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USPS® Premium Forwarding Service Program Guidelines for the 2-Year Experiment

Introduction

Beginning August 7, 2005, USPS® Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) will be offered at Post OfficesTM, stations, branches, and Community Post Offices nationwide. It replaces all of the informal mail forwarding arrangements, commonly referred to as "snowbird" service, some Post Offices have offered.

After filing a request with the Postal Rate Commission (PRC) and obtaining approval from the Board of Governors, the Postal ServiceTM is conducting a nationwide 2-year PFS experiment. The purpose of the experiment is to measure interest for a new service that forwards mail for residential customers who are away from their primary address for at least 2 weeks and up to 1 year. During the 2-year experiment, the Postal Service will collect and review data to determine if sufficient interest exists to justify filing a request for a permanent PFS classification with the PRC near the conclusion of the experiment.

PFS will be available to customers for forwarding their mail. The options of free temporary or permanent forwarding service via PS Form 3575, Change-of-Address Order, and hold mail service will continue to be available to customers.

PFS is a premium service that has the potential to be a strong source of new revenue for the Postal Service. The success of PFS will depend in part on the support it receives from Postal Service employees who introduce the service to potential customers and those who process and deliver PFS mail.

1 Product Description

The PFS experiment is a personalized service designed for sending mail from a residential customer's primary address to a temporary address using Priority Mail® service. PFS is designed to be a convenient way for customers to receive all of their mail at a temporary address in one package once a week. This differs from forwarding services obtained by filing a Change-of-Address Order (PS Form 3575) through which a customer's mail is forwarded piece by piece through the Computerized Forwarding System (CFS).

With PFS, generally all classes of mail are reshipped in a Priority Mail package once a week on Wednesdays. Exceptions include Express Mail, large parcels, and accountable mail, which get rerouted separately.

PFS reships mail for an entire household or for an individual addressee to a temporary address for a period of time not less than 2 weeks and not more than 1 year.

The price of PFS includes a nonrefundable enrollment fee of $10 and $10 for each week. Customers must pay for the entire period of service at the time of application. PFS is not a guaranteed service; no refunds are allowed for delayed shipments.

Customers enroll in PFS by completing PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application, and submitting it to the Post Office serving their primary address, including any of its stations and branches.

2 PFS Policies and Procedures

2.1 Eligibility Requirements

The following eligibility requirements apply to PFS:

1. PFS is available to residential delivery customers beginning August 7, 2005, as part of a 2-year experiment.

2. PFS is available from and to domestic addresses only.

3. PFS is available to, but not from, APOs, FPOs, and centralized delivery points where mail is delivered in bulk to one single address, e.g., Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRAs), schools, hospitals, dormitories.

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

5. Customers, residential or business, whose primary address is a P.O. Box size 1 or 2 are eligible to use PFS.

6. Customers are generally ineligible to use PFS if their primary address is a P.O. Box size 3, 4, or 5. (An exception is allowed for customers who have a size 3, 4, or 5 P.O. Box because a smaller size was not available.)

7. PFS cannot be used in combination with hold mail service or permanent- or temporary-forwarding service.

2.2 Ceasing All Informal "Snowbird" Service Arrangements

Effective August 7, PFS replaces all previous informal mail forwarding arrangements, commonly referred to as "snowbird" service, some offices have offered in the past.

On or after August 7, any customer desiring mail forwarding other than those services offered using PS Form 3575, Change-of-Address Order, must use PFS. All informal mail forwarding arrangements can no longer be offered.

PFS does not replace our free temporary and permanent change-of-address or hold mail services. However, as referenced above, it does replace any informal forwarding arrangements that may have been offered, as follows:

Existing arrangement with defined end date:

• For those offices that currently have customers receiving forwarded mail under an existing "snowbird" or snowbird-like arrangement with a defined end date, continue to honor that arrangement until the end date you have on file.

Existing arrangement without defined end date:

• For those offices that currently have customers receiving forwarded mail under an existing "snowbird" or snowbird-like arrangement whose end date is not defined, please contact the customers within the next 30 days and advise them of the impending service change. (See Postmaster Letter to Customer, Appendix A on page 29.)

