for images of pages 1, 2, and 8 of PS Form 8176); payment of a $10 enrollment fee; and $10 for each week of the designated service period. Full payment is due at the time of enrollment.

• Customers must enroll in person at the Post Office (including any of its stations and branches) serving their primary delivery address.

• Customers may extend, shorten, or cancel their enrollment by contacting the primary Post Office prior to the end of the service period and paying for any additional time period, if applicable.

• Items sent outside the weekly PFS shipment are readdressed by the Post Office serving the customer's primary address and rerouted to the customer's temporary address (see the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Post Office Copy)" on page 9 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin).

• Priority Mail® parcels too large for the weekly PFS shipment are rerouted individually (outside the PFS Priority Mail shipment) to the temporary address at no additional charge.

• Standard Mail® and Package Services parcels too large for the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment are rerouted to the temporary address "postage due" at the applicable Priority Mail rate. Parcel Post oversized items are rerouted to the temporary address "postage due" at Parcel Post oversized rates.

• Any mail requiring a "scan" (e.g., Delivery ConfirmationTM service, Certified MailTM) is individually rerouted to the temporary address outside the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment. Express Mail®, Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail® items are rerouted at no additional charge. Standard Mail and Package Services parcels are rerouted "postage due" at the applicable Priority Mail rates.

• Two or more PFS Priority Mail packages may be used for one customer if the volume of letters, flats, or large envelopes and magazines requires additional containers to reship the customer's weekly accumulation of mail. The $10 weekly Priority Mail shipment cost includes all PFS shipments of applicable mail in a given week.

• Label 85, Premium Forwarding Service Penalty Label (G-400), must be affixed to each weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment.

• Label 85 is not affixed to the items rerouted individually to the temporary address outside the PFS Priority Mail shipment.

Priority Mail Packaging

Postal Service personnel should select the Priority Mail containers (envelopes and boxes) used for PFS shipments based on the cubic volume of letters and flats shipped each week. Postal Service personnel may use other suitable mailing containers (e.g., padded mailing bags, etc.) provided they also affix Label 85 to the containers and clearly label the containers using Priority Mail stickers or Priority Mail tape.

• Do not use Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes and Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes for PFS shipments.

• Do not use "ReadyPost" shipping materials for PFS shipments.

Tips to Give to Customers

• Prior to enrolling, ensure that customers have read the "terms and conditions" outlined on the reverse of the application (PS Form 8176).

• Remind customers to advise senders of large parcel items to address these items directly to their temporary address to avoid incurring postage-due charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Premium Forwarding Service (PFS)?

PFS is a 2-year experiment of a new service that gives residential customers the option to have all of their mail reshipped to a temporary address while they are away from . For a minimal charge, the Postal Service will package all of the customer's mail weekly and send it by Priority Mail to the temporary address. (Some exceptions apply.) PFS can be used for a minimum of 2 weeks up to a maximum of 1 year. It provides customers an additional option to the current piece-by-piece temporary forwarding and hold- mail services.

2. When does this new service start?

PFS will be offered nationwide at all Postal Service retail locations beginning August 7, 2005.

3. How much does it cost?

The cost for PFS is $10 to enroll and $10 for each week of the designated service period.

4. How do customers enroll?

Customers must complete and submit PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application, in person at the Post Office (including any of its stations and branches) serving their primary address (see pages 2-4 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin for images of pages 1, 2, and 8 of PS Form 8176). The customer presents two types of valid identification (one with photo) along with proof of residency with the PFS application. Both the enrollment fee and the payment for each weekly shipment covering the period specified by the customer are due at the time of application.

5. Can customers enroll in PFS via phone and Internet?

Phone and Internet enrollment are not available at this time. However, future enhancements to the service are planned.

6. Do customers who use the service more than one time a year have to pay the $10 enrollment fee with each subsequent PFS application?

Yes. The $10 enrollment fee is due with each PFS application filed.

7. Can customers who have a COA on file enroll in PFS?

No. Customers with an active COA on file are not eligible to participate in PFS.

8. With PFS, do customers have the option to have their mail shipped to their temporary address weekly by a service other than Priority Mail service?

No.

9. Can the temporary address be a P.O. Box address?

Yes.

