Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual > 500 Additional Services > 508Recipient Services

508 Recipient Services

Overview

1.0 Recipient Options

2.0 Conditions of Delivery

3.0 Customer Mail Receptacles

4.0 Post Office Box Service

5.0 Caller Service

6.0 General Delivery

7.0 Premium Forwarding Services

8.0 Firm Holdout

9.0 Pandering Advertisements

10.0 Sexually Oriented Advertisements

Addressees may control delivery of their mail. Without a contrary order, the mail is delivered as addressed. Mail addressed to several persons may be delivered to any one of them.

The addressee may refuse to accept a mailpiece when it is offered for delivery.

After delivery, an addressee may mark a mailpiece “Refused” and return it within a reasonable time, if the piece or any attachment is not opened. Mail that may not be refused and returned unopened under this provision may be returned to the sender only if it is enclosed in a new envelope or wrapper with a correct address and new postage. The following may not be refused and returned postage-free after delivery:

An addressee may request the postmaster, in writing, to withhold from delivery for a period not to exceed 2 years any foreign letter or printed matter with a specified name or address on the outside.

If a person claiming to be the addressee of certain mail is unknown to the delivery employee, the mail may be withheld pending identification of the claimant.

Generally, a returned mailpiece that was undeliverable-as-addressed or refused by the addressee may not be remailed unless it is placed in a new envelope or wrapper with a correct address and new postage. A returned shortpaid mailpiece can have the necessary additional postage affixed to the original piece and does not have to be placed in a new envelope or wrapper.

The following conditions also apply to the delivery of Priority Mail Express, Registered Mail, Certified Mail, mail insured for more than $500.00, Adult Signature, or COD, as well as mail for which a return receipt is requested or the sender has specified restricted delivery.

In additional to the standards described under 1.1.7, mail marked “Restricted Delivery” is delivered only to the addressee or to the person authorized in writing as the addressee’s agent (the USPS may require proof of identification from the addressee (or agent) to receive the mail, and under the following conditions:

The carrier release endorsement “CARRIER—LEAVE IF NO RESPONSE” instructs carriers to leave the parcel if no one is available to accept the parcel or when the addressee has filed a written order to allow a carrier to leave the parcel. A parcel may be left in an unprotected location, such as a stairway or uncovered porch, only when it bears the “CARRIER—LEAVE IF NO RESPONSE” endorsement. The endorsement must appear directly to the left of the postage area (preferred) or directly below the return address as specified in 102.4.1 and 202.4.3. A carrier release endorsement may be used on only:

For mail that is jointly addressed:

Unless otherwise directed, an addressee’s mail may be delivered to an employee, to a competent member of the addressee’s family, or to any person authorized to represent the addressee. A person or several persons may designate another to receive their mail.

A minor’s guardian may control delivery of mail addressed to the minor. If there is no guardian and the minor is unmarried, either parent may receive delivery of the minor’s mail.

Mail may be delivered under the order of the guardian or conservator for a person legally declared incompetent. If there is no legal representative, the mail is delivered as addressed.

Mail addressed to a deceased person may be received at the address of the deceased by anyone who would normally receive the addressee’s mail at that address. The mail may also be forwarded to a different address, such as that of an appointed executor or administrator, if an order of request is filed at the Post Office.

All mail addressed to a governmental or nongovernmental organization or to an individual by name or title at the address of the organization is delivered to the organization, as is similarly addressed mail for former officials, employees, contractors, agents, etc. If disagreement arises where any such mail should be delivered, it must be delivered under the order of the organization’s president or equivalent official.

Mail addressed to a governmental or nongovernmental official by title or by organization name, but not to the address of the organization, is delivered to the organization if the organization so directs.

Mail addressed to a patient or inmate at an institution is delivered to the institution authorities. If the addressee is no longer at that address, the mail must be redirected to the current address, if known, or endorsed appropriately and returned by the institution to the Post Office.

Mail addressed to a person at a hotel, school, or similar place is delivered to the hotel, school, etc. If the addressee is no longer at that address, the mail must be redirected to the current address, if known, or endorsed appropriately and returned by the institution to the Post Office.

Mail addressed to a prisoner is subject to the mail security standards in the Administrative Support Manual.

Registered Mail addressed to a person at a hotel or apartment house is delivered to the persons designated by the management of the hotel or apartment house in a written agreement with the USPS (Form 3801-A). If the sender restricts delivery of the Registered Mail, it may not be delivered to that designated person, unless the addressee authorized that person in writing to receive restricted-delivery mail.

If persons make conflicting orders for delivery of the same mail, and they cannot agree among themselves who should receive the mail, the mail may be delivered to a named receiver or third party unanimously agreed to by the disputing parties.

