155.252 Transient developments are mobile home, trailer, and recreational vehicle parks where the lots are temporarily occupied or rented and considered transient or seasonal, even though some families may live in them for an extended period of time. For these developments, the only option is delivery to a single point or receptacle designated by park management and approved by local postal managers for the receipt of mail for distribution and mail forwarding by employees of the park. This method is one of the service options for permanent developments. 155.26 Exceptions 155.261 Fill-In. New homes built within a block of existing homes receive the same type of service as the older ones. When new housing replaces more than one block in a city delivery area, delivery methods must comply with extension procedures. 155.262 Hardship Cases a. Changes in the type of delivery authorized for an area are considered where service by existing methods would impose an extreme physical hardship on an individual customer. Any request for a change in delivery methods must be submitted in writing. Approval of these requests should be based upon humanitarian and not economic criteria. Each request for a change in delivery service should be evaluated on the basis of the customer's needs; a request should not be denied solely because of increased operational costs or because a family member or other party may be available to receive mail for the customer. b. If the local postmaster determines to deny a request, the request must be sent to the management sectional center (MSC) for review. If the MSC concurs with the denial, the case must be forwarded to the field division office where the final decision is made by the field division general manager/postmaster. c. If a customer no longer requires a variation in the type of delivery service, mail service must be restored to the mode of delivery currently in effect in the area. 155.27 Local Ordinances. If a customer chooses not to erect a curbside box because of a local, city, county, or state ordinance prohibiting the installation of mailboxes at the curb, the delivery options in establishments and extensions are as follows: a. Central Delivery Service. Central delivery service may be provided at one or more central points in a residential housing development, community, or area if (1) the local postal managers approve the mailbox sites and equipment, (2) there is a minimum of two mailboxes erected at each mailbox site (there is no maximum limit), and (3) the customers are not required to travel an unreasonable distance to obtain their mail. b. Post Office Box or General Delivery Service. Post office box or general delivery service may be provided at the nearest postal facility where carrier delivery emanates. 155.3 Requests for Delivery Service. Requests or petitions to establish, change, or extend delivery service must be made to the local postmaster. No formal petition is required. Postmasters forward requests or petitions to establish service to the postal official designated by the regional office, with a statement indicating whether the requirements in 155.1 are met. 155.4 Mail Receptacles 155.41 Obligation of Customer a. Customers of the carrier delivery service must provide authorized receptacles (see 151.5) or door slots, except for mail receptacles authorized by the Postal Service to be owned and maintained by the Postal Service. Business houses are not required to provide mail receptacles or door slots, if they are open and someone is on hand to receive the mail when the carrier calls. If an office building is equipped with an elevator, carriers deliver to individual offices, provided they are open when the carriers arrive. If the offices are not open when the carrier arrives, mail receptacles or door slots must be provided. b. The purchase, installation, maintenance, and replacement of mail-receptacle equipment used by customers to receive delivery of mail are not the responsibility of the Postal Service, except that the Postal Service may authorize neighborhood delivery and collection boxes and parcel lockers to be purchased, installed, maintained, or replaced by the Postal Service. 155.42 Keys to Customer's Private Mail Receptacle. City delivery carriers are prohibited from accepting keys for locks on private mail receptacles, buildings, or offices, except as provided in A.3. of Publication 17, Apartment House Mail Receptacles--Regulations and Manufacturing Standards. If city delivery customers place locks on their receptacles, the receptacles must have slots large enough to accommodate their normal daily mail volume so that delivery may be made by the carrier without using a key. 155.43 Door Slot Specifications. The clear rectangular opening in the outside slot plate must be at least 1-1/2 inches wide and 7 inches long. The slot must have a flap, hinged at the top if placed horizontally, and hinged on the side away from the hinge side of the door if placed vertically. When an inside hood is used to provide greater privacy, the hooded portion must not be below the bottom line of the slot in the outside plate if placed horizontally, or beyond the side line of the slot in the outside plate nearest the hinge edge of the door if placed vertically. The hood at its greatest projection must not be less than 2-1/16 inches beyond the inside face of the door. Door slots must be placed not less than 30 inches above the finished floor line. 155.5 Out-of-Bounds Customers. Customers outside city delivery limits may be given delivery service, if they erect boxes on the carrier's regular line of travel. Special delivery, parcel post, insured, certified, COD, and registered mail is delivered to the residences of out-of-bounds customers, if the residences are not more than three blocks from the carrier's line of travel and passable walks have been constructed or the street is not impassable; otherwise, a notice is left in the box requesting that the customer call for the mail. If an ordinary parcel is involved and it can be placed in the box, delivery is made in that manner. 155.6 Apartment House Receptacles 155.61 General. Delivery of mail to individual boxes in a residential building containing apartments or units occupied by different addressees, regardless of whether the building is considered an apartment house, a family hotel, residential units, or business units in a residential area, and regardless of whether the apartments or units are owned or rented, is contingent upon the following: a. The building containing three or more units and having (1) a common building entrance such as a door, passageway, stairs, etc.; or (2) a common street address (some portion of the address is shared) that is approved by appropriate local or municipal authorities. b. The installation and maintenance of mail receptacles approved by the Postal Service. c. The provision of one box for each apartment, including that of any resident manager or janitor, unless the management has arranged for mail to be delivered at the office or desk for distribution by its employees. d. The grouping of the boxes for the building at a single point readily accessible to the carrier. Note: The tenant's correct mailing address is the address of the entrance at which the mail receptacles are located, and should include the apartment number or designated mailbox number. 155.62 Exceptions a. Apartment House Complexes. If, however, more than one such building in an apartment house complex has the same approved common street number, delivery of mail to individual boxes is contingent upon the grouping of all the boxes for the common street number at a single point readily accessible to the carrier, even though the boxes serve residents in more than one building. b. Two or More Entrances. If, however, such a building has more than one entrance, delivery of mail to mail receptacles grouped at more than one entrance is contingent upon (1) each entrance to which delivery is made serving three or more apartments or flats and (2) the assignment, by appropriate local or municipal authorities, of a different street number to each such entrance. 155.63 Mail Receptacles 155.631 Mail Receptacle Responsibility. The purchase, installation, maintenance, and replacement of mail receptacles, boxes, or parcel lockers, are not the responsibility of the Postal Service, except for neighborhood delivery and collection boxes and parcel lockers specifically authorized by the Postal Service to be owned and maintained by the Postal Service. 