• In those cases, the informal arrangement must cease 3 months from the date of notification. The customer must enroll in the new service to continue receiving mail in bulk shipments or institute a temporary or permanent change-of-address via PS Form 3575.

New Service:

• To start a new service on or after August 7, or extend past the end date of the existing arrangement, the customer must enroll in the new Premium Forwarding Service.

PFS is available to every household in the U.S. and at every Post Office, making it accessible to all customers, whereas informal "snowbird" service arrangements were not uniform or consistent across the country.

To assist postmasters in communicating the transition to customers who had been using informal arrangements, a sample letter for "snowbird" customers is included in Appendix A of these guidelines.

3 Getting Ready for PFS

PFS is a value-added service that will be welcomed by a broad range of customers. It has the potential to be a strong source of new revenue for the Postal Service. By taking the steps below, local Postal Service management will be ready for the successful introduction of PFS to their customers:

• Ensure an adequate supply of Priority Mail packaging and tape is available for use at the primary address Post Office.

• Ensure the PFS supplies (application, Penalty Label 85, standard address labels, etc.) are available prior to August 7.

• Ensure promotional materials, such as counter cards, take-ones and posters, are displayed immediately upon receipt.

• Notify existing "snowbird" customers of the required termination of all informal mail forwarding arrangements and the initiation of PFS. Use the "Postmaster Letter to Customers" in Appendix A on page 29 for this purpose.

• Ensure employees responsible for the day-to-day operations (including accepting PFS applications, tracking customer enrollments, and preparing PFS mail for reshipment) are adequately prepared to perform the required functions.

3.1 Label Production

• Each district will determine the most efficient method for printing address labels, with barcodes, to assist in providing timely service for customers.

• Post Offices with appropriate label printing equipment and with existing procedures for producing labels can also print PFS address labels. To limit problems or any adverse effects on printing and communications requirements for an office, label printing with desktop printers should be avoided. If Post Offices need assistance for production of PFS address labels, they should contact their district office. Districts can use the most efficient method for printing labels available (such as offices that correspond with customers and print address labels, CFS units, Marketing, Consumer Affairs, etc.).

• Ensure an ample quantity of machine-printed address labels bearing the customer's temporary address is available for each PFS shipment and for individually rerouted pieces. Also ensure procedures for acquiring additional supply of address labels are in place.

• Produce machine-generated labels (with barcodes if possible) to eliminate manual addressing and to promote automation-capability, unless the Post Office does not have that capability.

Note: The temporary address can also be printed directly on Penalty Label 85.

4 Customer Experience Overview

Customers will be exposed to prepared materials (i.e., posters, brochures, articles) about PFS in Post Office lobbies and through other communication channels. Postal Service employees should explain PFS to customers inquiring about or applying for a temporary change- of-address or hold mail service.

4.1 Application Process

The following conditions and requirements relate to completing a PFS application and enrolling in the service:

1. Customers complete PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application, and present it at the Post Office serving their primary address, including any of its stations and branches. Key information the customer must provide on the application includes:

a) Individual or household designation.

b) Name and address of primary residence.

c) Temporary address.

d) Telephone contact information and e-mail address, if applicable.

e) Service start and end dates.

f) Date to resume mail delivery at primary address.

2. The start date is the first day the customer wants the Postal Service to hold the mail for reshipment. The end date is the last day the customer will accept mail delivered to the temporary address.

3. The customer provides personal identification to verify his/her identity and proof of residency at the primary address.

a) Two types of identification are required (one must contain a photo). Acceptable types of identification are:

i. Driver's license or state-issued nondriver identification;

ii. Passport (foreign or domestic); or

iii. Military identification card.

b) The identification must be current and provide proof of residency at the primary address. Other acceptable proof of residency at the primary address is:1

1# Verification policy taken from Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 508.4.3.2.

i. A current lease, mortgage, or deed of trust;

ii. Voter or vehicle registration card; or

iii. or vehicle insurance policy.

Note: Postmasters and unit managers have the right to require more identification than the minimum requirements detailed here. Postmasters and unit managers have the right to refuse to accept an application if the identity of the customer cannot be adequately verified.2

2# Above instructions modeled on Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures, section 312, Bank Checks.