If the disputing parties are unable to select a receiver, they must furnish the postmaster all available evidence on which they rely to exercise control over the disputed mail. The USPS may hold or return mail pending resolution of the dispute.

Mail is delivered under a court order issued for mail claimed by different persons.

The procedures for establishing a commercial mail receiving agency (CMRA) are as follows:

Procedures for delivery to a CMRA are as follows:

In delivery of the mail to the CMRA, the addressee and the CMRA agree that:

The procedures for an office business center (OBC) or part of its operation acting as a CMRA for postal purposes are as follows:

City delivery is provided according to USPS policies and procedures, the characteristics of the area to be served, and the methods needed to provide adequate service. Requests or petitions to establish, change, or extend city delivery service must be made to the local postmaster.

Changes in the type of delivery authorized for a delivery point may be considered if service by existing methods imposes an extreme physical hardship on the customer.

Customers must provide authorized mail receptacles or door slots, except for mail receptacles authorized by the USPS to be owned and maintained by the USPS. The purchase, installation, maintenance, and replacement of mail receptacles used by customers for mail delivery are not the responsibility of the USPS. However, the USPS may authorize neighborhood delivery and collection boxes and parcel lockers to be purchased, installed, maintained, or replaced by the USPS.

Mail receptacles or door slots are not required at businesses and offices that are open and have someone on hand to receive the mail when the carrier calls.

If a lock is used on a mail receptacle, the receptacle must have a slot large enough to accommodate the normal daily mail volume.

A door slot for mail must meet specific criteria:

Apartment house mail receptacles must be approved by the USPS. The purchase, installation, maintenance, and replacement of mail receptacles, boxes, or parcel lockers are not the responsibility of the USPS except for neighborhood delivery and collection boxes and parcel lockers authorized by the USPS to be owned and maintained by the USPS. When apartment 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.

Rural stations and branches are established, and rural delivery is provided, according to USPS policies and procedures, the characteristics of the area to be served, and the methods needed to provide adequate service. Requests or petitions to establish, change, or extend rural delivery service, signed by the heads of families wanting this service, must be given to the postmaster of the Post Office from which delivery service is desired, or from which the route operates, as applicable.

On the customer’s written request, the postmaster may approve an exception to the currently authorized method of delivery, if the type of rural delivery authorized imposes an extreme physical hardship.

An ordinary parcel too large to fit into a customer’s mailbox is not left unless the customer has filed a written order with the postmaster relieving the USPS and carriers of all responsibility in case of loss or depredation of any such parcel left outside the box.

Mail is delivered to a customer’s mailbox if a quarantined disease exists, provided that delivery can be made without exposure to contagion. No mail is collected from such box while the quarantine is in force.

Generally, mailable matter is collected from a rural mailbox if postage is fully prepaid or money equal to the required postage is left in the mailbox. Money in a rural box is left at the customer’s risk. When postage or money is insufficient to cover postage, the mail is not collected, or if the sender cannot be identified, the mail is treated as unpaid mail. Mailable matter not bearing postage found in, placed on, attached to, supported by, or hanging from rural boxes is handled under the applicable standards.

Highway contract routes are established, and delivery service on such routes is provided, according to USPS policies and procedures, the characteristics of the area to be served, and the methods needed to provide adequate service. Requests or petitions for new routes, or for extensions of service or changes in the line of travel or schedule of highway contract service, must be directed to the USPS distribution networks office with supervision over the transportation of mail in the area involved.

An ordinary parcel too large to fit into a customer’s mailbox is not left unless the customer has filed a written order with the postmaster relieving the USPS and carriers of all responsibility in case of loss or depredation of any such parcel left outside the box.

Generally, mailable matter is collected from a mailbox if postage is fully prepaid or money equal to the required postage is left in the mailbox. Money in a mailbox is left at the customer’s risk. When postage or money is insufficient to cover postage, the mail is not collected, or if the sender cannot be identified, the mail is treated as unpaid mail. Mailable matter not bearing postage found in, placed on, attached to, supported by, or hanging from boxes is handled under the applicable standards.

Curbside mailboxes meeting the applicable standards in 3.0 must be placed where they protect the mail and can be conveniently served by carriers without leaving their vehicles. These boxes must be 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 violate traffic laws by the carrier.

Except as excluded by 3.1.2, every letterbox or other receptacle intended or used for the receipt or delivery of mail on any city delivery route, rural delivery route, highway contract route, or other mail route is designated an authorized depository for mail within the meaning of 18 USC 1702, 1705, 1708, and 1725.

Door slots and nonlockable bins or troughs used with apartment house mailboxes are not letterboxes within the meaning of 18 USC 1725 and are not private mail receptacles for the standards for mailable matter not bearing postage found in or on private mail receptacles. The post or other support is not part of the receptacle.