155.632 Improved Mail Receptacles. Owners and managers of apartment houses, family hotels, flats, or complexes described above, which are equipped with obsolete apartment house mail receptacles, are urged to install up-to-date receptacles approved by the Postal Service to ensure more adequate protection of the mail. When such buildings are substantially renovated, or remodeled to provide additional apartments, or a material change is made in the location of boxes, obsolete receptacles must be replaced by currently approved receptacles. 155.64 Installation, Specifications, and Approval. The conditions requiring installation of receptacles, specifications for construction, installation procedures, and approval procedures for manufacturers are covered in Publication 17, Apartment House Mail Receptacles-- Regulations and Manufacturing Standards. 156 Rural Service 156.1 Rural Stations and Branches 156.11 Establishment. Rural stations and branches are established and maintained in communities where a considerable number of people would be seriously inconvenienced if required to transact postal business with rural or highway contract carriers only, and where it is determined to be inadvisable to establish an independent post office. 156.12 Functions 156.121 Personnel at rural stations and branches accept, dispatch, receive, and deliver mail (including registered, insured, COD, and certified mail), issue money orders, and sell stamps and stamped paper. 156.122 Nonpersonnel rural units are self-service units which furnish essential mail services, such as the collection and delivery of ordinary mail and sale of stamps. Services such as the sale of money orders and the acceptance and delivery of certified, insured, registered, and COD mail are provided customers of nonpersonnel rural units by rural carriers at the time they service their units. Carriers are required to remain at the unit a minimum of 15 minutes each day their routes are scheduled to operate, to afford customers the services not otherwise available from the unit. 156.13 Hours. Rural stations and branches are open during the ordinary business hours of each weekday, except national holidays. 156.14 Treatment of Mail. Mail addressed to a rural station or branch is kept there to be called for, unless the addressee is a customer of a rural route starting from the rural station or of an adjoining route; in which case, the mail is delivered to the customer's box by the carrier. Mail addressed to a nonpersonnel rural unit is placed in the addressee's post office box at the unit. 156.2 Delivery Routes 156.21 Establishment. A petition signed by the heads of families desiring establishment of a rural route should be submitted to the postmaster of the post office from which delivery service is desired, or to the Postal Service. Form 4027 may be obtained from the postmaster for this purpose. The general rule is that a newly established route should serve an average of at least one family per mile. Unusual conditions such as volume and type of mail are considered. On routes of less than 10 miles, an average of a least six families per mile should be eligible for service before a route is established. 156.22 Extensions. Requests or petitions for extensions of rural routes should be submitted to the postmaster of the office from which the route operates. Form 4027 is available from the postmaster for these requests. Extensions should ordinarily serve an average of at least one family per mile of additional travel, including retrace. Other factors, such as financial transactions and type and volume of mail, are considered. Roads generally should be public, must be maintained in good condition, and be passable for vehicles year-round. If an extension is proposed over a road not maintained by road authorities, the postmaster must obtain and submit with Form 4027 a letter from the person responsible for maintaining the road that it will be kept passable at all times. This letter should include the statement "It is understood that, if the road is not properly maintained, rural delivery service will be withdrawn." Rural mail delivery may be extended to families at noncity-delivery offices of the first-, second-, and third-class who reside outside a .25-mile radius of the post office, if such service is requested and the other requirements are met. For extensions to mobile home, trailer, and recreational vehicle parks, see 155.251 and 155.252. 156.23 Road Conditions. Rural delivery service is not established over roads which are not maintained in good condition, which are obstructed by gates, or which cross unbridged streams not fordable at all seasons of the year. 156.24 Obstructions to Travel. Customers and officials in charge of highways are notified on Form 4024 of road conditions obstructing the delivery of mail. If repairs are not made promptly, service is withdrawn. 156.25 Multiple Routes. In rural areas, a customer living on a road traveled by two or more rural carriers may select the carrier by whom he prefers to have his mail delivered and collected; in which case, only the designated carrier handles the customer's mail. Unless selection is made by the customer, each carrier passing the box delivers mail to it and collects from it any mail which the carrier can expedite in dispatch or delivery, provided the box is on the right-hand side of the road as traveled by the carrier. In suburban or congested areas, the postmaster designates the route that provides service. 156.26 Highway Contract Delivery. Persons residing on roads traveled by both rural and highway contract carriers may qualify as customers of either or both routes. If one curbside mailbox is used for both routes, it must be an approved receptacle (see 151.5). 156.27 Hardship Cases 156.271 Exception. Postmasters may consider a temporary exception to the type of rural delivery that is authorized for a customer when service by existing methods imposes an extreme physical hardship on that customer. A written request by the customer for an exception to the delivery method must be submitted to the postmaster. An exception to the currently authorized method of delivery can be granted under hardship criteria if it can be made within the guidelines of current delivery extension policy as provided in this section. Postmasters must base their decision on humanitarian rather than strictly economic grounds. The request must not be denied solely because operational costs may increase or a family member or other party may be available to receive mail for the customer. 156.272 Denial of Request. If, after a review, a postmaster decides that a request should be denied, the request and the postmaster's written decision must be sent to the postmaster's management sectional center (MSC) manager/postmaster for review. If the MSC manager disagrees with the denial, the postmaster is notified to grant the change in service. If the MSC manager concurs with the denial, the request and the manager's written decision must be sent to the field division general manager/postmaster who makes the final decision and notifies the postmaster and the MSC manager. 156.273 Restoration of Existing Service. If a customer no longer requires a type of rural service that is different than the normal service that has been established for a particular area, the postmaster must restore the mail service to the mode of delivery currently in effect for that area. 156.3 Carrier Service 156.31 Availability 156.311 Rural carrier service is provided to persons who erect approved boxes on the line of travel of the rural carrier, and to persons for whom approved neighborhood delivery and collection boxes and parcel lockers are erected and maintained by the Postal Service on the carrier's line of travel, but no rural carrier service shall be provided to persons residing within city delivery limits. 156.312 Normally, rural carriers provide delivery to approved boxes as outlined in 156.54. However, in apartment houses and other multiple dwellings which use or qualify to use apartment house receptacles as provided in 155.6, carriers dismount to serve those receptacles. 156.32 To Residence. Rural carriers deliver registered, certified, numbered insured, COD, Express Mail, and special delivery mail to customer's residence if it is not more than a 1/2 mile from the route and the road leading to it is passable. Unnumbered insured mail is delivered in the same manner as ordinary mail. This same service is accorded customers of rural stations and branches and rural nonpersonnel units. 