USPS extends 'Move Updates' to include standard mail

The US Postal Service is extending its Move Update standards in the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual from first class to standard mail.

The Move Update standards, which were first announced on May 23, give mailers ways to cut back the number of mail pieces that require forwarding or return by the periodic matching of a mailer’s address records with customer-filed change-of-address orders.

Charles B. Hunt, customer program support specialist at the USPS, said that the reasoning behind the rules update is that the USPS is trying to reduce the UAA (unable to deliver as addressed) mail by 50 percent by 2010.

In addition, the Postal Service is cutting the time mailers have to make these changes from 185 days down to 95 days before a mailing goes out. This revised Move Update requirement will include all standard mail.

Move Update rules currently let first class mailers that update addresses through NCOALink and other USPS products automate mailings and have access to postal discounts.

The revised standards will take effect on Nov. 23, 2008, which gives mailers 18 months to prepare.