10. Can customers have their mail shipped to a mailbox at a UPS Store or MailBoxes, Etc. location?

Yes. The temporary address can be a commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA), but the primary address cannot be a CMRA or any other central delivery point (except for a Postal Service neighborhood delivery and collection box unit (NDCBU)).

11. Are there limits to the number of PFS applications that can be on file at one time from a single address?

No. There can be different PFS applications on file for multiple "individuals" from one primary address. However, there can be only one PFS application on file for an entire household from a primary address to a single temporary address during a service period.

12. Can PFS customers elect to have their mail shipped to their temporary address more than once per week?

No.

13. Can customers extend the service or cancel or shorten the length of the service?

Yes. Prior to the original end date designated on their PFS application, PFS customers can extend (up to 1 year), cancel, or shorten the service. To request a service modification, they must contact their primary Post Office (where the PFS application is on file) by phone or in writing prior to the end date noted on their application. For service extensions, customers must make payments for the additional weeks prior to the new service period. With requests to shorten or cancel the service, customers must apply for a refund for any unused shipments by completing PS Form 3533, Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage and Fees, and submitting it to the primary Post Office. The enrollment fee is non-refundable.

14. With PFS, can a customer specify what mail (or what class of mail) they want forwarded to their temporary address?

No. PFS provides shipment of all mail, regardless of class or subclass, from a primary address to a temporary address as designated by the customer.

15. What are the restrictions for PFS?

PFS is available only to customers with domestic primary addresses.

Customers whose primary address is a business address are generally not eligible to participate in PFS.

Customers whose primary address is a P.O. Box size 3, 4, or 5 are not eligible to use PFS.

Customers whose primary address is a centralized delivery point to which the Postal Service provides delivery in bulk to a third party (e.g., CMRAs) are not eligible to use PFS.

Customers whose primary address is an APO or FPO address are not eligible to use PFS. However, the temporary address may be an APO or FPO address.

16. Do mailer endorsements affect reshipment through PFS?

No. Mail for PFS customers is reshipped or rerouted regardless of any mailpiece endorsements.

17. How does PFS differ from a temporary Change-of- Address request?

A Change-of-Address (COA) Order, either temporary or permanent, provides for "piece-by-piece" forwarding of primarily First-Class Mail for a specified period of time. PFS provides a single weekly shipment of all mail (with some exceptions) via Priority Mail. PFS mail is not processed through the Computerized Forwarding System (CFS).

18. Can individual offices elect not to offer PFS and continue to offer their informal temporary forwarding arrangements to customers?

No. PFS replaces all informal arrangements offered at some Post Offices to accommodate customers' temporary address changes. PFS will be available to customers at all retail locations beginning August 7, 2005.

19. What about items too large to fit into the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment?

Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and Periodicals mailpieces too large to fit are rerouted individually to the temporary address at no additional cost. Standard Mail and Package Services parcels too large to fit are rerouted "postage due" at the applicable Priority Mail rate.

20. If there is a large weekly volume of mail for a PFS customer, will the Postal Service prepare and send more than one weekly PFS Priority Mail package to the customer's temporary address?

Yes. The Postal Service will prepare and send two or more PFS Priority Mail packages for one customer if the volume of letters, flats, large envelopes, and magazines requires additional packages.

21. Will PFS provide a guaranteed time of delivery service?

No. PFS does not include a guaranteed time of delivery. PFS shipments are sent each Wednesday via Priority Mail service.

22. How are Delivery Confirmation and other accountable mail handled with PFS?

Delivery Confirmation, accountable mail, Express Mail, and other mailpieces that require a scan will not be included within the weekly Priority Mail shipment. These items will be individually readdressed to the temporary address, scanned as "forwarded," and immediately rerouted to the temporary address. Express Mail and Priority Mail items are immediately rerouted at no additional charge. Standard Mail and Package Services mailpieces requiring a scan are immediately rerouted to the temporary address "postage due" at the applicable Priority Mail rate of postage, except that Parcel Post oversized items are rerouted "postage due" at Parcel Post oversized rates.

23. What about items arriving at the primary address "postage due"?

The Postal Service does not include items arriving "postage due" at the primary address Post Office for a PFS customer in the weekly Priority Mail shipment. These pieces are rerouted individually as follows:

• Postage-due First-Class Mail and Priority Mail items are rerouted to the temporary address "postage due."