4. The customer pays the enrollment fee and the appropriate amount for the service based on the start date and the end date indicated on the application. Full payment is due at time of application for the entire period of service.

4.2 Customer Experience

1. The customer will receive all of the mail on a weekly basis in Priority Mail shipments. (Some exceptions do apply; see Disposition of Mail Chart, Post Office version, in Appendix E on page 14.)

2. If there is a change in the end date of service, the customer notifies the primary address Post Office of the change prior to the last shipment date noted on the application.

• If the customer extends the end date, payment for the additional weeks of service is required before the extension is processed.

• If the customer elects to end PFS service early, payment for the unused weeks is refunded, only upon request, following Postal Service refund policies (see section 5.7 on page 24).

3. At the end of service, mail delivery to the customer's primary address resumes on the date designated by the customer (block 17 on PS Form 8176). The customer also has the option to pick up any mail that has accumulated between the last shipment date (block 18 on PS Form 8176) and the resume mail delivery date (block 17 on PS Form 8176).

5 Operating Guidelines

5.1 Assisting Prospective Customers

5.1.2 Providing Information

1. Employees offer to discuss the service with any customer who asks about address change or hold mail services and explain the difference between temporary forwarding, hold mail service, and PFS.

2. When presented with the opportunity, acceptance, delivery unit, and P.O. Box section employees should explain this optional service to all customers who turn in a PS Form 3575, Change-of-Address Order.

5.1.3 Enrolling in PFS

1. Verify whether or not a customer has an active hold request or forwarding order (PS Form 3575) on file before processing a PFS application. If either is currently active, the employee takes the necessary steps with the customer to avoid having both services active at the same time.

2. Verify the customer's identity and proof of residency at the primary address shown on the PFS application.

3. Check the application for accuracy and completeness, and ensure the primary and temporary addresses provided are domestic addresses.

4. Ensure that business addresses (other than those with small P.O. Boxes size 1 & 2) and customers with size 3, 4, or 5 P.O. Boxes are not enrolled in PFS. (An exception is allowed for customers who have a size 3, 4, or 5 Post Office Box because a smaller size was not available.)

5. Ensure customers agree to the PFS Terms and Conditions and authorize service by signing the application.

6. Collect the appropriate PFS payments and enter the amount of the nonrefundable application fee of $10 into AIC 108, Premium Forwarding Service Application Fee, and the calculated amount of the weekly service charge ($10 for each week) for the entire period of service into AIC 159, Premium Forwarding Service Fee.

Note: These AICs and AIC 623, Refund for Premium Forward Service Fee, was activated on the integrated retail terminals (IRTs) July 27 and on the Point of Sale (POS) System July 30. Offices may start using them on August 7.

7. Remind customers to provide their temporary address to senders of large parcels by providing each customer a Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy) on page 15.

8. Issue customers receipt for payment, a Disposition of Mail Chart, and the customer copy of the PFS application.

5.2 Setting Up PFS Service

1. Set up a PFS Master Tracking Log (see Appendix G on page 16) and input all information pertinent to each PFS applicant.

2. Ensure the PFS Shipping Card is placed in each PFS customer's address slot on the carrier case or in the P.O. Box section, as applicable.

3. Ensure the PFS customer's mail is held for reshipment.

4. Ensure the PFS customer's mail is separated according to local hold mail procedures.

5. Make arrangements to produce enough address labels to cover the weekly shipments and at least five additional labels for rerouting accountable mail and large parcels.

5.3 Processing PFS Mail

1. Generally, PFS customer mail is held and bundled using local Post Office hold mail and reship service procedures.

2. Ensure all PFS mail is reshipped in the PFS weekly package or rerouted as an outside piece according to the PFS guidelines.

3. Place letters and flats in Priority Mail packaging starting with highest class of service. Do NOT use Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes. Include all small parcels that will fit in the Priority Mail packaging (starting with the highest class of service), but only after all of the letters and flats have been added.

