Effective July 1, 2008, the Postal Operations Manual (POM) is revised to reflect the removal of Section 826.2, Split Forwarding Policy.
Split Forwarding is a service that allowed for the temporary forwarding of specified classes of mail to a new address and other specified classes of mail either held or delivered as addressed. Split Forwarding for letters ceased to be available in August 2007 when the Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS) completed rollout across the country.
PARS wastes nonforwardable letters at the point of induction in the processing and distribution center, hence no letters would be received by the delivery unit to be held or delivered to the customer. PARS for flats will be available in the near future and will also waste nonforwardable flats at the point of induction.
Postal Operations Manual (POM)
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8 Special Services
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82 Supplemental Mail Services
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[Revise title of 826 to read as follows:]
826 Change-of-Address Orders
[Renumber 826.1 as 826 and revise to read as follows:]
Encourage customers to file a change-of-address order prior to a temporary absence or permanent move. Customers have the following three options for filing temporary and permanent changes:
a. Use Internet Change of Address (ICOA) at https://moversguide.usps.com. Customers using the ICOA method must provide a valid credit card number for identity verification. The customer’s credit card is charged $1.00 for the verification.
b. Use Telephone Change of Address (TCOA) at 1-800-ASK-USPS. Customers using the TCOA method must provide a valid credit card number for identity verification. The customer’s credit card is charged $1.00 for the verification.
c. Obtain Publication 75, Mover’s Guide, which contains the necessary forms. The customer should complete PS Form 3575, Change of Address Order, or other written notice and drop it in the mail or submit it to any Post Office.
See subchapter 68 for handling mail that is undeliverable-as-addressed.
[Delete 826.2, Split Forwarding.]
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the POM and also into the online update, available on the Postal Service™ PolicyNet Web site:
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)
It is also available on the Postal Service Internet:
- Go to www.usps.com.
- Click About USPS & News, then Forms & Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, and then Manuals.
— Customer Service Standardization,
Delivery and Retail, 6-5-08
