The Postal Service™ is extending its effort to improve the percentage of deliverable mail by revising Move Update standards in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®). The Move Update standards provide ways for mailers to reduce the number of mailpieces that require forwarding or return by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with customer-filed change-of-address orders. Our final rule, effective November 23, 2008, includes the following changes related to Move Update processing: (1) Increase the minimum frequency of Move Update processing from 185 days to 95 days prior to the date of mailing; (2) Extend the revised Move Update requirement to all Standard Mail® items.
In order to give mailers enough time to prepare for these changes, the revised rule will become effective on November 23, 2008. At that time, we will incorporate these changes in the update of the DMM as noted below.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
200 Discount Letters and Cards
* * * * *
230 First-Class Mail
233 Rates and Eligibility
* * * * *
3.0 Basic Standards for First-Class Mail Letters
* * * * *
3.5 Move Update Standard
3.5.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
[Revise item a in 3.5.1 as follows:]
a. Each address and associated occupant name used on the mailpieces in a mailing must be updated within 95 days before the mailing date, with one of the USPS-approved methods in 3.5.2.
* * * * *
[Revise item c in 3.5.1 as follows:]
c. The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing at any class of mail is updated with an approved method in 3.5.2, and the same address is used in a First-Class Mail mailing within 95 days after the address has been updated.
* * * * *
240 Standard Mail
243 Rates and Eligibility
* * * * *
3.0 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Letters
* * * * *
[Add new item 3.9 as follows:]
3.9 Move Update Standard
3.9.1 Basic Standards
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mailpieces in a mailing that require forwarding, returning, or discarding by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with customer-filed change-of-address orders received and maintained by the USPS. For the purposes of this standard, “address” means a specific address associated with a specific occupant name. Addresses subject to the Move Update standard must meet these requirements:
a. Each address and associated occupant name used on the mailpieces in a mailing must be updated within 95 days before the mailing date, with one of the USPS-approved methods in 3.9.2.
b. Each individual address in the mailing is subject to the Move Update standard.
c. The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing for any class of mail is updated with an approved method in 3.9.2, and the same address is used in a Standard Mail mailing within 95 days after the address has been updated.
d. Except for mail bearing an alternative address format, addresses used on pieces claiming Standard Mail rates, regardless of any required surcharge, must meet the Move Update standard.
3.9.2 USPS-Approved Methods
The following methods are authorized for meeting the Move Update standard:
a. Address Change Service (ACS).
b. National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink).
c. FASTforward MLOCR processes if used each time before mail entry (for letter mail only). If a mailpiece that initially uses FASTforward MLOCR processing is rejected and then entered into a Direct View Encoding Desk (DVED) operation (or similar system), the piece does not meet the Move Update standard. The name and address information on the piece must then be processed through a FASTforward RVE system to meet the Move Update standard. FASTforward RVE processes also meet the Move Update standard if used each time before mail entry.
d. Ancillary service endorsements under 507.1.5.3, Standard Mail, except “Forwarding Service Requested.”
3.9.3 Mailer Certification
The mailer’s signature on the postage statement certifies that the Move Update standard has been met for each address in the corresponding mailing presented to the USPS.
* * * * *
300 Discount Flats
* * * * *
330 First-Class Mail
333 Rates and Eligibility
* * * * *
3.0 Eligibility Standards for First-Class Mail Flats
* * * * *
3.5 Move Update Standard
3.5.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
[Revise item a in 3.5.1 as follows:]
a. Each address and associated occupant name used on the mailpieces in a mailing must be updated within 95 days before the mailing date, with one of the USPS-approved methods in 3.5.2.
* * * * *
[Revise item c in 3.5.1 as follows:]
c. The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing for any class of mail is updated with an approved method in 3.5.2, and the same address is used in a First-Class Mail mailing within 95 days after the address has been updated.
* * * * *
340 Standard Mail
343 Rates and Eligibility
* * * * *
3.0 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Flats
* * * * *
[Add new item 3.9 as follows:]
3.9 Move Update Standard
3.9.1 Basic Standards
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mailpieces in a mailing that require forwarding, returning, or discarding by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with customer-filed change-of-address orders received and maintained by the USPS. For the purposes of this standard, “address” means a specific address associated with a specific occupant name. Addresses subject to the Move Update standard must meet these requirements:
a. Each address and associated occupant name used on the mailpieces in a mailing must be updated within 95 days before the mailing date, with one of the USPS-approved methods in 3.9.2.
b. Each individual address in the mailing is subject to the Move Update standard.
c. The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing for any class of mail is updated with an approved method in 3.9.2, and the same address is used in a Standard Mail mailing within 95 days after the address has been updated.
d. Except for mail bearing an alternative address format, addresses used on pieces claiming Standard Mail rates, regardless of any required surcharge, must meet the Move Update standard.
3.9.2 USPS-Approved Methods
The following methods are authorized for meeting the Move Update standard:
a. Address Change Service (ACS).
b. National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink).
c. Ancillary service endorsements under 507.1.5.3, Standard Mail, except “Forwarding Service Requested.”
3.9.3 Mailer Certification
The mailer’s signature on the postage statement certifies that the Move Update standard has been met for each address in the corresponding mailing presented to the USPS.
* * * * *
400 Discount Parcels
* * * * *
430 First-Class Mail
433 Rates and Eligibility
* * * * *
3.0 Basic Standards for First-Class Mail Parcels
* * * * *
3.5 Move Update Standard
3.5.1 Basic Standards
* * * * *
[Revise item a in 3.5.1 as follows:]
a. Each address and associated occupant name used on the mailpieces in a mailing must be updated within 95 days before the mailing date, with one of the USPS-approved methods in 3.6.2.
* * * * *
[Revise item c in 3.5.1 as follows:]
c. The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing at any class of mail is updated with an approved method in 3.6.2, and the same address is used in a First-Class Mail mailing within 95 days after the address has been updated.
* * * * *
440 Standard Mail
443 Rates and Eligibility
* * * * *
3.0 Basic Standards for Standard Mail Parcels
* * * * *
[Add new item 3.9 as follows:]
3.9 Move Update Standard
3.9.1 Basic Standards
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mailpieces in a mailing that require forwarding, returning, or discarding by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with customer-filed change-of-address orders received and maintained by the USPS. For the purposes of this standard, “address” means a specific address associated with a specific occupant name. Addresses subject to the Move Update standard must meet these requirements:
a. Each address and associated occupant name used on the mailpieces in a mailing must be updated within 95 days before the mailing date, with one of the USPS-approved methods in 3.9.2.
b. Each individual address in the mailing is subject to the Move Update standard.
c. The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mailpiece in a mailing for any class of mail is updated with an approved method in 3.9.2, and the same address is used in a Standard Mail mailing within 95 days after the address has been updated.
d. Except for mail bearing an alternative address format, addresses used on pieces claiming Standard Mail rates, regardless of any required surcharge, must meet the Move Update standard.
3.9.2 USPS-Approved Methods
The following methods are authorized for meeting the Move Update standard:
a. Address Change Service (ACS).
b. National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink).
c. Ancillary service endorsements under 507.1.5.3, Standard Mail, except “Forwarding Service Requested.”
3.9.3 Mailer Certification
The mailer’s signature on the postage statement certifies that the Move Update standard has been met for each address in the corresponding mailing presented to the USPS.
* * * * *
We will incorporate this revision into the November 2008 update of the online DMM available on Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com and into the subsequent printed version of the DMM.
— Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 10-11-07
