Effective July 28, 2013, the Postal Service™ will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), section 507.1.5, to provide mailers with new ancillary service endorsement options. The new options will provide a separate correction notice via ACS™ (Address Change Service) to the mailer as well as the return of undeliverable mailpieces. In all cases in the revised standards, the new option is shown as option 2. There is a table available on our RIBBS® website at ribbs.usps.gov, which indicates the correct STIDS (service type IDs) to use within the Intelligent Mail® barcode to access these new options. Option 1 is the current treatment, and continues to be accessible only through the use of the printed Ancillary Service Endorsement. Charges for notices generated will be according to the current fee structure; for example, there is currently no charge for those pieces that qualify for full-service automation prices.
We will also revise DMM 507.1.5 and 602.3.0 to allow mailpieces mailed at First-Class Mail®, First-Class Package Service™, and Priority Mail® prices with alternative addressing formats to use the printed endorsement “Change Service Requested” (option 1). Mailpieces mailed as First-Class Mail letters or flats may use traditional ACS or incorporate the correct STID in the IM barcode. Priority Mail pieces and First-Class Package Service parcels must use traditional ACS. Both types require the associated MID (mailer ID) or PID (participant ID) to be set to option 1 in the ACS mailer profile. This allows mailers to receive information through ACS about undeliverable addresses due to vacancies, no such number, or insufficient addresses, and request that the USPS® dispose of those mailpieces instead of returning them to the sender.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
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507 Mailer Services
1.0 Treatment of Mail
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1.4 Basic Treatment
1.4.1 General
Exhibit 1.4.1 USPS Endorsements for Mail Undeliverable as Addressed
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[Revise the first sentence of the text directly after the end of Exhibit 1.4.1 as follows:]
*Alternative addressing formats may not be used on the following: Express Mail pieces; mail with any extra service listed in 602.3.1.2e; mail sent with any ancillary service endorsement, except as allowed in 1.5.1b; and mail sent to any overseas military Post Office.***
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1.5 Treatment for Ancillary Services by Class of Mail
1.5.1 First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service, and Priority Mail
Undeliverable-as-addressed First-Class Mail (including postcards), First-Class Package Service, and Priority Mail pieces are treated under Exhibit 1.5.1, with these additional conditions:
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[Revise item 1.5.1b as follows:]
b. Alternative addressing formats under 602.3.0 may not be used on mail with any extra service or mail with any ancillary service endorsement except Change Service Requested (Option 1). Forwarding service is not provided for such mail. Undeliverable First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service, or Priority Mail pieces with any alternative addressing format are returned with the reason for nondelivery attached, only if the address is incorrect or incomplete, or the mail is undeliverable for another reason as shown in Exhibit 1.4.1; however, if such mail is endorsed Change Service Requested, the piece is disposed of and an ACS record is provided for the same reasons.
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Exhibit 1.5.1 Treatment of Undeliverable First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service, and Priority Mail
MAILER ENDORSEMENT USPS TREATMENT OF UAA PIECES
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[Revise text under “USPS Treatment” for “Return Service Requested” to read as follows:]
“Return Service Requested” Option 1: In all cases (regardless of whether a change-of-address order is on file): Piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached (in either case, no charge).
Option 2: In all cases (regardless of whether a change-of-address order is on file): Piece returned with new address or reason for non-delivery attached and separate ACS notice of new address provided. Address correction fee charged. For First-Class Mail letters or flats, request must be made via the correct STID embedded in the Intelligent Mail barcode on the mailpiece.
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[Revise text under “USPS Treatment” for “Temp – Return Service Requested” to read as follows:]
“TEMP–RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED” Option 1: If no change-of-address order on file: Piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached (no charge).
If permanent change-of-address order on file: Piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached (in either case, no charge).
If temporary change-of-address order on file: Piece forwarded to temporary address (no charge); no separate notice of temporary address provided.
