Access Mail Clients Comply with Postal Move Update Requirements
Access Mail’s clients, to participate in Presort postage savings programs of the US Postal Service, are required to prove that the addresses mailed to are current. This involves both proper 5-digit Zip codes as well as sending to the current address for the intended addressee. Presort mailers
Under the USPS Move Update requirements, there are several methods to comply with the “current address” obligation. The basic criteria are that each address should be processed through an approved method once every 95 days, and the data updated when changes are discovered.
A simple method, used by many mailers, is to endorse all envelopes with either “Return Service Requested” or “Address Service Requested.” These will request certain actions by the USPS to forward or return the mail. However, these options may not continue to be accepted by the USPS in the future.
Access Mail clients automatically comply with Move Update. Access was the first, and remains the preeminent presort mail house in Tampa Bay, to utilize FASTforward® MLOCR processing. This technology upgrade, a joint effort between the USPS and National Association of Presort Mailers, forwards letters to the recipient as quickly as possible, even if they have recently moved. The MLOCR FASTforward system is basically the same method the USPS has been using. It is the exclusive property of the US Postal Service and is licensed to Access Mail on an annual basis.
The FASTforward system contains more than 40 million permanent change-of-address (COA) records filed with the US Postal Service by relocating customers who want their mail forwarded to their new address. These COA records reflect a thirteen-month period relative to the move-effective date the customer provided. FASTforward COA data is updated weekly.
There are three separate and distinct services that Access Mail may provide to our clients via the FASTforward System. These are:
Mailpiece redirection by the MLOCR equipment – Forwardable Mailpiece Processing.
- Non-electronic address correction notification via mailpiece facsimiles submitted by a mailer and processed on the MLOCR equipment – Mailpiece Facsimile Processing.
- Non-electronic address correction notification by return of matched mailpieces via the MLOCR equipment – Notification via Returned Mailpiece Processing.
Since it is to the mailer’s benefit to have the letters get to the intended recipients as quickly as possible, the Move Update requirement is a win-win situation for both the USPS and your company. For more details about Move Update compliance using FASTforward, contact the mailing professionals at Access Mail.
Introduction to FASTforward Move Update Notification manual