Except under 3.2.11, the receptacles described in 3.1.1 may be used only for matter bearing postage. Other than as permitted by 3.2.10, or 3.2.11, no part of a mail receptacle may be used to deliver any matter not bearing postage, including items or matter placed upon, supported by, attached to, hung from, or inserted into a mail receptacle. Any mailable matter not bearing postage and found as described above is subject to the same postage as would be paid if it were carried by mail.

Customers must keep the approach to their mailboxes clear of obstructions to allow safe access for delivery. If USPS employees are impeded in reaching a mail receptacle, the postmaster may withdraw delivery service.

Manufacturers of all mailboxes designed and made to be erected at the edge of a roadway or curbside of a street and to be served by a carrier from a vehicle on any city route, rural route, or highway contract route must obtain approval of their products under USPS Standard 7, Mailboxes, City and Rural Curbside. To receive these construction standards and drawings or other information about the manufacture of curbside mailboxes, write to USPS Engineering (see 608.8.0 for address).

The local postmaster may approve a curbside mailbox constructed by a customer who, for aesthetic or other reasons, does not want to use an approved manufactured box. The custom-built box must generally meet the same standards as approved manufactured boxes for flag, size, strength, and quality of construction.

A mailbox with a lock must have a slot that is large enough to accommodate the customer’s normal daily mail volume. The USPS neither opens a locked box nor accepts a key for this purpose.

The post or other support for a curbside mailbox must be neat and of adequate strength and size. The post may not represent effigies or caricatures that tend to disparage or ridicule any person. The box may be attached to a fixed or movable arm.

Any advertising on a mailbox or its support is prohibited.

Subject to state laws and regulations, a curbside mailbox must be placed to allow safe and convenient delivery by carriers without leaving their vehicles. The box must be on the right-hand side of the road in the direction of travel of the carriers on any new rural route or highway contract route, in all cases where traffic conditions are dangerous for the carriers to drive to the left to reach the box, or where their doing so would violate traffic laws and regulations.

Every curbside mailbox must bear the following address information:

The mailbox may bear the owner’s name.

If more than one family wishes to share a mail receptacle, the following standards apply:

Generally, curbside mailboxes are to be used for mail only. However, publishers of newspapers regularly mailed as Periodicals may, on Sundays and national holidays only, place copies of the Sunday or holiday issues in the rural route and highway contract route boxes of subscribers if those copies are removed from the boxes before the next scheduled day of mail delivery.

A receptacle for newspaper delivery by private carriers may be attached to the post of a curbside mailbox used by the USPS if the receptacle:

Manufacturers of wall-mounted centralized mail receptacles used for mail delivery must receive approval under the specifications and procedures in USPS Standard 4. The specifications and other information can be obtained by writing to USPS Engineering (see 608.8.0 for address).

The installation of proper equipment is required for delivery service. The type of equipment must be approved by the USPS under 3.3.1 and must be appropriate for the structure. Customers should discuss the types of approved equipment permitted for their structures with their postmaster before purchasing and installing delivery equipment.

Post Office Box (PO Box) service is a premium service offered for a fee (See Notice 123—Price List) to any customer and for no fee to customers who are not eligible for carrier delivery (also see 4.5.2). The service allows a customer to obtain mail during the hours the box lobby is open or access is otherwise available and is provided only through receptacles owned or operated by the USPS or its agents. PO Box service does not include alternate means of delivery established to replace or extend carrier delivery service. A postmaster (or designee) and a box customer may not make any agreement that contravenes the regulations on PO Box service or its fees. Competitive PO Box service (see 4.5.4) is available in designated postal locations and offers service enhancements for PO Box customers.

Post Office Box, PO Box, or the # symbol when a Post Office street address is used as allowed under 4.5.4, designates this service in an address. Competitive PO Box service is available for customers located within the service area of a competitive mailbox service provider. Market-Dominant PO Box service is available to serve customers not served by a nearby competitor. Box customer applies only to the person who signs the application as an individual or to the organization on whose behalf an individual signs the application.

There are five box sizes and availability of sizes varies by facility. A customer is assigned a box size based on the customer’s needs and the availability of boxes. The postmaster may require a customer to use a larger size box if the customer’s mail volume increases beyond the capacity of the present box. The fees for boxes increase with box size. The following chart describes approximate box capacities and frontal dimensions.

A number is assigned to each PO box. Mail intended for delivery through a box must show the assigned PO box number in the address immediately above the city, state, and ZIP Code.

When no box of the appropriate size is available, the postmaster may handle the application for box service in one or more of the following ways:

Online customers cannot apply for a box that is not available but can place themselves on a waiting list for the box. Customers must pay the correct fee for the service they receive, regardless of the box size applied for.