Option 2: Request must be made via the correct STID embedded in the Intelligent Mail barcode on the mailpiece for First-Class Mail letters or flats. If no change-of-address order on file: Piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached (no charge) and separate ACS notice provided. Address correction fee charged.
If permanent change-of-address order on file: Piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached and separate ACS notice of new address provided. Address correction fee charged.
If temporary change-of-address order on file:
Piece forwarded to temporary address (no charge) with no notice to the mailer.
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1.5.3 Standard Mail and Parcel Select Lightweight
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Exhibit 1.5.3 Treatment of Undeliverable Standard Mail and Parcel Select Lightweight
MAILER ENDORSEMENT USPS TREATMENT OF UAA PIECES
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[Revise text under “USPS Treatment” for “Address Service Requested” to read as follows:]
“ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED” (Does not include Shipper Paid Forwarding or BPRS participants)
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Option 1: If no change-of-address order on file: Piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached (only weighted fee2 charged.
If change-of-address order on file:
n Months 1 through 12: Piece forwarded (no charge); separate notice of new address provided. Address correction fee charged.
n Months 13 through 18: Piece returned with new address attached (only weighted fee2 charged).
n After month 18: Piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached (only weighted fee2 charged).
Option 2: Request must be made via the correct STID embedded in the Intelligent Mail barcode on the mailpiece for Standard Mail letters or flats.
If no change-of-address order on file:
Piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached and separate ACS notice provided. Weighted fee2 charged for return of piece and address correction fee charged.
If change-of-address order on file:
n Months 1 through 12: Piece forwarded (no charge); separate ACS notice of new address provided. Address correction fee charged.
n Months 13 through 18: Piece returned with new address attached and separate ACS notice of new address provided. Weighted fee2 charged for return of piece and address correction fee charged.
n After month 18: Piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached and separate ACS notice of reason for nondelivery provided. Weighted fee2 charged for return of piece and address correction fee charged.
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[Revise text under “USPS Treatment” for “Return Service Requested” to read as follows:]
“RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED” (Except for BPRS participants)
Option 1: Piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached. In either case, only return postage is charged at First-Class Mail or Priority Mail single-piece price, as appropriate for weight of piece.
Option 2: Request must be made via the correct STID embedded in the Intelligent Mail barcode on the mailpiece for Standard Mail letters or flats.
In all cases (regardless of whether a change-of-address order is on file): Piece returned with new address or reason for non-delivery attached and separate ACS notice of reason for nondelivery provided. In either case, both the address correction fee is charged, and return postage is charged at First-Class Mail or Priority Mail single-piece price, as appropriate for weight of piece.
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600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
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602 Addressing
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3.0 Use of Alternative Addressing
3.1 General Information
3.1.1 Use
[Revise the text of 3.1.1 as follows:]
Alternative addressing formats may be used as described in 3.2 through 3.4.
3.1.2 Prohibited Use
Alternative addressing formats may not be used on:
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[Revise item 3.1.2b as follows:]
b. Mail with any ancillary service endorsement under 507.1.1 through 507.1.8, except as allowed for First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service parcels, or Priority Mail under 507.1.5.1.b.
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3.1.3 Treatment
[Revise the text of 3.1.3 as follows:]
Mail with an occupant or an exceptional address format is delivered as addressed and is not forwarded. Such mail is treated as undeliverable only when the address is incorrect or incomplete or when the mail cannot be delivered for another reason related solely to the address (e.g., a vacant building), as shown in Exhibit 1.4.1. Periodicals publishers are notified when a mailpiece with an occupant or exceptional address format is undeliverable for solely address-related reasons. Mail with a simplified address format is distributed to all deliveries on a route or to Post Office boxholders. Undeliverable mail with any alternative addressing format is disposed of as waste under 507.1.9.1, except for First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service parcels, and Priority Mail under 507.1.5.1b.
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer® at http://pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Pricing, 7-11-13