156.33 Parcel Delivery. When an ordinary parcel too large to be delivered into the customer's box is received, the carrier leaves a notice on Form 3849 in the box requesting the customer to indicate the date on which he can meet the carrier to receive the parcel. If the addressee has filed a written order that the Postal Service and carriers are relieved of all responsibility in case of loss or depredation when large parcels are placed outside boxes, the carrier delivers large parcels outside the box. If a customer lives within hailing distance of a route, the carrier must make a reasonable effort to hail the customer so he may come to the box to receive the parcel before it is left outside the box. 156.34 Contagious Disease. A rural carrier delivers mail to the box of a customer if a quarantined disease exists, when this can be done without exposure to contagion. No mail is collected from such box while the quarantine is in force. 156.35 Withdrawal of Service. Service must not be withdrawn from any box without specific authority from the regional postmaster general, except that postmasters may withdraw service if a customer continues to provide a nonconforming box after notification. 156.4 Payment of Postage 156.41 Acceptance of Mail 156.411 A rural carrier must accept any mailable matter, provided postage is fully prepaid or money equal to the required postage is furnished, unless the purpose of handing mail to the carrier for deposit into one office is to "boycott" another office or deprive it of legitimate revenue. During December, customers are required to affix stamps to all greeting cards and letter mail. 156.412 When a rural carrier finds unstamped mail in a customer's box and the required amount of money for postage, he normally collects the mail and money and affixes the necessary postage. The carrier has stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal cards for sale. For convenience and safety, customers who leave mail and money in rural boxes to be collected by the carrier should either wrap the money, place it in a coin-holding receptacle, or attach it to the mail by means of clip or other fastener. Money left in rural boxes is left at the customer's risk. 156.42 Postage Uncertain. When mail is given to a rural carrier for mailing and he is unable to determine the postage, he accepts from the sender an amount sufficient to ensure full payment of postage. On the next trip, the carrier must return any excess money to the sender. 156.43 Insufficient Postage. When mailable matter is deposited in a box and the required postage has not been paid nor sufficient money left to purchase stamps, the rural carrier, when the identity of the sender is known, places in the box a notice that such matter cannot be dispatched until the necessary postage is paid. If the identity of the sender is unknown, the matter is taken to the post office and treated as unpaid mail. 156.44 Mailable Matter Not Bearing Postage Found in or on Rural Mailboxes. When mailable matter not bearing postage is found in, placed upon, attached to, supported by, or hung from rural mailboxes, the procedures in 146.2 must be followed. 156.5 Rural Mailboxes. Specifications for rural mailboxes and provisions about their installation, location, and use are set forth in 151.5. 157 Highway Contract Service 157.1 Description. Highway contract route service provides for the transportation of mail between post offices or other designated points where mail is received or dispatched. Box delivery, collection service, and other mail services are also performed on a majority of routes. Every highway contract route carrier must accept any mail matter presented to him, if properly prepaid by stamps, and deliver it for mailing at the next post office at which he arrives. 157.2 Establishment 157.21 New Service. Contracts for regular service are awarded after public advertisements. Temporary service may be established on short notice without advertising. Requests or petitions for new routes should be addressed to the manager, transportation management service center (TMSC), having supervision over the transportation of mail in the area involved. 157.22 Changes. Changes in line of travel, extensions of service, and schedules may be ordered by the manager, TMSC, at any time. Requests for changes and extensions should be addressed to the manager, TMSC. 157.3 Box Delivery and Collection 157.31 Service Required. Highway contract route advertisements and contracts state whether box delivery, collection service, or other mail services are required, and specify the area to be served. In addition to usual box delivery and collection service on some routes, the carriers are required to a. sell stamp supplies; b. deliver registered, insured, certified, COD, and Express Mail; and c. accept matter presented by customers to be registered, insured, certified, or mailed COD; accept money with applications for money orders and give receipts. 157.32 Availability. Contract route box delivery and collection service is provided without charge to customers who a. are not eligible for city carrier service, b. reside on or near a route on which box delivery and collection service is required, or c. either erect a curbside mailbox approved under 151.5 on the highway contract route carrier's existing line of travel or are authorized to receive delivery through neighborhood delivery and collection box units and parcel lockers owned and maintained by the Postal Service. Note: Contract route delivery and collection service is also provided to persons at hotels, motels, other institutions, and mobile home, trailer, or recreational vehicle parks in accordance with 153.6 and 155.25. d. Request, from the post office to which mail is addressed, delivery and collection service on Form 5431. Highway contract route customers residing between two post offices may receive mail service from the post office which is the one next preceding the customer's residence, or from either post office, if there is a return trip. In addition, the customer may receive delivery from the post office from which the highway contract route originates. 157.33 Delivery of Mail. Mail matter addressed to a qualified customer of a highway contract route is taken by the carrier from the post office and deposited into the proper mailbox. If required by the contract, the carrier delivers registered, certified, insured, COD, and Express Mail. Delivery of this mail is made to the customer's residence if it is not more than a l/2 mile from the route and the road leading to it is passable. The carrier dismounts when necessary to transact business involving the above classes of mail. Parcel post packages too large to go into boxes may be delivered outside boxes, provided the addressee has filed with the postmaster a written request for delivery in that manner. Otherwise, a notice is left in the customer's box to meet the carrier on the next trip. If delivery cannot be made by carrier, the mail is held at the post office. 157.34 Collection of Mail. Mail matter properly stamped and placed in a mailbox for dispatch is collected by the carrier and deposited in the next post office at which the carrier arrives, unless otherwise directed by the Postal Service. Mail collected on the route, addressed for delivery on that part of the route still to be covered before reaching the next post office, is delivered on the day of collection. The carrier cancels the stamps before delivery by writing across them the name of the post office last served, the state, the date, and the number of the route. Bulky mailable matter, properly prepared and stamped, is collected by the carrier, if placed on or near the box. Money left in mailboxes for the purchase of stamps is left at the customer's risk. 157.4 Location of Mailboxes. Approved curbside mailboxes (see 151.5) must be placed where they protect the mail and can be conveniently served by carriers without leaving their vehicles. These boxes must be located on the right side of the road in the direction of travel, when required by traffic conditions or when driving to the left to reach the boxes would constitute a violation of traffic laws by the carrier. 157.5 Duties of Postmasters. Postmasters must do the following: a. Withhold delivery of registered, insured, certified, and COD mail to the carrier, unless the contract requires that the carrier deliver such mail. b. Not deliver mail to the carrier outside of the regular lock pouch before it has reached the post office to which it is addressed. 157.6 Duties of Carriers. If the contract requires that the carrier case his mail, he must do the following: a. Accept mail addressed to customers of the route, from the postmaster, and arrange it in order of delivery; b. Prepare and maintain a list of the names of the customers served, arranged in alphabetical order with the box number opposite each name; and c. Mark up and forward mail for customers on his route who have filed change-of-address orders, and make the appropriate entries in the roster book. 157.7 Sale of Stamps and Stamp Supplies. If the contract requires the carrier to sell stamps and stamp supplies, a fixed credit is provided by the postmaster at the head of the route. Where the carrier serves customers who receive mail through other offices on the route, the carrier replenishes his fixed credit at those offices in amounts representing sales made by him to customers served through these offices. 