PO Box service is available in 3-, 6- or two 6-month (semi-annual) prepaid periods. The 3-month option requires establishing an automatic recurring renewal payment available online or at select post offices with automatic recurring payment functionality. The 3-month option is not available at Post Office locations on the semi-annual (April/October) payment schedule.

The postmaster may require a box customer to use caller service under 5.0 based on the volume of mail received, or the level of service requested by the customer, or the availability of boxes. A customer required to use caller service in this manner may submit a written request to the postmaster for a new determination not more than semiannually. Existing box customers will not be allowed to use additional boxes at Post Offices having a waiting list for PO Boxes.

A customer may apply for PO Box service by completing a Form 1093 at a Post Office or online and presenting it to any postal retail facility. When the application is presented, the applicants (including both spouses or any other individual listed but minors) each must present two items of valid, current identification; one item must contain a photograph of the applicant and the other must contain sufficient information to confirm the applicant’s identity. Furnishing false information or refusing to furnish required information may be sufficient reason for denial of the application or discontinuance of service. When any information required on Form 1093 changes, the box customer must update the application. Application procedures are as follows:

PO box service may be transferred, without payment of an additional fee, to any box of the same size and fee group at a different facility of the same Post Office. To transfer service, the box customer must submit a new application to either facility. A box customer may transfer service no more than once in any semiannual payment period and must submit a completed Form 3575 at the time of transfer.

In accordance with the standards in 4.2, any individual box customer or organization may receive through the box any mail properly addressed to the box number.

Only mail and official USPS notices may be placed into a PO box.

A box customer must remove mail promptly from the box. If mail will not be removed from the box for more than 30 days and an overflow condition is probable, the customer must make prior arrangements with the postmaster. When mail for a customer’s PO Box exceeds the capacity of the box on 12 of any 20 consecutive business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays), the box is in an overflow condition. Customers whose box is in an overflow condition must use caller service, change to a larger box, or use one or more additional boxes to which mail will be addressed.

A PO box may not be used for, or in connection with, a scheme or enterprise that violates any federal, state, or local law; breaches an agreement with a federal, state, or local agency whereby the box customer has agreed to discontinue a specified activity; or violates or attempts to evade any order of a court or administrative body.

A PO box may not be used when the primary purpose is to have the USPS forward or transfer mail to another address free of charge.

Customers may file change-of-address orders as follows:

PO Box fees are based on the box size (see 4.1.3) and the fee group to which the box’s 5-digit ZIP Code is assigned.

A change in PO Box service fees applicable to a 5-digit ZIP Code can arise from a general fee change. In addition, the USPS may assign a fee group to a new ZIP Code, may reassign one or more 5-digit ZIP Codes to the next higher or lower fee group if fee group assignments were in error, or may regroup 5-digit ZIP Codes. Except when boxes from two or more ZIP Codes are being merged into one location, a ZIP Code may be moved only into the next higher or lower fee group. If boxes in two or more ZIP Codes merge, the fee group will be that of the receiving location, even if one of the fee groups changes by more than one level. No ZIP Code may be moved into a different fee group more than once a calendar year. A change in Post Office Box service fees takes effect on the date of the action that caused the change unless an official announcement specifies another date. If PO Box service fees are increased, no customer must pay the new price until the end of the current service period, and no retroactive adjustment will be made for a payment received before the date of the change. The fee charged is that in effect on the date of payment.

All fees for PO Box service are for 3-, 6-, or two 6-month (semi-annual) prepaid periods, except as noted under 4.4.5, 4.4.7, and 4.4.9.The general rule is that a fee may be paid up to one year in advance; however, when boxes from two or more ZIP Codes are being merged into one location, a customer has the option, prior to the merger, to renew at the current fee for another rental period, even when this results in a fee being paid more than one year in advance. Customers may pay the fee using any of the following methods:

Except under 4.4.6, the beginning date for a PO Box fee payment period is determined by the approval date of the application. The period begins on the first day of the same month if the application is approved on or before the 15th of the month, or the next month if approved after the 15th of the month. Fees for service renewal may be paid any time during the last 30 days of the service period, except under 4.4.3, but no later than the last day of the service period.

Federal agencies whose payment period coincides with the federal fiscal year may pay their box fees during the first quarter rather than in advance.

Postmasters at offices with fewer than 500 PO boxes may set April 1 and October 1 as the beginning of payment periods for box customers in their offices. Payment periods beginning other than April 1 or October 1 are brought into alignment with these respective dates by adjusting fees as follows:

Except for customers at Post Offices subject to 4.4.6, a PO Box customer of record may change the payment period by submitting a new application noting the month to be used as the start of the revised payment period. The date selected must be before the end of the current payment period. The unused fee for the period being discontinued may be refunded under 4.6, and the fee for the new payment period must be fully paid in advance. Except when boxes from two or more ZIP Codes are being merged into one location, a change of payment period date must not be used to circumvent a change in box fees.

