October 16, 2009

Move Update

The Move Update standard requires periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with customer-filed change-of-address (COA) orders. Its goal is to reduce the number of mailpieces in a mailing that require additional handling for forwarding or return.

Yesterday we filed notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to describe the new method our Business Mail Entry Units (BMEU) will use to determine whether or not to assess the $0.07 Move Update charge to First-Class Mail and Standard Mail pieces evaluated during acceptance.

Originally intended for a Standard Mail implementation date of May 2009, we deferred the effective date of the new standard until January 4, 2010. For consistency with the treatment of Standard mail, we also apply the same effective date to First-Class Mail. Both classes will be assessed the additional postage charge on pieces determined at acceptance to have an error rate above a 30% tolerance level.

Sample testing will be done for each mailing accepted at MERLIN locations, and the BMEUs will provide feedback to the mailer on the effectiveness of their Move Update process. The assessment applies only to those pieces in the mailing that are found to exceed the tolerance level, based on the sampling.

Example: if a mailing is found to have an error level of 50%, then 50% minus 30% (tolerance level) = 20% of the mailing that will is assessed $0.07 per piece.

Any mailing that has five or fewer update errors is not assessed the fee, regardless of the percentage that is not updated.

Complete details of the assessment process are available at: http://ribbs.usps.gov/move_update/documents/tech_guides/Move_Update_Advisement_Policy.pdfh