158 Mail Claim Check System 158.1 General 158.11 Purpose. The Mail Claim Check System is a system for notifying customers of the arrival of mail and for obtaining receipts for delivered mail. The system is designed primarily for handling mail intended for carrier delivery, but is also used for mail addressed to post office boxes or general delivery. 158.12 Scope 158.121 The system uses a form which serves both as a notice of arrival and a claim check for accountable mail, special delivery mail, and for articles which cannot be immediately delivered. It also serves as a delivery receipt for registered, numbered insured, or certified mail. 158.122 For purposes of these instructions, the term "carrier" includes special delivery messengers, Postal Vehicle Service (MVS) drivers, and carriers serving city, rural, and all other types of carrier delivery routes. Also, the term "post office box" includes caller service and detached post office box service. 158.123 The system is used when mail intended for delivery by carrier, is held for redelivery or customer pickup. It also applies to post office box and general delivery mail. 158.124 The system is not used for mail intended for post office box or general delivery, if a separate storage area is provided for this type of mail. It is not used at installations which provide only post office box and/or general delivery service. 158.2 Use of System 158.21 Forms 158.211 The system uses Form 3849. 158.212 Form 3849 has five uses. a. Delivery receipt for registered, numbered insured, or certified articles. b. Notification form for mail that cannot be delivered immediately. c. Second notice or reminder for an unclaimed article. d. Claim check for retrieving mail at post offices. e. Record for accountable mail articles (registered, numbered insured, certified, COD, and Express Mail) which have been returned to sender. 158.213 Mailers may not print Form 3849 unless authorized by the Office of Classification and Rates Administration, U.S. Postal Service (for address, see Address List in Appendices). 158.22 Delivery 158.221 Form 3849 must be used as a receipt for registered, numbered insured, and certified mail, when delivery is made. The carrier completes the form, has the recipient sign it in accordance with established procedures, and returns the form to the delivery unit. 158.222 Delivery employees must use Form 3849 to notify customers of the arrival of mail which cannot immediately be delivered. Carriers must check the name and address on the article for accuracy and legibility, since it is stored according to this information. The carrier must then return the item to the delivery unit for processing and storage. 158.223 Form 3849 is delivered to the addressee as a second notice or reminder when required either for unclaimed articles or when second delivery attempts are unsuccessful. The recipient uses the form to retrieve the article. 158.224 Form 3849 may be used as a notice of arrival, but must not be used as a receipt for ordinary COD mail, since the tag for COD mail is used for this purpose. 158.23 Claiming Mail 158.231 Customers claim their mail by presenting Form 3849 to the window clerk at the location indicated on the form. To claim registered, numbered insured, and certified mail, a customer who is not known to the window clerk must provide identification and must sign and date the form. 158.232 A customer may obtain an article without a claim check; however, if the article is registered, numbered insured, or certified the customer must identify himself, sign, and date a Form 3849. 158.233 After verifying that the delivery receipt has been properly completed and all other delivery procedures followed, the clerk delivers the article and signs and dates the delivery receipt in the "Delivered by" and "Date" blocks. 158.24 Disposition of Forms. Delivery receipts must be kept separate from notices of arrival of ordinary COD and nonaccountable mail. Delivery receipts for registered COD mail must be retained for disposition in accordance with established procedures. Retain claim checks overnight, including those for ordinary COD mail, which are not required as delivery receipts. Then discard as waste. 158.25 Storage of Mail Awaiting Customer Pickup 158.251 At the delivery unit, stamp the mail with supply item #R291 (see Exhibit 158.251, *viewer dmm183.pcx* endorse, and place in storage bins or on shelves, according to one of the following: a. Last two numbers of the delivery address. b. Last number of the delivery address. c. Alphabetically. If more than one item has the same number used in a numerical storage system, place the items alphabetically within the separation (see Exhibit 158.251). *viewer dmm183.pcx* ] DMM183Exhibit 158.251] 158.252 Intermingle all types of parcels. Keep certified letters or postage-due mail in a general delivery type case with numbered separations or in a flats case with the addresses facing up. File registered mail in a tray in numerical sequence and keep it under the control of the responsible employee at all times. 158.3 Filing Delivery Records. File delivery receipts in accordance with established procedures. 158.4 Overprinting. Information such as post office, station or branch, address, business hours, telephone, etc., on Form 3849 can be overprinted more economically at the same time the basic form is printed. This must be limited, however, to large quantities (20,000 or more) and in increments of 20,000 thereafter; i.e., 80,000, 100,000, etc. The division manager, support services office, coordinates the overprinting. 159 Undeliverable Mail 159.1 Mail Undeliverable as Addressed 159.11 General Provisions. Nondelivery of mail can result from any one of the following general reasons: a. Mail does not bear postage. b. Incomplete, illegible, or incorrect address. c. Addressee not at address; moved or deceased. d. Mail unclaimed. e. Mail refused by the addressee at time of delivery. f. Mail refused by the addressee after delivery when refusal is authorized under 153.11c. g. Mail does not meet the minimum criteria for mailability in 127. 159.12 Specific Provisions. The specific provisions governing undeliverable mail of each class are contained in the appropriate chapters of this manual dealing with each class of mail. 159.13 Undeliverable Due to Postal Service Adjustments 159.131 Types of Changes a. Rural route adjustments. b. Conversion from rural to city delivery service. c. Renumbering of houses. d. Renaming of streets. e. Consolidation of routes. f. Consolidation of post offices. g. Readjustment of delivery districts. 159.132 Notice of Change. Customers should notify their correspondents of their correct address, including ZIP Code. Form 3576 is available for this purpose. In addition, where practical, postmasters must attempt to notify publishers and other mailers who regularly send bulk mailings into the area. No charge is made to these mailers for the notices or for corrections to galley lists of address changes due to Postal Service adjustments. 159.133 Disposition of Mail. Mail that is undeliverable because of Postal Service adjustments is redirected and, if necessary, forwarded to the destination without an additional postage charge (from the end of the month in which the postal change occurs) for a period of 1 year. Simplified address (box customer) mail addressed to "Rural Route Box Customer," "Highway Contract Route Box Customer," or "Post Office Box Customer" is only redirected and forwarded free of charge until the next June 30 after the change in service, or until 90 days after the change in service, whichever is later. 159.134 Time Limit for Retention of Records. Records of address changes due to Postal Service adjustments are kept by the local post office for 3 years. 