4. Reship and reroute all mail regardless of the mailpiece endorsement.

5. Seal the Priority Mail packaging and affix:

a) Label 85 postage label3

3# Label 85 is a special G-400 penalty label exclusively for use on the weekly PFS Priority Mail package to identify the mailpiece as a PFS postage-paid mailing.

b) The temporary address mailing label or the temporary address can be printed directly onto Label 85.

c) The return address of the Post Office shipping the mail (the customer's primary address Post Office).

6. Readdress and reroute ordinary parcels that do not fit in the Priority Mail packaging by either:

a) Affixing a preprinted address label bearing the customer's temporary address, if suitable, or

b) Lining through the primary address and writing in the temporary address.

Note: Label 85 is only used for the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment and is not affixed to parcels or any other mailpiece sent outside the PFS Priority Mail weekly shipment.

7. Process and send PFS mailings to the customer's temporary address every Wednesday during the PFS enrollment period. Outside pieces are generally rerouted immediately upon arrival at the primary address.

8. Document each weekly shipment as appropriate on the PFS Shipping Card (see Appendix D on page 37).

5.4 Special Procedures

Express Mail, accountable mail (mail requiring a scan, signature, postage due, etc.), and large parcels that obviously will not fit in the weekly PFS shipment are to be rerouted immediately upon receipt. On the same day such pieces are received:

1. Readdress and reroute mail requiring a scan, signature, or additional postage at delivery.

2. Scan all items requiring a scan as "forwarded."

3. Ensure mail bearing a Return Receipt is rerouted to the temporary address, but do not provide the temporary address in section D of the Return Receipt on PS Form 3811. With PFS, delivery is completed when the mail arrives at the primary address.

4. Ensure the return address on the "outside" pieces remains as the sender of the mail.

PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING:

• Express Mail® - Express Mail articles are not included in the PFS package. Express Mail articles are rerouted immediately to the temporary address. No additional charges will apply (see Disposition of Mail Chart, Appendix E on page 14).

• Priority Mail® - Priority Mail articles are NOT held for reshipment in the PFS package, unless doing so WOULD NOT delay its delivery to the temporary address. No additional charges will apply (see Disposition of Mail Chart, Appendix E).

• First-Class Mail Packages - If First-Class Mail packages do not fit in the weekly shipment, each is rerouted separately at no additional charge (see Disposition of Mail Chart, Appendix E).

• Standard Mail and Package Services Mail - Articles and packages mailed at the Standard Mail Parcel Post®, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail®, and Library Mail rates are included in the PFS package if they fit inside the package after letters, flats or large envelopes, and magazines are inserted. Otherwise, they will be shipped postage due at the Priority Mail rate regardless of the initial postage rate. The appropriate postage due fees will be collected at the point of delivery.

• Mail requiring a scan, signature, or additional postage at delivery will be rerouted separately (see Disposition of Mail Chart). Examples of such mail include Express Mail, mail bearing Delivery ConfirmationTM or Return Receipt, postage due mail, and numbered Insured mail.

Note: Advise customers to notify their senders of Standard Mail and Package Services items to address this mail directly to the customer's temporary address to avoid additional charges (see Disposition of Mail Chart, Appendix E on page 14).

5.5 Ending Service

The service ends on the requested end date indicated by the customer in block 16 on the PFS application. Once the service ends, delivery of the mail resumes at the customer's primary address on the date indicated in block 17 on the PFS application.

Between the last shipment date in block 18 on the PFS application and the resume normal delivery date in block 17, the customer has the option of picking up the accumulated mail from the primary address Post Office.

Continue to reroute outside pieces after the last ship date if the mailpiece will arrive at the temporary address by the customer's end date of service.

5.6 Canceling Service

A PFS customer may change the end date or cancel service. Requests to modify service are required prior to the last ship date found in block 18 on the PFS application. The initial application fee is nonrefundable. However, upon the customer's request, the unused portion of the weekly mailing charges may be refunded.

5.7 Refund Procedures

If a customer requests a refund:

1. PS Form 3533, Application for Refund of Postage, Fees, Services and Withdrawal of Trust Accounts, is completed.

2. A valid photo-bearing identification is required.

3. The change requested is annotated on the customer's application.

4. The unused portion of the PFS charge is calculated and the refund amount is recorded on the PFS application. The amount calculated will be the amount due to the customer.

