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Quick Service Guide 230a
Discount Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels
First-Class Mail Move Update Standard
January 2006
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Related QSG
507d, Ancillary Service Endorsements
Overview
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mailpieces
in a mailing that require forwarding or return by periodic matching of
a mailer's address records with customer-filed change-of-address
orders received and maintained by the Postal Service. Mailers who claim
presorted or automation rates for First-Class Mail must demonstrate that
they have updated their mailing list within 185 days before the mailing
date. The Postal Service offers four preapproved methods: Address Change
Service (ACS), National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink),
FASTforward, and ancillary service endorsements. Alternative methods
that require separate approval also are offered. Mailers must use of
one of the preapproved or alternative methods to meet the Move Update
standard.
Address Change Service (507.3.2)
Address
Change Service (ACS) is an electronic enhancement to traditional,
manual methods of providing change-of-address (COA) information to mailers.
The system is designed to reduce the volume of manual (printed) address-correction
notifications handled by both the Postal Service and mailers and to centralize
and automate the provision of address correction information to mailers.
Mailers add a unique mailer identification code to the address area of
their mailpieces to identify them as ACS participants.
ACS may be used on any class of mail to qualify the addresses in a
mailing list that is also used for First-Class mailings. First-Class
mailers
who are ACS participants may use the ancillary service endorsement "Change
Service Requested" to receive an electronic notice of the change-of-address
information and prevent the mailpiece from being forwarded to the new
address or returned to the sender. Electronic notices cost $0.21 each
and can be obtained on a variety of electronic media.
A mailer may determine the frequency with which to use an ancillary
endorsement and ACS participant code, as long as the mailer can certify
that each
address in a First-Class mailing has been updated for customer moves
within 185 days before the mailing date.
ACS is available for First-Class Mail, Periodicals, and Standard Mail.
ACS is available monthly, weekly, or more frequently, depending on the
needs and ACS volume of the mailer. ACS via electronic notification is
not
available from all post offices.
See example of an ACS code in Quick Service Guide
708, Optional Information Lines. Benefits:
- ACS provides significant cost-saving benefits to mailers and the
Postal Service.
- ACS participants can use electronically generated address correction
information to update their mailing lists more easily and in
a more timely manner.
National Change of Address Linkage System (Letters
233.3.3,
Flats 333.3.3,
Parcels 433.3.4)
National
Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink) is an
address correction service provided to mailers through companies licensed
by the Postal
Service. Updated change-of-address information for the entire country
is provided on a regular basis to the licensees by the Postal Service.
The licensees match mailing lists submitted to them by mailers on tape
or disk against the computerized information. If a match is made, NCOALink can correct the address before it is printed.
Benefits:
- Reduces undeliverable mail by providing the most current address
information, including standardized and delivery point-coded addresses,
for matches
made to the NCOALink file for individual, family, and business
moves.
- Prevents remailings after address corrections are received because
the address correction is applied prior to the mailing.
- Reduces mailer costs by reducing the number of undeliverable
mailpieces.
- Provides faster product/service marketing through accurate mail
delivery.
For more information about NCOALink, including
a list of licensees, see Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) > Address Quality > Address Management
Services > Move Update > NCOA
Link Systems.
FASTforward (507.3.3)
The FASTforward system consists of a Postal Service–owned and
user-licensed computer system containing FASTforward name- and
address-matching software and a change-of-address database. The FASTforward database
is updated weekly.
FASTforward is available in two distinct versions.
Multiline optical character readers (MLOCRs) – Licensed FASTforward
MLOCR users must obtain an approved interface from their MLOCR vendors.
Mailing List Correction (MLC) provides FASTforward licensees
with the ability to update computer-based name and address mailing lists
electronically
prior to the creation of the mailpiece. This version will be discontinued
effective September 30, 2005, and replaced with NCOALink.
For a list of FASTforward licensees, see Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) > Address
Quality > Address Management Services > Move Update > FASTforward > Licensees.
Benefits: When FASTforward is used in conjunction with either MLOCR
(and/or RVE) processing
or mailing-list correction services, mailpieces avoid the delays associated
with traditional mail forwarding activities.
Ancillary Service Endorsements (507.1.5)
Any mailer may use an ancillary service endorsement to request a printed
notification of the addressee's new address and provide the Postal Service
with instruction
on how to handle undeliverable-as-addressed
mail.
Mailers may use the following endorsements with First-Class Mail service
to initiate this updating method:
Address Service Requested: The mailpiece is forwarded to the
new location when possible and
a printed notice is returned to the mailer with the new address
information. This notice is then used by the mailer to update the address
list.
- Months 1–12: the mailpiece is forwarded at no charge; the
mailer is provided a separate notice of new address and charged
an address correction fee
(manual $0.75, electronic $0.21 each).
- Months 13–18: the mailpiece is returned with the new address
attached at no charge.
- After month 18 or if undeliverable at any time: the mailpiece
is returned with reason for nondelivery attached at no charge.
Return Service Requested: The mailpiece is returned with the
new address information affixed. No forwarding service is provided.
This service
is provided with First-Class Mail at no charge. The mailer then updates
the address information in the file and may mail a new piece to
the new address.
Change Service Requested: A separate notice of new address or reason
for nondelivery is provided (in either case, an electronic address correction
fee is charged); the mailpiece is disposed of by USPS. This endorsement
is available only when used in conjunction with electronic Address Change
Service.
Temp-Return Service Requested: The mailpiece is returned with the new
address or reason for nondelivery attached. If this is a temporary change
of address,
the piece is forwarded; no separate notice of new temporary change-of-address
is provided.
For an address to meet the Move Update requirement, the mailer must
send at least one letter or card to the address with an approved ancillary
service endorsement
within 185 days before reuse of the address in a First-Class discounted mailing.
To complete the Move Update process, the mailer must make the address changes
received as a result of the use of the approved ancillary service endorsement.
It is recommended that mailers retain address correction records for up to
two years.
Benefits: Ancillary service endorsements allow the sender to obtain
on request the addressee's new (forwarding) address (if the addressee filed a change-of-address
order with the Postal Service) or the reason for nondelivery. These endorsements
also provide the Postal Service with instructions for the disposition of undeliverable-as-addressed
mail.
Alternative Methods (Letters
233.3.3, Flats 333.3.3, Parcels
433.3.4)
Mailer Move Update Process Certification and USPS-approved alternative
methods for mailers with legitimate restrictions on incorporating
USPS-supplied change-of-address
information into their mailing lists. The National Customer Support Center
administers and approves both Mailer Move Update Process Certification
and alternative methods.
Additional Information
Phone: National Customer Support Center (NCSC) at (800) 238-3150.
Internet: Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) > Address Quality > Address
Management
Services > Move Update.
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