Verifying that each piece of mail has the correct amount of postage is one important element in ensuring the financial success of the Postal Service™, and all employees must play a role in helping the Postal Service collect the proper revenue.
For mail accepted at the retail counter or through the business mail entry unit, proper revenue collection generally is not a concern because retail and acceptance personnel are trained to check for correct postage payment. However, mailpieces that are deposited in collection boxes might not be routinely checked for postage. For example, collection boxes often include pieces that bear Click-N-Ship® labels or metered postage, which includes information-based indicia products (IBIP) and PC Postage® products. Because mailers apply these methods of postage, the amount applied might occasionally be incorrect or, in some cases, missing.
This article provides some tips to help employees identify shortpaid mailpieces found in the mailstream and collect the proper amount of postage. The exhibits show images of various types of postage and describe the action that Postal Service employees should take regarding them.
Customers can print Click-N-Ship labels online at www.usps.com in the versions shown in Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2.
Imprints for metered postage have different formats depending on the authorized meter vendors. Exhibit 3 shows some examples of imprint design for metered postage.
The postage on IBIP mailpieces has different formats. Exhibit 4 shows two examples of IBIP postage.
The indicia for PC Postage products have different formats. These labels may be printed with or without the postage amount in human-readable characters. Exhibit 5 shows examples of the postage amount with human-readable characters.
Exhibit 6 shows three examples in which the actual postage amount is not in human-readable characters, so conventional visual postage verification is not possible. However, the text of such indicia normally shows the following information: Mail class, shipped-from ZIP Code™, weight, and any appropriate surcharge applied. In addition, the indicia area might also show zones. These indicia are permitted only on the following types of mail: Express Mail® items (international or domestic), Priority Mail® items with Delivery Confirmation™ service, and Package Services items with Delivery Confirmation service.
Exhibit 1: Click-N-Ship Label With Postage
Exhibit 2: Click-N-Ship Label Without Postage
Exhibit 3: Metered Postage
Exhibit 4: Information-Based Indicia Products (IBIP)
Exhibit 5: PC Postage Products With Human-readable Characters
Exhibit 6: PC Postage Products Without Human-readable Characters
— Postage Technology Management, Product Development, 2-14-08