159.14 Endorsements. Undeliverable-as-addressed mail is endorsed by the Postal Service with the reason for nondelivery (see Exhibit 159.14). Exhibit 159.14 ENDORSEMENTS FOR MAIL UNDELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED EndorsementReason for Nondelivery No Such Office in State*Addressed to a nonexistent post office. No Such Street*Addressed to a nonexistent street and the correct street is not known. No Such Number*Addressed to a nonexistent number and the correct number is not known. Insufficient Address*Mail from another post office fails to bear a number, street, box number, route number, or geographical section of the city or city and state is omitted and the correct address is not known. Returned for Better Address*Mail of local origin is incompletely addressed for distribution or delivery. Illegible*Address cannot be read. Not Deliverable as Addressed--Unable to ForwardMail is undeliverable at address given; no change-of-address order on file; forwarding order has expired; forwarding postage not guaranteed by sender or addressee; or, mail bears sender's instructions DO NOT FORWARD. Outside Delivery Limits*Addressed to a location outside the limits of delivery of the post office of address (see 155.5). Mail for out-of-bounds customers must be retained in general delivery for the prescribed retention period unless addressee has filed an order. No Mail Receptacle*Addressee has failed to provide a receptacle for the receipt of mail. Returned for PostageMail has no postage and there are no indications that the postage has fallen off. Moved, Left No AddressAddressee has moved and has not filed a change-of-address order. Temporarily Away*Addressee is temporarily away and retention period for holding mail has expired. Attempted--Not KnownDelivery attempted, addressee is not known at the place of address. Refused*Addressee has refused to accept mail or pay postage charges thereon. Vacant*House, apartment, office, or building is not occupied. Used only on mail addressed "Occupant." Box Closed--No Order*Post office box has been closed for nonpayment of rent. Returned to Sender Due to Addressee's Violation of Postal False Representation Law*Mail is returned to sender under a false representation order. Unclaimed*Addressee abandons or fails to call for mail. DeceasedUsed only when it is known that the addressee is deceased and the mail is not properly deliverable to another person. This endorsement must be made personally by the delivering employee and under no circumstances may it be rubber-stamped. Mail addressed in care of another is marked to indicate which person is deceased. Returned to Sender Due to Addressee's Violation of Postal False Representation and Lottery Law*Mail is returned to sender under a false representation order and a lottery order. Returned to Sender Due to Addressee's Violation of Postal Lottery Law*Mail is returned to sender under a lottery order. In Dispute*Mail is returned to sender by order of the Chief Field Counsel when it cannot be determined which of disputing parties has better right to the mail. Note: When an alternative address format is used on second-class mail, the publisher must be notified of the reason for nondelivery only for those reasons for nondelivery indicated by an asterisk (*) above. The exceptional-address format cannot be used on Express Mail, on mail which is registered, certified, insured, mailed COD, or on mail which bears an address-correction service endorsement or any other type of endorsement. Exhibit 159.14, Endorsements for Mail Undeliverable as Addressed] ] 159.15 Treatment of Undeliverable-as-Addressed Mail 159.151 General. Except as provided in 159.153, mail that is undeliverable as addressed may be forwarded, returned to the sender, or treated as dead mail, depending on the treatment authorized for that particular class of mail. A summary of the procedures for handling undeliverable-as-addressed mail is presented in Exhibit 159.151a through Exhibit 159.151f. The chapters covering each class of mail contain more detailed provisions. A full return address must be used with these endorsements. On all mail, the information must appear in either the upper left corner of the address side of the piece or the upper left corner of the addressing area of the piece, directly below the return address. (While not a requirement, it is strongly recommended that endorsements on letter-size mail not appear lower than 2-3/4 inches from the bottom edge of the envelope. Endorsements in the lower 2-3/4 inches of the envelope could result in misrouting of the piece on Postal Service automated letter-mail equipment.) Endorsements must be no smaller than 8-point type. Endorsements and return addresses must be printed reading in the same direction as the delivery address. There must be a clear space of at least 1/4 inch both above and below the endorsement. An endorsement must stand out clearly against its background. A reasonable degree of color contrast (see 543 for acceptable specifications) must be maintained between the endorsement and the background of the mailpiece. Black ink on a white background is strongly preferred, but other color combinations may be used. Brilliant-colored envelopes and reverse printing are not permitted. Mail bearing an endorsement that does not meet these requirements is not accepted for mailing. Note: These requirements are to be applied only by trained acceptance personnel. Delivery personnel are not to make determinations about the correctness of endorsements. If mail bearing an endorsement that does not meet these requirements is accepted, the Postal Service makes reasonable efforts to honor the mailer's service request. Exhibit 159.151a Treatment of Undeliverable Express Mail and First-Class Mail Including Postal and Postcards and Priority Mail Exhibit 159.151a Treatment of Undeliverable Express Mail and First-Class Mail, Including Postal and Postcards and Priority Mail Mailer EndorsementUSPS Action No EndorsementForward at no charge (months 1-12). If undeliverable, return to sender with reason for nondelivery. Address Correction Requested Do not forward. Provide address correction or reason for nondelivery on mailpiece. Return entire mailpiece at no charge to sender. Do Not ForwardDo not forward. Provide address correction or reason for nondelivery on mailpiece. Return entire mailpiece at no charge to sender. Forwarding and Address Correction Requested Forward at no charge (months 1-12). If undeliverable, return to sender with reason for nondelivery attached at no charge. Charge the address-correction fee if separate address correction is provided to mailer.1 Notes: These regulations apply to mail associated with a customer's change of address. Do not provide temporary change-of-address information at any time. When necessary, more than one line may be used to print the mailer endorsement. Dispose of postal cards and postcards without a return address according to 159.47c. 1 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Forward & Address Correction." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated.] ] Exhibit 159.151b Treatment of Undeliverable Second-Class Mail Exhibit 159.151b Treatment of Undeliverable Second-Class Mail Mailer EndorsementUSPS Action No EndorsementForward at no charge for 60 days. After 60-day period, provide separate address correction or reason for nondelivery; charge address-correction fee. Return Postage GuaranteedForward at no charge for 60 days. After 60-day period, return item to sender with new address or reason for nondelivery attached; charge the single-piece thirdor fourth-class rate. Note: These regulations apply to mail associated with a customer's change of address. Do not provide temporary change-of-address information at any time. When necessary, more than one line may be used to print the mailer endorsement.] ] Exhibit 159.151c Treatment of Undeliverable Third-Class Bulk Business Mail--Weighing 1 Ounce or Less (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Exhibit 159.151c Treatment of Undeliverable Third-Class Bulk Business Mail Weighing 1 Ounce or Less (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Mailer EndorsementUSPS Action No Endorsement No forwarding or return service is provided. Do Not ForwardNo forwarding or return service is provided. Address Correction RequestedNo forwarding service is provided. Return entire mailpiece with address correction or reason for nondelivery; charge the first ounce single-piece third-class rate, do not charge the address-correction fee. Forwarding and Return Postage GuaranteedForward at no charge. If mail is not forwardable, return the entire mailpiece with reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate third-class weighted fee.1 Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed, Address Correction Requested2 Forward at no charge. If separate address-correction notice is provided, charge the address-correction fee. If mail is not forwardable, return the entire mailpiece with reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate third-class weighted fee.1 Do Not Forward, Address Correction Requested, Return Postage Guaranteed3Do not forward. Return entire mailpiece with the new address or reason for nondelivery; charge the first ounce single-piece third-class rate, do not charge the address-correction fee. 1 The weighted fee is the appropriate single-piece third-class rate, multiplied by a factor of 2.472, and rounded to the next (higher) whole cent (if the computation yields a fraction of a cent in the result). The weighted fee is computed (and rounded if necessary) for each mailpiece individually. Neither the applicable postage, the factor, nor any necessary rounding is applied cumulatively to multiple pieces. The fee is used during months 1-12 when forwarding is unsuccessful and the mailpiece is returned to the sender. During months 13-18 charge this fee on mailpieces endorsed "Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed" or "Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed--Address Correction Requested." 