The USPS does not set or collect fees for boxes owned by an academic institution if the boxes are separate from designated USPS areas and serviced by employees or agents of the institution.

In postal facilities primarily serving academic institutions or their students, box fees may be adjusted to fit the semester schedules, using the matrix below. Charges are rounded up to the next multiple of $0.10. No refund is made for discontinued service when a box is obtained under this standard.

PO Boxes are assigned to fee groups; see Notice 123—Price List or contact your local Post Office, and classified as competitive or market-dominant based upon the Post Office location.

Customers may qualify for Group E (free) PO Box service at a Post Office if their physical address location meets all of the following criteria:

Only one Group E (free) PO Box may be obtained for each potential carrier delivery point of service, under the following conditions:

New customers in competitive locations receive 13 months of service for a 12 month PO Box payment, are not required to pay the key deposit for the first two PO Box keys, and may receive expanded hours of PO Box access and earlier deposit of mail into the PO Box. Customers in competitive locations may also complete a customer agreement to receive one or more of the following enhancements:

When PO box service is terminated or surrendered by the customer, the unused portion of the fee may be refunded as follows:

When a postal facility is discontinued or relocated, a box customer at that facility may obtain a refund of unused box fees if box service at that location is discontinued and additional travel of 1/4 mile or more (from the physical address on the customer’s Form 1093) is required to obtain equivalent service. For this purpose, one-sixth of a semiannual fee is refunded for each month left in the payment period. The refund is computed from the first day of that month (if the effective date of the facility discontinuance is on or before the 15th of the month) or from the first day of the next month (if the effective date is after the 15th of the month).

Two PO Box keys are initially issued to each new box customer. Except for new customers in Competitive PO Box groups 30-44, which has no key deposit for the first two keys, box customers must pay a refundable key deposit on each key. When box service is terminated, the key deposit is refunded to the customer for each key (including additional keys in 4.7.2) that is returned to the Post Office where the box was issued.

A box customer may obtain additional keys at the Post Office where the box is located by submitting Form 1094 and paying the refundable key deposit (4.7.1) and the non-refundable key fee (see Notice 123—Price List) for each additional key. Worn or broken keys are replaced without charge when returned to the Post Office where the box is located.

A customer using a PO box may not obtain or use keys other than those issued by the USPS.

The box customer may request that the PO Box lock be changed by paying the non-refundable lock replacement fee in (see Notice 123—Price List). Lock fees are charged for replacing keyed locks and for re-setting combination locks. Customers may turn in PO Box keys for the old lock and get a refund of the key deposit. Two keys are provided with the new lock, with a refundable deposit for each key charged under 4.7.1.

The lock replacement fee also applies as a late payment charge when the customer renews a box more than 10 days after the renewal due date, whether or not the lock is actually changed.

A postmaster may refuse to approve or may terminate PO Box service, including that of a Group E (free) PO Box customer, if: the applicant or box customer submits a falsified or incomplete application for box service; within the 2 years before submitting the application, the applicant physically abused a box or violated a standard on the use of a box; refuses to update information on the box application; conducts himself or herself in a violent, threatening, or otherwise abusive manner on postal premises or there is substantial reason to believe that the box is being or will be used for unlawful activities as described in 4.3.5 and 4.3.6. The customer is notified of the Postmaster’s determination to refuse or terminate service and of the appeal procedures.

The applicant or box customer may file a petition appealing the postmaster‘s determination to refuse or terminate service within 20 calendar days after notice as specified in the postmaster‘s determination. The filing of a petition prevents the postmaster‘s determination from taking effect and transfers the case to the USPS Consumer and Industry Affairs, who issues the final agency decision. The Consumer Advocate’s decision constitutes the final agency decision.

A PO box is surrendered if:

A PO box is not surrendered if:

Fees are charged for each separation provided per semi-annual (6-month) period. See Notice 123—Price List.

Caller service is a premium service available for a fee to any customer who:

Caller service does not include general delivery service. Customers who use this service pick up their mail at the Post Office call window or loading dock during the time period designated by the postmaster. Customers who receive mail for clients may participate in caller service subject to 1.0, and 2.0. Agreements between a postmaster and a caller that contravene the standards for caller service or its fees are not valid.

A caller is an individual, or the organization represented by the individual, signing the application.

Reservation of caller numbers makes it possible for the caller of record to hold caller numbers for future use. Destination caller service is caller service provided at the postal facility to which the caller‘s mail is addressed. Origin caller service (accelerated reply mail) is described in 5.8.