5. A no-fee postal money order for the amount refunded is issued to the customer and entered into AIC 623, Refund of Premium Forwarding Service Fee.

6. PS Form 3533 is attached to the PFS application and filed locally. Refund records are maintained according to standard record retention policy.

5.8 Replenishing Supplies

Each Post Office will receive an automatic distribution of applications, Label 85, the counter card with take-one brochures, and the lobby poster. Additional quantities of the following can be ordered from the Topeka Material Distribution Center (MDC):

• PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application, PSN 7530-07-000-6197.

• Label 85, Premium Forwarding Service Penalty Label (G-400), PSN 7690-08-000-0862.

• Counter Card with Take-One, PSN 7610-08-000-1458.

6 Responsibilities

6.1 Overall Responsibilities

The local Post Office will set up procedures to accommodate PFS. In general:

• The PFS operation will work in the same manner as the existing hold mail and Priority Mail reshipping procedures for the respective Post Office.

• The PFS operation will vary by Post Office due to facility size and the number of customers opting to use this service.

• Those locations with a hold mail case should use it for storing PFS mail for subsequent reshipping. Locations without a hold mail case should follow procedures for storing PFS mail with other hold mail for subsequent reshipping - similar to Priority Mail reship service.

6.2 Management Responsibilities

Post Office management (postmasters, managers, and supervisors) have the overall responsibility to identify the designated control point employee (DCPE) and other employees to perform the responsibilities in support of the PFS program. These include handling and separating mail for PFS customers, preparing PFS mail for reshipment, rerouting PFS packages, and other duties, as appropriate, in accordance with division of labor policies for that office. In addition, management also has the responsibility to:

1. Oversee local public relations, communications, and advertising to make customers aware of PFS. Provide press releases and news articles to local newspapers and utilize appropriate advertising, as required.

2. Ensure employees responsible for the day-to-day operations (including accepting PFS applications, tracking customer enrollments, and preparing PFS mail for reshipment or rerouting) are adequately prepared to perform the required functions.

3. Ensure an adequate supply of Priority Mail packaging and tape is available for use at the primary address Post Office.

4. Ensure an adequate supply of labels used for the temporary address is produced.

5. Ensure PS Form 8176, Premium Forwarding Service Application, and Label 85 are available.

6. Ensure all informal mail forwarding (i.e., "snowbird" service) arrangements are stopped as detailed in section 2.2 on page 20 of these guidelines.

7. Use the sample customer letter in Appendix A on page 29 to notify existing "snowbird" customers about the termination of previous informal mail forwarding arrangements and the initiation of PFS.

8. Oversee the PFS operation to ensure the service is being provided according to the PFS guidelines.

9. Perform random checks to ensure customers are properly completing and signing the PFS application to authorize service and are provided with the customer's copy of the Dispostion of Mail Chart (see Appendix F on page 15).

10. Make certain the dates of the requested service period fall between 2 weeks and 1 year and the required PFS fees are collected prior to the start of the service period.

11. Ensure the customer applications are handed off to the designated employee(s).

12. Ensure the designated employee(s) maintains a PFS Master Tracking Log to track service for all PFS customers.

13. Ensure the PFS Shipping Card is given to the employee designated to hold out the PFS customer's mail for reshipment.

14. Verify all pertinent information from the customer's application and related mailing activities are recorded in the PFS Master Tracking Log and on the back of the PFS Shipping Card.

15. Ensure all replacement employees are aware of the PFS order.

16. Ensure PFS mailings are processed and mailed each Wednesday during the service period.

17. Ensure all mail is reshipped or rerouted; mailer endorsements are not honored; and accountable mail and larger parcels are rerouted immediately and separately outside of the PFS weekly shipment.

18. Ensure PFS is only provided to domestic addresses.

19. Ensure the customer's normal mail delivery to the primary address resumes as directed by the customer's PFS application.

6.3 Responsibilities of Employees Accepting PFS Applications

1. Explaining this optional service to customers who submit a hold mail request or temporary Change- of-Address Order (PS Form 3575) or to any customers who request hold mail or temporary change-of-address information.

