Mailers of automation-rate and presort-rate First-Class Mail® items that are paid with metered postage or PC Postage® are receiving returned pieces for what might appear to be “additional postage due.” However, metered pieces or PC Postage pieces that have a proper workshare rate marking, such as “Presorted First-Class,” were paid for and verified at the time of mailing. Therefore, please let employees know that such pieces have the correct postage and should not be returned for “additional postage due.”
The confusion may be caused by our new lower prices for heavier mailpieces and the significantly reduced First-Class Mail additional-ounce rate for workshare mail. For example, the 2-ounce single-piece rate for a First-Class Mail flat is $0.97, but when prepared and mailed at automation rates, the 2-ounce rate can be as low as $0.553, a difference of almost $0.42.
So what might initially appear to be postage due in fact is not. Do not return these mailpieces for additional postage.
If you have questions, please contact your business mail entry manager.
— Pricing Implementation,
Pricing and Classification, 7-19-07