The Address Management Service System (AMS) office assigns caller numbers. Customers may reserve caller numbers for future use or obtain caller services by paying the reserved caller number fee or caller service fee in 5.1. Subsequently, the postmaster or his designee will contact AMS which will issue the number. Availability of this service may be restricted and numbers are not issued immediately upon payment of the fee.

Except under 5.2.7, caller service customers must use their assigned caller service number in their mailing address as their “Post Office Box” (PO Box) number, which should be placed immediately above the city, state, and ZIP+4 Code.

A postmaster may exempt any customer continuously receiving firm holdout service since July 3, 1994, from the standard in 5.2.6 that correspondents must use the assigned Post Office box (caller service) number in the address.

The USPS may restrict caller service if such service adversely affects postal operations.

When mail for a customer’s Post Office box(es) exceeds the capacity of the box(es) on 12 of any 20 consecutive business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays), or when the customer seeks multiple caller service separations, the postmaster can require the customer to use caller service, change to a larger box, or use one or more additional boxes (subject to availability) to which mail will be addressed. A customer required to use caller service because of the mail volume received may, once per semiannual payment period, make a written request to the postmaster for a new determination of whether current mail volume requires continued use of caller service.

Federal agencies and the various schools and departments within educational institutions are considered separate customers for 5.2.9.

Caller service may be provided to the following:

To reserve a caller number for future use or to apply for caller service, the applicant must complete all relevant spaces on Form 1093, Application for Post Office Box or Caller Service, and submit it to any postal facility that provides public window service. The facility need not be the one where destination caller service is desired. An incomplete or falsified application is sufficient reason to deny or discontinue service. An application is not considered approved until the USPS verifies the applicant‘s identity.

Caller service may be transferred, without payment of an additional fee, to a different facility of the same Post Office if that facility has caller service. To transfer service, the caller must submit a new application either to the facility where service is currently provided or to the facility where service is desired. A caller may transfer service no more than once in any semiannual payment period and must submit a completed Form 3575 at the time of transfer.

Caller service may be provided to a minor (a person under 18 years of age) unless the minor’s parent or guardian submits a written objection to the postmaster.

An individual caller or organization may receive mail properly addressed to the caller number. Mail addressed only to a caller number is delivered to the caller so long as no improper or unlawful business is conducted. A caller who, as a regular practice, wants to call for mail at a postal facility more than once in any 24-hour period must obtain the postmaster’s approval of the pickup schedule.

When any information required to be provided by the caller on Form 1093 changes, the caller must notify the Post Office of such changes.

Caller service may not be used for, or in connection with, a scheme or enterprise that violates any federal, state, or local law; breaches an agreement between the caller and a federal, state, or local agency for the caller to discontinue a specified activity; or violates or attempts to evade any order of a court or administrative body.

Caller service may not be used when the primary purpose is to have the USPS forward or transfer mail to another address free of charge.

Customers must pay the caller service fee listed in 5.1. The fee must be paid for each caller number or separation used, with the following exceptions:

Customers must pay the annual reserved caller number fee in 5.1 once each calendar year for each number reserved, subject to the following:

A change in caller service fees (including reserved number fees) can arise from a general fee change. Any change in caller service fees takes effect on the date of the action that caused the change unless an official announcement specifies another date. If a caller service fee is increased, no customer must pay at the new price until the end of the current service period, and no retroactive adjustment is to be made for a payment received before the date of the change. The fee charged is that in effect on the date of payment.

If a caller uses a physical Post Office box to obtain a caller number, the applicable fees for both Post Office box service and caller service must be paid.

The basic caller service fee is for a 6-month period. The fee must be paid in advance for each 6-month period. The fee may be paid for two periods at a time (i.e., up to 1 year in advance), but not more. The fee that must be paid is the one that is in effect on the day that the fee is paid. Fees may be paid using cash, credit or debit card, or check or money order payable to the postmaster. A mailed payment must be received by the postmaster on or before the due date.

Except under 5.5.8, the beginning date for a caller fee payment period is determined by the approval date of the application. The period begins on the first day of either the same month if the application is approved on or before the 15th of the month, or the next month if approved after the 15th of the month. After that, caller fees for renewal of service may be paid any time during the last 30 days of the service period, but no later than the last day of the service period.

A caller of record may change the payment period by submitting a new application noting the month to be used as the start of the revised payment period. The date selected must be before the end of the current payment period. The unused fee for the period being discontinued may be refunded under 5.6, and the fee for the new payment period must be fully paid in advance. A change of payment period date may not be used to circumvent a change in caller service fees.

