USPS Publishes
New Service Endorsements

As reported in the December issue of memo to mailers, the Postal Service is streamlining the address correction process by condensing 10 highly complicated endorsements down to four that are uniform across all mail classes.

Michael Murphy, manager, Address Management, said, "The new endorsements will simplify the process and help improve customer service."

Beginning July 1, the endorsements for ancillary services available for all mail classes will consist of a keyword: "Address," "Forwarding," "Return," or "Change," followed by two words "Service Requested." The process for handling undeliverable-as-addressed mail by postal employees and the applicable fees or postage due charges will not change significantly.

The Postal Service will honor current endorsements for a period of six months after July 1. After January 1, 1998, those endorsements will be considered invalid. For mail bearing invalid endorsements, the service under "Address Service Requested" or "Return Service Requested" will be provided to such mail as appropriate. For example, if a mailpiece bears an endorsement that implies that forwarding service was desired, "Address Service Requested" will be provided. If a mailpiece bears an endorsement that implies that no forwarding was desired, "Return Service Requested" will be provided.

The final standards on the new endorsements were published March 28 in the Federal Register and in the April 10 issue of the Postal Bulletin. Additional information will appear in the May issue of Mailers Companion. (See accompanying reference chart for service provided for each of the new endorsements.) For a subscription to the Mailers Companion, fax a request to (901) 681-4582.

Services provided for auxiliary endorsements

Address Service Requested:

Forwarding and return. New address notifications provided.

• If forwarded, a separate change of address notification is provided.
• If returned, new address or reason for nondelivery is provided.

Forwarding Service Requested:

Forwarding and return. New address notification provided only for return.

• If forwarded, a separate change of address notification is not provided.
• If returned, new address or reason for nondelivery is provided.

Return Service Requested:

No forwarding, only return. New address notification provided.

• If undeliverable-as-addressed, returned to the sender with new address information or reason for nondelivery provided. Separate change of address notification is not provided.

Change Service Requested:

No forwarding or return. New address notification provided.

• A separate change of address notification with new address information or reason for non-delivery provided and address correction fee charged.
• Mailpiece is properly disposed of as waste.

No Endorsement:

UAA handled by class of mail.

• For First-Class Mail and Standard Mail (B), the treatment is the same as if endorsed "Forwarding Service Requested."
• For Periodicals, forwarding is provided for 60 days. After 60 days, or if unforwardable, separate address correction notification is provided and periodical is disposed of.
• All unendorsed Standard Mail (A) is disposed of.

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