• Postage-due Standard Mail and Package Services parcels (other than oversized Parcel Post) are rerouted to the temporary address "postage due" at the applicable Priority Mail rate.*

• Postage-due oversized Parcel Post items are rerouted to the temporary address at the applicable oversized Parcel Post rate.*

* The total "postage due" is the sum of the "postage due" at the time of receipt at the primary Post Office and the "postage due" for rerouting the item from the primary address Post Office.

24. With regards to PFS, what are the responsibilities of the Post Office serving the customer's primary address?

The primary address Post Office accepting the PFS application (PS Form 8176) is responsible for ensuring that the customer presents two types of valid identification (one with photo) along with proof of residency with the PFS application. The primary address Post Office prepares and sends the Priority Mail shipments each Wednesday, affixing Label 85, Premium Forwarding Service Penalty Label (G-400), to each PFS Priority Mail shipment. (See page 5 in this issue of the Postal Bulletin for an image of Label 85.) For items that are rerouted as "outsides," the primary address Post Office is responsible for readdressing the items to the temporary address on the day received. For Delivery Confirmation and other accountable items, the primary address Post Office is responsible for scanning the pieces as "forwarded" and readdressing the pieces to the tempor- ary address. The primary address Post Office does not use Label 85 for mailpieces sent as "outsides." The primary address Post Office is also responsible for ensuring that PFS shipments stop on the original (or revised) end date specified on the PFS application and that delivery resumes to the customer's primary address.

Postmaster Checklist

On or after July 7, 2005, see Postal Bulletin 22158 (7-7-05) and keep it for future reference. The Postal Bulletin is available online at http://usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm.

Between July 7 and July 16, 2005, use the Field Information Kit from Postal Bulletin 22158 as follows:

- Give the appropriate employee stand-up talk(s).

- Disseminate the Fact Sheet and the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Post Office Copy)" to all appropriate employees. (In Postal Bulletin 22158, the Fact Sheet is available on page 1, and the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Post Office Copy)" is available on page 9.)

By late July, ensure the following:

- The automatic shipment of PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application, has been received.

- The shipment of Label 85, Premium Forwarding Service Penalty Label (G-400), has been received.

- There is an adequate supply of Priority Mail packaging materials (including boxes and tape).

- The "Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy)" has been received.

- Copies of the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy)" are available to provide to customers completing a PFS application.

- Employees responsible for accepting PFS applications at the retail unit, tracking customer enrollments, preparing the PFS mail for reshipment, and shipping PFS mail receive instruction on the program's operations and a copy of the PFS Guidelines.

On or about August 5, 2005, remind delivery unit employees (including casuals and substitutes) that mail to be included in weekly PFS shipments is held and bundled by the designated delivery unit employee for reshipment to the customer's temporary address on Wednesdays.

By August 7, 2005, ensure that an automatic shipment of PFS promotional materials, including a lobby poster and easel-back countercards with "take-one" handouts, has been received. Ensure that the lobby poster is displayed and the POP countercards with the "take-one" handouts inserted in the pocket are placed in the lobby.

Before opening for business on August 7, 2005, ensure that there is on hand an adequate supply of PFS applications (PS Form 8176), Label 85, and the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy)."

After August 8, 2005:

- Monitor supplies of Priority Mail packaging materials, PFS applications (PS Form 8176), Label 85, the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy)" and countercards with "take-one" promotional materials.

- Order additional supplies from the MDC based on demand.

Stand-Up Talk for All Employees at Districts and Plants

Introduction

The new Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) is an option for customers locating to a temporary address for not less than 2 weeks and not more than 1 year.

What's new?

Beginning August 7, 2005, the Postal Service will offer PFS, a 2-year experiment approved by the Board of Governors of the Postal Service in May. PFS offers customers an option to have all their mail, regardless of class or subclass, shipped weekly via Priority Mail service from their primary address to a temporary address. Some exceptions apply. To enroll, customers complete and submit PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application, at the Post Office (including any of its stations and branches) serving their primary address. The cost for PFS includes a $10 enrollment fee and $10 for each week of the designated service period.