2. Explaining the difference between temporary forwarding, hold mail service, and PFS.

3. If a customer requests PFS, the retail acceptance employee should assist the customer in completing the PFS Application, review the application, and verify its accuracy. Be sure the customer is aware of the survey question in block 22 at the bottom of the application.

4. Once a customer has submitted a PFS application, the acceptance employee must see personal identification to verify the identity of the applicant and proof of residency at the primary address, and record the types of identification on the application. Acceptable types of identification are:

• Driver's license or state-issued nondriver identification;

• Passport (foreign or domestic); or

• Military identification card.

Acceptable proof of residency at the primary address is:4

4# Verification policy taken from DMM 508.4.3.2.

• A current lease, mortgage, or deed of trust;

• Voter or vehicle registration card; or

• or vehicle insurance policy.

Note: Postmasters and unit managers have the right to require more identification than the minimum requirements outlined above. Postmasters and unit managers have the right to refuse to accept an application if the identity of the customer cannot be adequately verified.5

5# Above instructions modeled on F-1, section 312, Bank Checks.

5. The acceptance employee will also question any customer enrolling in PFS to verify the customer does not have an active hold mail request or PS Form 3575 on file. If either is currently active, the acceptance employee will take the necessary steps with the customer to avoid having both services active at the same time.

6. The acceptance employee will ensure the start and end date fall between 2 weeks and 1 year.

7. The acceptance employee will collect the appropriate amount of funds for the service period and process the payment for PFS by:

a) Entering the amount of the nonrefundable application fee of $10 into AIC 108, Premium Forwarding Service Application Fee.

b) Entering the calculated amount of the service charge of $10 for each week for the entire period of service as outlined in the application; this amount is entered into AIC 159, Premium Forwarding Service Fee.

c) Issuing the customer a receipt for payment, the customer copy of the PFS application, and a Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy) on page 15.

d) Reminding the customer to inform senders of large parcels to send these items directly to their temporary address to avoid incurring additional postage costs for those items.

8. The acceptance employee will hand off the customer application to the designated control point employee.

6.4 Main Responsibilities of Designated Control Point Employee (DCPE)

Once the application is received by the DCPE:

1. The DCPE creates a PFS Master Tracking Log, (see Appendix G on page 16).

2. The DCPE adds all pertinent information from the customer's application into the PFS Master Tracking Log. This information is also found on PFS Shipping Card (see page 4 of PS Form 8176).

3. The DCPE notifies the delivery unit or P.O. Box employee by providing the PFS Shipping Card, sends the HQ copy (page 3) of the application to the address noted on the bottom of the page at least once a week, and files the Post Office copy (page 1) locally.

4. The DCPE will make arrangements to produce enough address labels to cover the weekly shipments and at least five additional labels for accountable mail and "outside" packages.

5. Ensure the customer's mail is held out and bundled by the designated delivery or P.O. Box employee.

6. Ensure First-Class Mail packages are held until Wednesday to determine if they will fit in the PFS weekly shipment.

7. Place letters and flats in Priority Mail packaging starting with highest class of service. Do NOT use Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes. Include all small parcels that will fit in the Priority Mail packaging (starting with the highest class of service), but only after all of the letters and flats have been added. All mail is reshipped and rerouted, regardless of the mailpiece endorsement.

8. Process and ship PFS mailings on the designated day - Wednesday.

9. Ensure all PFS mail is reshipped and rerouted according to PFS policy.

10. Individually reroute accountable mail and some packages outside the PFS weekly shipment as required. Some of these items can be shipped after the last ship date (Wednesday) if they will arrive prior to the customer's end date. For example: The customer's end date is Thursday, August 18. The last ship date is the previous Wednesday, August 10. If you receive an Express Mail package on Thursday, August 11, it can be rerouted because it has 7 days to arrive at the customer's temporary address by the end date, August 18.

11. Ensure PFS forwarding is only for domestic addresses, including to, but not from, APOs and FPOs.

12. Ensure businesses (other than those with small P.O. Boxes size 1 & 2) and customers with 3, 4, or 5 size P.O. Boxes are not enrolled in PFS. (Subject to exceptions contained in item 4 of 5.1.3, on page 23.)