2 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Forward & Address Correction." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. 3 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Do Not Forward--Address Cor--Return Guar." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. Note: These regulations apply to mail associated with a customer's change of address. Do not provide temporary change-of-address information at any time. When necessary, more than one line may be used to print the mailer endorsement.] ] Exhibit 159.151d Treatment of Undeliverable Third-Class Bulk Business Mail Weighing Over 1 Ounce (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Exhibit 159.151d Treatment of Undeliverable Third-Class Bulk Business Mail Weighing Over 1 Ounce (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Mailer EndorsementUSPS Action No Endorsement No forwarding or return service is provided. Do Not ForwardNo forwarding or return service is provided. Address Correction RequestedNo forwarding service is provided. Address correction, or reason for nondelivery, is provided via Form 3547 or Form 3579; charge the address-correction fee. Forwarding and Return Postage GuaranteedForward at no charge. If mail is not forwardable, return the entire mailpiece with reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate third-class weighted fee.1 Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed, Address Correction Requested2Forward at no charge. If separate address-correction notice is provided, charge the address-correction fee. If mail is not forwardable, return the entire mailpiece with reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate third-class weighted fee.1 Do Not Forward, Address Correction Requested, Return Postage Guaranteed3Do not forward. Return entire mailpiece with the new address or reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate single-piece third-class rate, do not charge the address-correction fee. 1 The weighted fee is the appropriate single-piece third-class rate, multiplied by a factor of 2.472, and rounded to the next (higher) whole cent (if the computation yields a fraction of a cent in the result). The weighted fee is computed (and rounded if necessary) for each mailpiece individually. Neither the applicable postage, the factor, nor any necessary rounding is applied cumulatively to multiple pieces. The fee is used during months 1-12 when forwarding is unsuccessful and the mailpiece is returned to the sender. During months 13-18 charge this fee on mailpieces endorsed "Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed" or "Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed--Address Correction Requested." 2 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Forward & Address Correction." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. 3 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Do Not Forward--Address Cor.--Return Guar." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. Note: These regulations apply to mail associated with a customer's change of address. Do not provide temporary change-of-address information at any time. When necessary, more than one line may be used to print the mailer endorsement.] ] Exhibit 159.151e Treatment of Undeliverable Third-Class Mail, Single-Piece Rate (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Exhibit 159.151e Treatment of Undeliverable Third-Class Mail, Single-Piece Rate (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Mailer EndorsementUSPS Action No EndorsementNo forwarding service is provided. Return the mailpiece to the sender at the single-piece third-class rate, with the reason for nondelivery or new address; do not charge the address-correction fee. Do Not ForwardNo forwarding or return service is provided. Address Correction RequestedNo forwarding service is provided. If the mailpiece weighs 1 ounce or less, return the entire piece with the new address or the reason for nondelivery; charge the third-class single-piece rate. Pieces over 1 ounce receive an address-correction notice via Form 3579 or Form 3547; charge the address-correction fee. Forwarding and Return Postage GuaranteedForward at no charge. If mail is not forwardable, return the entire mailpiece with reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate third-class weighted fee.1 Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed, Address Correction Requested2Forward at no charge. If separate address-correction notice is provided, charge the address-correction fee. If mail is not forwardable, return the entire mailpiece with reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate third-class weighted fee.1 Do Not Forward, Address Correction Requested, Return Postage Guaranteed3Do not forward. Return entire mailpiece with the new address or reason for nondelivery; charge the appropriate single-piece third-class rate, do not charge the address-correction fee. 1The weighted fee is the appropriate single-piece third-class rate, multiplied by a factor of 2.472, and rounded to the next (higher) whole cent (if the computation yields a fraction of a cent in the result). The weighted fee is computed (and rounded if necessary) for each mailpiece individually. Neither the applicable postage, the factor, nor any necessary rounding is applied cumulatively to multiple pieces. The fee is used during months 1-12 when forwarding is unsuccessful and the mailpiece is returned to the sender. During months 13-18, charge this fee on mailpieces endorsed "Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed" or "Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed--Address Correction Requested." 2 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Forward & Address Correction." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. 3 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Do Not Forward--Address Cor--Return Guar." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. Note: These regulations apply to mail associated with a customer's change of address. Do not provide temporary change-of-address information at any time. When necessary, more than one line may be used to print the mailer endorsement.] ] Exhibit 159.151f Treatment of Undeliverable Fourth-Class Mail, Including Parcel Post (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Exhibit 159.151f Treatment of Undeliverable Fourth-Class Mail, Including Parcel Post (Forwarded up to 12 Months) Mailer EndorsementUSPS Action No EndorsementForward locally at no charge; forward out of town postage-due. If undeliverable or addressee refuses to pay postage, return mailpiece with new address or reason for nondelivery; charge both forwarding (where attempted) and return postage. Do Not Forward, Do Not ReturnNo forwarding or return service is provided; mailpiece is disposed of by the Postal Service. Forwarding and Return Postage GuaranteedForward locally at no charge, forward out of town postage-due. If undeliverable or addressee refuses to pay postage, return mailpiece with new address or reason for nondelivery; charge both forwarding (where attempted) and return postage. Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed, Address Correction Requested1Forward locally at no charge; forward out of town postage-due. If forwarded, provide a separate address-correction notice; charge address-correction fee. If mailpiece is undeliverable, or addressee refuses to pay postage, return mailpiece with new address or reason for nondelivery; charge both forwarding (where attempted) and return postage. Do Not Forward, Do Not Return, Address Correction Requested2 No forwarding or return service is provided; provide a separate address-correction notice; charge address-correction fee; mailpiece is disposed of by the Postal Service. Do Not Forward, Address Correction Requested, Return Postage Guaranteed3 No forwarding service is provided; return mailpiece with the new address or reason for nondelivery; charge return postage. 1The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Forward & Address Correction." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. 2 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Do Not Forward or Return--Address Cor." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. 3 The authorized abbreviation for this endorsement is "Do Not Forward--Address Cor--Return Guar." This abbreviation is authorized in those limited situations where the full endorsement cannot be accommodated. Note: These regulations apply to mail associated with a customer's change of address. Do not provide temporary change-of-address information at any time. When necessary, more than one line may be used to print the mailer endorsement.] ] 159.152 Official Mail. Official mail is treated the same as mail of the general public, except that no postage due is rated or collected by post offices on delivery of mail or address-correction notices. 159.153 Nonmailable and Nonstandard Pieces. Return to the sender all nonmailable and nonstandard pieces. 159.16 Processing. It is the policy of the Postal Service to process all undeliverable-as-addressed mail within 24 hours of receipt at the markup unit. Forms 3579 are mailed to publishers once each week. No Forms 3579 are to be retained in a forwarding unit more than 7 days from receipt of the publication in the CFS site. 159.2 Forwarding 159.21 Change-of-Address Order 159.211 Forwarding Instructions. Customers should advise their local post office when they are moving. This is done by filing Form 3575, available at post offices or from letter carriers. A written and signed order or a telegram sent by the customer, his agent, or person in whose care mail is addressed is acceptable. Old and new addresses should be furnished. A change of address may not be filed with the Postal Service for mail bearing an employee's name addressed to the place of employment either during or after the termination of the employment relationship. Such mail is delivered in accordance with 153.5. A former employee may leave a forwarding address with the former employer for the purpose of having mail redirected to the former employee under the provisions of 159.224. 159.212 Guarantee to Pay Forwarding Postage. Unless endorsed "Do Not Forward, Do Not Return," fourth-class mail is forwarded locally for 1 year free of charge. The addressee is charged forwarding postage for pieces forwarded nonlocally. The addressee may refuse any piece of fourth-class mail (see 153.11c, 159.11e, and 159.11f). Such refusal does not revoke the right to have other fourth-class mail forwarded. If the addressee does not want to pay forwarding postage for all fourth-class mail, the addressee must request the postmaster of the new address to use Form 3546 to notify the postmaster of the old address to discontinue the forwarding of fourth-class mail. 159.213 Time Limit of Change-of-Address Order a. Time Limit Specified by Addressee (may not exceed 12 months). Customers who are moving temporarily may have mail forwarded for a specific time, but not to exceed 12 months. These customers must state beginning and ending dates in the change-of-address order. Customers should cancel the change-of-address order when they return to their old address or move to another permanent address within the specified period. b. Time Limit Not Specified by Addressee. Records of permanent change-of-address orders (other than those subject to 159.213d) are kept by post offices for 18 months, for forwarding and for address-correction purposes, from the end of the month in which the change becomes effective. Exception: When a boxholder notifies the post office of a permanent change in mailing address or the Postal Service administratively changes a customer's mailing address, the postmaster may extend the forwarding period for 1 additional year, if mail is being regularly received addressed to the old address. To qualify, the addressee must demonstrate that an economic or financial hardship will ensue if extended forwarding is not granted, and that reasonable effort is being made to notify correspondents of the new mailing address. c. Retention and Use of Change-of-Address Orders. All post offices must retain change-of-address orders for 18 months from the end of the month in which the change becomes effective. During this period, they are used for administrative purposes, providing mailing list service (see 945), and releasing address-change information to the public under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. (See 352 of the Administrative Support Manual.) d. Change from General Delivery at City Delivery Office. A record of change-of-address orders to a permanent local address without time limit is kept 6 months. A record of change-of-address orders to other than a permanent local address is kept 30 days. 159.22 Forwardable Mail 159.221 Classes. The following classes of mail are forwarded: a. First-Class Mail (including zone-rated Priority Mail) and postcards and postal cards. b. Express Mail. c. Official mail (described in 137) that is sent as First-Class Mail. d. Second-class mail. e. Third-class mail when the sender has guaranteed to pay the forwarding postage. f. Fourth-class mail locally or when the sender has guaranteed to pay the forwarding postage. Note: The address (but not the name) may be changed and the mail reforwarded as many times as necessary to reach the addressee. 159.222 Change in Post Office Services a. Addressed to a Discontinued Post Office. All Express Mail, First-, second-, and fourth-class mail and all single-piece-rate third-class mail addressed to a discontinued post office may be forwarded to any other post office designated by the addressee without additional charge when the office to which the mail is sent by order of the Postal Service is not convenient for the addressee. b. Forwarded Due to Change in Rural Delivery Service. Customers of any office who, on account of the establishment of or a change in rural delivery service, receive their mail from the rural carrier of another office may have their Express Mail, First-, second-, and fourth-class mail and single-piece-rate third-class mail sent to the latter office for delivery by the rural carrier without a new prepayment of postage, provided they file a written request with the postmaster at the former office. c. Addressed to Boxholder. Deliver mail addressed to post office, rural route, or highway contract route boxholder to those customers residing in the affected area until June 30 following establishment or conversion to city delivery service or for 90 days, whichever is longer. 159.223 Address Changes of Persons in U.S. Service. All Express Mail, First-, second-, and fourth-class mail and single-piece-rate third-class mail addressed to persons in the United States (civil and military) serving at any place where the United States mail service operates, whose change of address is caused by official orders must be forwarded until it reaches the addressee. Do not charge any additional postage. The forwarding office endorses secondand fourth-class mail, single-piece-rate third-class mail, and Priority Mail so forwarded "Change of Address Due to Official Orders." This provision for free forwarding from one post office to another also applies to mail for the members of the household whose change of address is caused by official orders to persons in the United States service. (See 122.814 and 122.824 concerning dependents residing with military personnel.) Military authorities forward between the United States and overseas APO and FPO addresses for a period not to exceed 60 days following a serviceman's departure on official permanent change of station orders. 159.224 Reforwarding. The address (but not the name) may be changed and the mail reforwarded as many times as necessary to reach the addressee. 