Postmasters at offices with fewer than 500 Post Office boxes may set April 1 and October 1 as the beginning of payment periods for caller service customers in their offices. Payment periods beginning other than April 1 or October 1 are brought into alignment with these respective dates by adjusting fees as follows:

When caller service is terminated or surrendered by the customer, the unused portion of the fee may be refunded as follows:

When a postal facility is discontinued or relocated, a caller service customer at that facility may obtain a refund of unused caller service fees if caller service at that location is discontinued and additional travel of 1/4 mile or more (from the physical address on the caller’s Form 1093) is required to obtain equivalent service. For this purpose, one-sixth of a semiannual fee is refunded for each month left in the payment period. The refund is computed from the first day of that month (if the effective date of the facility discontinuance is on or before the 15th of the month) or from the first day of the next month (if the effective date is after the 15th of the month).

The reserved number fee is not refundable.

A postmaster may refuse to approve caller service if the applicant submits a falsified or incomplete application for caller service; within the 2 years immediately before submitting the application, the applicant violated a standard on the use of the service; or there is substantial reason to believe that the service is to be used for activities described in 5.4.3, or 5.4.4.

A postmaster may terminate caller service if the caller or its representative falsifies the application for the service; refuses to update information on the application; violates any standard on the use of the service; conducts himself or herself in a violent, threatening, or otherwise abusive manner on postal premises; or uses it for any unlawful activity as described in 5.4.3. The caller is notified of the postmaster’s determination to refuse or terminate service and of the appeal procedures to that determination.

The applicant or caller may file a petition opposing the postmaster‘s determination to refuse or terminate service within 20 calendar days after notice, as specified in the postmaster‘s determination. The filing of a petition prevents the postmaster‘s determination from taking effect and transfers the case to the USPS Consumer Advocate. The Consumer Advocate‘s decision constitutes the final agency decision.

Caller service is deemed surrendered if the caller submits a permanent change-of-address order, fails or refuses to pay the appropriate fees by the due date, or submits a written notice to discontinue service.

Accelerated reply mail (ARM) is origin caller service provided at a postal facility other than the one to which the caller’s mail is addressed. ARM is subject to the applicable standards for caller service and the additional standards in 5.8.

ARM must be obtained at an originating mail processing facility that is fully automated to process prebarcoded mail.

The caller’s mail must meet the standards for barcoded First-Class Mail and must be certified by the mailpiece design analyst at the origin facility where ARM service is requested. The barcode on the mailpiece must represent the ZIP+4 code or the mailer’s unique 5-digit ZIP Code printed on the mailpiece.

The caller’s mail must bear facing identification mark (FIM) A.

Caller service must also be obtained at the destinating postal facility. The address on all mailpieces to be received through ARM must be the Post Office box address assigned where destination caller service is authorized. Mailpieces that show a dual address must show only the Post Office box on the line immediately above the city, state, and ZIP Code line.

The mailer may either pick up ARM at the origin facility caller service window or have it reshipped, through PFS Commercial (7.0) service, to the destination caller service address or to another address specified by the mailer. After updating a change to the destination address for the PFS Commercial service, the mailer must provide a 30-day advance notice and submit an amended ARM application, completing only the “Applicant Information” and “Priority Mail Express PFS Commercial.”

An applicant who is a commercial mail receiving agent (CMRA) must also meet the applicable standards in 1.0, and 2.0.

An applicant for ARM must meet the application procedures in 5.3. Besides completing Form 1093, an applicant for ARM must also complete Form 8061 and submit both forms to the facility where ARM service is desired.

ARM service is not provided until the USPS verifies the applicant’s identity and service availability at the requested facility, and makes scheme preparations.

When the application is approved and the caller service fee received, an ARM number is assigned. A separate basic fee must be paid for each facility where ARM service is provided.

An ARM authorization may not be transferred to another facility.

Payments for ARM service must be received at least 45 days before the applicable semiannual period. Payment of the renewal fee is due at least 45 days before the last day of the last month of the current period. Payment may be made for the next semiannual or annual period, as appropriate. If, on notice, the customer does not pay the fee by the 30th day before the end of the current payment period, the barcode sortation scheme is revised to remove the separation for the caller. Once that change is made, the caller must reapply to obtain further ARM service.

A refund is made only for future prepaid periods if a caller discontinues ARM service. No refund is made for the remaining part of the current fee period.

General delivery is intended primarily as a temporary means of delivery:

General delivery is normally available at only one facility under the administration of a Post Office with multiple facilities. A postmaster may authorize more than one facility to offer general delivery service in accordance with customer and operational needs. A customer may use only one such location. A postmaster may refuse or restrict general delivery:

A general delivery customer can be required to present suitable identification before mail is given to the customer. Prior to mailing, customers should contact the destination Post Office to determine the authorized facility or facilities and their applicable ZIP Code(s).

Each general delivery mailpiece is held for no more than 30 days, although a shorter time period may be requested by the sender.