13. Document each weekly shipment on the PFS Shipping Card, Appendix D.

6.5 Main Responsibilities of Delivery and P.O. Box Employees

These employees are responsible for:

1. Explaining this optional service to customers who submit a hold mail request or temporary Change- of-Address Order (PS Form 3575) or to any customers who request hold mail or temporary address change information.

2. Explaining the difference between temporary forwarding, hold mail service, and PFS.

3. Verifying there is no active Change-of-Address Order (PS Form 3575) on file for the PFS customer and notifying management if there is.

4. Placing the PFS Shipping Cards in the address location on the carrier case or in the PO Box for each PFS customer following procedures similar to current handling of hold mail and temporary Change-of-Address mail.

5. Ensuring PFS is only for domestic addresses, including to, but not from APOs and FPOs.

6. Ensuring business addresses (other than those with P.O. Boxes size 1 & 2) and customers with size 3, 4, or 5 P.O. Boxes are not enrolled in PFS.

7. Holding PFS customers' mail for weekly reshipment in accordance with existing hold mail procedures and rerouting individual pieces as required.

8. Ensuring replacement employees are aware of the PFS order.

9. Individually rerouting accountable mail and some packages outside the PFS weekly shipment as required.

10. Stopping the PFS service on the requested end date as indicated on the customer application or PFS Shipping Card (block 17, PS Form 8176) by removing the card from the address slot.

7 Things to Remember

• Give a copy of the Disposition of Mail Chart (Customer Copy) in Appendix F on page 15 to each customer who enrolls.

• Machine-printed address labels (bearing a barcode when possible) with the customer's temporary address should be used and affixed to Label 85 on all weekly Priority Mail shipments. The temporary address can be printed directly onto Label 85.

• Label 85 is ONLY to be used on the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment. It is NOT used for rerouting items outside of the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment.

• The return address on weekly PFS Priority Mail shipments is always the primary address Post Office.

• The return address on pieces rerouted separately from the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment remains the originator of the mailpiece.

• All mail is reshipped and rerouted, regardless of the mailpiece endorsement.

• Express Mail articles are never included in the weekly PFS shipment.

• First-Class Mail packages are held until Wednesday to determine if they will fit in the PFS weekly shipment.

• Mail bearing a Return Receipt is rerouted to the temporary address; however, do not provide the temporary address in section D of the Return Receipt, PS Form 3811.

• Mail with certain extra services, i.e., requiring a scan, signature, or additional postage (postage due), is never included in the weekly PFS shipment.

• Packages are only included in the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment after letters, flats, or large envelopes and magazines are inserted.

• Packages are inserted by highest to lowest class of service, e.g., Priority Mail and First-Class Mail packages are inserted before Standard Mail parcels.

• While use of a single, larger box is preferred, two or more PFS Priority Mail packages may be used for one customer if the volume of letters, flats, or large envelopes and magazines require additional containers to reship the customer's weekly accumulation of mail. The $10 weekly PFS price includes all applicable mail prepared for shipment on Wednesdays.

• An additional Priority Mail container should not be used just to accommodate a parcel, instead the parcel should be sent as an outside.

• Make sure to evaluate if items that are rerouted outside the weekly shipment can be shipped after the last ship date (Wednesday). If they will arrive at the customer's temporary address prior to the customer's end date the mailpiece should be sent. For example: The customer's end date is Thursday, August 25. The last ship date is the previous Wednesday, August 17. If you receive a Priority Mail package on Friday, August 19, it can be rerouted because it has 6 days to arrive at the customer's temporary address by the end date, August 25.

• PFS is $10 for the weekly PFS Priority Mail shipment regardless of the volume of mail or the (zone) distance it has to travel to reach the temporary address.

• Do not use the Priority Mail Flat-Rate box for PFS shipments. Do not use ReadyPost® shipping materials for PFS shipments.

• Send the Headquarters copy, page 3 of the application, to the address noted on the bottom of the page at least once a week.

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