DMM Revision: Click-N-Ship Insurance Indemnity Coverage Increase — Feasibility Test

Effective November 29, 2009, the Postal Service™ will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 503.4 and add new section 709.4, to permit the purchase of Click-N-Ship® online insurance coverage up to $5,000.00 during a 6–month feasibility test period.

Click-N-Ship customers who purchase and print their domestic Express Mail® and Priority Mail® postage online have expressed interest in purchasing the maximum insur­ance coverage, currently available only at the retail win­dow. In response, the Postal Service will conduct a feasibility test to increase Click-N-Ship online insurance indemnity coverage for domestic Express Mail and Priority Mail from $500.00 to $5,000.00. Increased online insurance indemnity will not be available for any other class of mail, even when postage is paid through Click-N-Ship service.

The feasibility test program period runs for 6 months from November 14, 2009, through May 14, 2009. Mailing and claims data will be analyzed during the program period to determine if this program should be a permanent offer­ing, revised, or terminated. Additionally, the Postal Service may, at its option, withdraw the offering prior to the May 14, 2010, end date.

All online indemnity claims, including those submitted under this program, must be filed in accordance with DMM 609. Mailers who purchase insurance online with Click-N-Ship service for items valued over $500, and who file a claim for loss or damage, may receive an Online Insurance Claim Affidavit to complete as part of the claims process.

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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500 Additional Mailing Services

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503 Extra Services

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503.4 Insured Mail

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503.4.2 Basic Information

503.4.2.1 Description

Insured Mail provides the following features:

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[Revise text of 4.2.1b as follows:]

b. Insured mail purchased online provides up to $500.00 indemnity coverage (see 709.4 for excep­tion) for lost, rifled, or damaged articles, subject to the standards for the service and payment of the ap­plicable fee.

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503.4.3 Mailing

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503.4.3.5 Integrated Barcodes

The following options are available for mailers who print their own labels:

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[Revise text of 4.3.5c2 and 4.3.5c3 as follows:]

2. Mailers may purchase insurance online for indem­nity coverage of more than $200.00, up to $500.00 (see 709.4 for exception), with electronic option Delivery Confirmation service. The human-readable text above the integrated barcode must state, “e/USPS INSURED.”

3. Mailers may purchase insurance online for up to $500.00 (see 709.4 for exception) indemnity cov­erage and include the electronic option Signature Confirmation service. The human-readable text above the integrated barcode must state, “e/USPS INSURED.”

700 Special Standards

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709 Experimental and Temporary Classifications

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[Add new 4.0 as follows:]

4.0 Click-N-Ship Indemnity Increase for Express Mail and Priority Mail

4.1 Basic Information

The Click-N-Ship Indemnity Increase Feasibility test is available for Express Mail and Priority Mail items only pur­chased via Click-N-Ship during the 6-month program period which runs November 14, 2009, through May 14, 2010. The insurance amount available for purchase during this period will increase from $500.00 to $5,000.00. USPS may, at its option, withdraw this offering prior to the May 14, 2010, end date.

4.1.1 Eligibility Requirements

Mailers using Click-N-Ship to purchase online insurance coverage up to $5,000.00 for Express Mail and Priority Mail items must:

a. Register for an account with Click-N-Ship at www.usps.com (click Print a Shipping Label).

b. Use a Click-N-Ship label, showing the total amount of postage and fees paid.

c. Enter the Express Mail or Priority Mail item into the mailstream on the same date as that displayed on the online label.

4.1.2 Considerations

Mailing and claims data will be analyzed during the pro­gram period to determine if the program will become a per­manent offering, revised, or terminated.

4.2 Filing Claims

Claims for loss or damage must be filed in accordance with 609. Mailers who purchase insurance on Click-N-Ship for items valued over $500, and who file a claim for loss or damage, may receive an Online Insurance Claim Affidavit to complete as part of the claims process.

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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the DMM and into the monthly update of the online DMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.