159.23 Postage for Forwarding. Mail forwarded is subject to additional postage as noted below. The chapters covering each class of mail contain detailed information about mailer endorsements. See also Exhibit 159.151a through Exhibit 159.151f. Forwarding postage is computed by using the office from which it is forwarded as the origin office. a. Forward First-Class Mail, including zone-rated Priority Mail and postcards and postal cards, without charge when the appropriate postage has been fully prepaid by the sender. b. Forward second-class publications without charge for 60 days when postage has been fully prepaid by the sender. c. Third-class mail is subject to collection of additional postage from the mailer when forwarding and return service is provided. Mail that qualifies for a single-piece fourth-class rate under 611.12 is returned at that rate if the mailer's address-correction service endorsement specifies the fourth-class rate. For example, if a third-class piece qualifies for mailing at the special fourth-class rate for books, the endorsement would be "Special Fourth-Class Rate, Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed." d. Fourth-class mail is subject to the collection of additional postage for nonlocal forwarding at the applicable rate. This forwarding option must be guaranteed by the sender or recipient. Deliver all fourth-class mail as directed when the old and new addresses are served by the same single ZIP Code or multi-ZIP Coded post office. Additional postage is not required. e. Forward registered, certified, insured, COD, and special-handling mail without the payment of additional special service fees. The ordinary forwarding postage charges, if any, must be paid. Do not forward such mail to a foreign country. See 915.6 for forwarding of special delivery mail. f. Forward Express Mail without the payment of additional fees. 159.24 Directory Service. Provide directory service at letter carrier offices of the following types of mail that cannot be delivered due to insufficient address or that cannot be delivered at the address given. Use a city or telephone directory. The Postal Service does not compile a directory of any kind. The types of mail are the following: a. Certified. b. COD. c. Foreign, except foreign circulars. (Foreign mail bearing letter-class postage, received in quantities, and having the general characteristics of circular mail must not be given directory service.) d. Fourth-class mail is subject to the collection of additional postage for nonlocal forwarding at the appropriate single-piece rate. Unless endorsed "Do Not Forward, Do Not Return," all fourth-class mail is delivered as directed when the old and new addresses are served by the same single-ZIP Code or multi-ZIP Coded post office. Additional postage is not charged. e. Mail from overseas Armed Forces. Do not return this mail to sender until every possible effort has been made to deliver the article. f. Parcels mailed at any single-piece third-class or fourth-class rate or endorsed by the mailer. g. Perishable matter. h. Registered matter. i. Special delivery. j. Special handling. k. Official Postal Service mail. l. Express Mail Next Day Service (Post Office to Addressee only (see 292.2)). 159.3 Address Correction Service, Address Change Service, and Return 159.31 Address Correction Service 159.311 Availability. If mail cannot be delivered as addressed to the recipient, the mailer may, by obtaining address-correction service, obtain the new (forwarding) address of the recipient (if known by the Postal Service through the recipient's change-of-address order) or the reason for nondelivery. Provide address-correction service (including address-change service) automatically after 60 days from the effective date of the recipient's change of address for all second-class publications. Address corrections are available "on piece" at no charge or separately, for a fee, at the mailer's request. Whenever possible, "on piece" address corrections are provided for First-Class Mail, Express Mail, Priority Mail, and thirdand fourth-class mail service. If the piece cannot be forwarded, it is returned at no charge with the address information or the reason for nondelivery attached. Generally, when separate corrections are necessary, Form 3547 is returned to the sender with the address-correction fee charged and the mail is forwarded. This service is not available for Express Mail, First-, third-, or fourth-class mail addressed for delivery to the addressee by military personnel at any military installation, including APOs and FPOs. Address-correction service is available alone or in combination with the forwarding and return service in 159.32. 159.312 Address Change Service. An address correction service option is available that allows the mailer to obtain a customer's correct address or the reason for nondelivery via magnetic tape. This service is available weekly or monthly, dependent upon the mailer's requirements. Address change service is presently available only through the larger computerized forwarding sites. 159.313 Endorsement. To request address correction service, the endorsement "Address Correction Requested" should be used. 159.314 Fee. The applicable fee for address correction service (including address change service) as specified in 215, 315.2, 412.2, 612.2, or 712.2 is charged for each separate notification of address correction or the reason for nondelivery. Generally, when "on piece" address correction can be provided, no fee is charged. 159.32 Sender Instruction 159.321 Availability of Return Service. Undeliverable-as-addressed Express Mail and First-Class Mail articles (including zone-rated Priority Mail articles and postal cards and postcards) that cannot be forwarded or cannot be delivered as addressed are returned to the sender at no additional charge whenever possible. Mail of all other classes may be returned to the sender if it bears the appropriate endorsement guaranteeing the return postage. These endorsements are located in the appropriate chapters of this manual. 159.322 Endorsements Not to Forward. Do not forward mail bearing the following address forms or endorsements: a. Mail addressed to "Occupant" or "Postal Customer." b. Mail bearing specific instructions of the sender; e.g., "Do Not Forward, Abandon," etc. c. Perishable items not marked to abandon that cannot be delivered before spoiling or day-old poultry that cannot be delivered within 72 hours after hatching. These items must be returned to the sender immediately, provided return can be made prior to spoilage or within the 72-hour period. 159.323 Registered, Certified, Insured, COD Mail, and Return Receipt for Merchandise. A change-of-address order covers registered, certified, insured, COD, and return receipt for merchandise mail unless the sender has given other instructions or unless the addressee has moved outside the United States. The sender's instructions should be written or printed on the envelope or wrapper. Examples: "Do not forward;" "If not accepted within @ @days, return to sender." Exceptions: a. COD mail is not forwarded to overseas military post offices. b. Ordinary, insured, and COD parcels that have mailer's instructions to abandon or sell perishable items, written or printed on the envelope or wrapper, are treated according to the instructions. Examples: (1) Do not forward or return. If not accepted within @ @days, treat as abandoned. Notify mailer of final disposition. (2) Do not forward or return. If undelivered after @ @ days, sell contents to highest bidder and remit proceeds, less commission, to mailer. (3) Do not forward or return. If undeliverable after @ @ days, destroy. Notify mailer of final disposition. Note: A commission of 10%, but not less than $0.25, is retained by the Postal Service from the amount for which perishable items are sold. c. When the mailer specifically so requests, Form 3849-D is sent to the mailer in accordance with 914.1. The mailer then may designate a new addressee or alter the amount of COD charges by submitting a written request to the postmaster and paying the appropriate fee (see 914.21). Return the article to the mailer at the end of the holding period if no response is received. The postage charge, if any, is collected from the mailer for returning the mail (but not registration or COD fees). Exception: When COD mail is addressed to a person who has moved and left no forwarding address, Form 3849-D is not sent, and the mail is returned immediately to the mailer. d. Insured third-class mail without any other endorsement is treated as if endorsed "Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed." It is forwarded and, if still undeliverable as addressed, returned to the sender with the new address or the reason for nondelivery attached. e. Insured fourth-class mail without any other endorsement is forwarded at no charge locally and postage-due nonlocally if the recipient has guaranteed to pay forwarding postage on Form 3575. (For forwarding purposes, "local" is defined as being within the same single ZIP Code or multi-ZIP Coded post office.) If the article is undeliverable, return it to the sender with the new address or the reason for nondelivery. Charge the mailer for the return of the mailpiece only and the attempted forwarding, when appropriate. f. Undeliverable registered, insured, COD, certified, and return receipt for merchandise mail is retained for not less than 3 days. (1) Hold registered, insured, certified, and return receipt for merchandise mail a maximum of 15 days unless the sender specifies fewer days. (2) Hold COD mail a maximum of 30 days unless the sender specifies fewer days.