PFS replaces all informal mail forwarding arrangements, commonly referred to as "Snowbird Service," offered at some Post Offices to accommodate customers' temporary address changes.

Why?

PFS is a great value. It provides a nationwide consistent service offering to all customers at a uniform price.

What stays the same?

PFS is a convenient alternative to temporary or permanent (piece-by-piece) forwarding and hold-mail services. These services will continue to be offered free of charge. However, customers with an active Change-of-Address (COA) Order on file are not eligible to enroll in PFS.

What's next?

Postmasters will be provided with a sample letter that can be used to craft a personal message to former "Snowbird" customers to introduce the service. PFS Guidelines, which include the sample letter, will be available prior to launch. Promotional materials, PFS applications, and PFS labels will be provided to retail locations nationwide prior to the August 7 implementation date.

Stand-Up Talk for All Employees at Associate Offices, Stations, and Branches

Introduction

The new Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) is an option for customers locating to a temporary address for not less than 2 weeks and not more than 1 year.

What's new?

• Beginning August 7, 2005, the Postal Service will offer PFS, a 2-year experiment approved by the Board of Governors of the Postal Service in May. It offers customers an option to have all their mail, regardless of class or subclass, shipped weekly via Priority Mail service from their primary address to a temporary address. Some exceptions apply.

• PFS replaces all informal forwarding arrangements, commonly referred to as "Snowbird Service," offered by some Post Offices to accommodate customers' temporary address changes. As of August 7, 2005, these informal arrangements will no longer be available to customers.

• To enroll, customers visit the Post Office (including any of its stations and branches) serving their primary address and complete and submit PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application. Two forms of valid identification (one with photo) are required along with proof of residency at the primary address.

• The cost for PFS includes a $10 enrollment fee and $10 for each week of the designated service period. Payment is due at the time of enrollment.

• PFS mail should be bundled and kept with hold-mail. Preparation and shipping of PFS mail will be handled similarly to existing hold-mail operations at the primary address Post Office.

• The primary address Post Office will prepare and ship the PFS customer's mail to the temporary address by Priority Mail each Wednesday. A Label 85 (G-400) is affixed to the PFS shipment.

• Pieces that are too large to fit in the PFS shipment are readdressed and rerouted to the temporary address as "outsides." For details, see the "Disposition of Mail Chart (Post Office Copy)" on page 9 in Postal Bulletin 22158. Do not affix Label 85 to items shipped outside the weekly PFS Shipment.

Why?

PFS is a great value. It provides a nationwide consistent service offering to all customers at a uniform price.

What stays the same?

PFS is a convenient alternative to temporary or permanent piece-by-piece forwarding and hold-mail services, which will continue to be offered free of charge.

What's next?

Postmasters and managers will be provided a sample letter that can be used to craft a personal message to former "Snowbird" customers to introduce the service. PFS Guidelines, which include the sample letter, will be available prior to launch. Postmasters must ensure that employees responsible for accepting PFS applications at the retail unit, tracking customer enrollments, preparing the PFS mail for reshipment, and shipping PFS mail receive instruction on the program's operations and a copy of the PFS Guidelines.

— Implementation and Outreach,
Pricing and Classification, 7-7-05

Premium Forwarding Service (PFS)

Disposition of Mail Chart (Post Office Copy - For Internal Use Only)

This chart identifies what mail is included in the $10.00 weekly shipment and what mail costs extra.

LEGEND:

Included = Included in weekly PFS shipment at no additional cost.

¹ Priority Mail items are included in the weekly PFS shipment unless including the item would delay its arrival at the customer's temporary address.

May be included = Included in weekly PFS shipment only if it fits after all the letters and flats (magazines and large envelopes) are included. If item does not fit, it will be rerouted separately incurring postage due charges at Priority Mail rates.

Not Included = Not included in weekly PFS shipment. These items are rerouted separately at no additional charge.

N/A = Not applicable

Postage Due = Not included in weekly PFS shipment. These items are sent separately incurring postage due charges at Priority Mail rates. To avoid incurring postage due charges, customers are encouraged to have this mail sent directly to their temporary address.

² Oversized Parcel Post items are sent postage due at the applicable oversized Parcel Post rate.