Effective October 6, 2011, the Postal Operations Manual (POM) is revised to establish a performance standard to help ensure timely processing of spoiled and unused postage meter stamp refunds. The standard sets the maximum time periods for a refund. In most cases, refunds should be processed in shorter timeframes than the timeframe required by the standard.
Postal Operations Manual (POM)
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1 Retail Management
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14 Other Retail Services Management
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145 Exchanges and Refunds for Payment of Excess Postage
145.1 Processing Refunds for Postage Stamps on Business Reply Mail, Postage Meter Stamps, Meter Impressions, Permit Imprints, or Rejected Personalized Envelopes
145.11 Authorizing Refunds
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[Add item k to read as follows:]
k. Spoiled and unused postage meter stamp refunds for $500 and under must be processed within 30 days. Spoiled and unused postage meter stamp refunds for more than $500 must be processed within 60 days.
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We will incorporate this revision into the next printed version of the POM and also into the online version available on the Postal Service™ PolicyNet website:
n Go to http://blue.usps.gov.
n Under “Essential Links” in the left-hand column, click PolicyNet.
n Then click Manuals.
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is http://blue/usps.gov/cpim.)
— Customer Service Operations,
Delivery and Post Office Operations, 10-6-11