Premium Forwarding Services offers three options as follows:

Premium Forwarding Service Residential (PFS-Residential) provides certain residential customers (see 7.2.4), an option to have all mail addressed to their primary address shipped to a temporary address by a weekly Priority Mail shipment. Service is available for a period of not less than 2 weeks and not more than 1 year. This optional service is separate from the forwarding service offered in 507.2.0. Customers must pay a nonrefundable enrollment fee and a weekly charge for each Priority Mail shipment for each week of service requested. Except under 7.1.4b, the amount due for the total weeks requested must be paid in full. See Notice 123—Price List.

Customers may extend PFS-Residential for up to 1 year maximum service from the initial start date, by contacting the Post Office of the primary address, or, for customers enrolled online, at www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm. Except under 7.2.4b, an extension is processed only after the Post Office receives payment of the shipment charges due for the total weeks of extension requested.

Except under 7.2.4b, a customer who terminates service early may request a refund for any unused pre-paid weekly shipment charges from the Post Office serving the primary address.

Participation in PFS-Residential is subject to the following additional standards:

PFS-Residential is available only from and to domestic addresses, cannot be combined with any ancillary or extra services, and is not available for:

Premium Forwarding Service Residential shipments are dispatched weekly (on Wednesday) as Priority Mail with USPS Tracking service. Regardless of any mailer‘s ancillary service endorsement on a mailpiece, and provided it fits within the shipment container, all mail is included in the weekly Priority Mail shipment, except as follows:

Premium Forwarding Service Commercial (PFS-Commercial) provides business commercial customers the option to have USPS gather their mail addressed to business PO Boxes (including Caller Service) or business street addresses within the same servicing postal facility, and dispatch the mail as Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail shipments to a new address in bulk. An annual enrollment fee is required, and applicable postage is charged for each shipment of mail under 7.3.3b. Email notifications are sent with the USPS Tracking number for the expected delivery date or when there is no mail available to forward. See Notice 123—Price List for postage prices and fees.

Customers must enroll for PFS-Commercial and pay the annual enrollment fee online via the Business Customer Gateway at https://gateway.usps.com/eAdmin/view/signin. Customers must specify the business PO Boxes (or Caller Service) or business street delivery addresses, destination address, and frequency (Monday through Saturday). Service is activated electronically, upon receipt of an email confirmation.

Only the authorized recipient (or legal agent) of the business’ (or organization’s) mail may activate the request for PFS-Commercial service. PFS-Commercial service is subject to these conditions:

Premium Forwarding Service Local (PFS-Local) provides residential/individual and business/organization Post Office Box holders the option to have the USPS gather their mail addressed to their PO Box (excludes no-fee Group E PO Boxes) and dispatch the mail to their delivery street address when both addresses are within the same local servicing postal facility. An annual enrollment fee is required, and a reshipment fee is charged (see 7.4.3b) for each reshipment container. Email notifications are sent regarding reshipments or when there is no mail available to forward. See Notice 123—Price List for postage price and fee.

Customers must enroll for PFS-Local and pay the annual enrollment fee online via USPS.com at https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm for residential/individual boxholders or the Business Customer Gateway at https://gateway.usps.com/eAdmin/view/signin for business/organization boxholders. Customers must specify the active PO Box, a deliverable destination address, and frequency (Monday through Saturday). Service is activated electronically, upon receipt of an email confirmation.

Only the residential/individual use PO Box customer or authorized recipient (or legal agent) of a business’ (or organization’s) PO Box mail that is on file may activate the request for PFS-Local service. PFS-Local service is subject to these conditions:

PFS-Local is not available for:

Firm holdout service allows a customer to obtain street-addressed mail from the Post Office when the customer normally receives 50 letters or more on the first delivery trip, or when the customer is a news agent or publisher’s representative and receives publications that qualify for newspaper treatment.

To obtain firm holdout service, a customer must fill out Form 3801. The form must include the signature of each employee or agent authorized to pick up the mail. There is no fee for firm holdout service. On the postmaster’s approval, based on the availability of resources, the customer may pick up mail at a postal unit once each delivery day at the time and place of delivery specified by the postmaster.

A customer may cancel a firm holdout at any time. The postmaster may cancel firm holdout service when the mail volume falls below the 50-piece requirement on each delivery day over a 30-day period. The postmaster may also cancel the service when the mail is not picked up for 10 consecutive days and the customer does not arrange with the postmaster to hold the mail. A customer may not request restoration of the service for 1 year after its cancellation.

Pursuant to 39 USC 3008, an addressee who receives a solicited or unsolicited advertisement offering for sale matter that, in the addressee’s sole discretion, is “erotically arousing or sexually provocative,” may, by completing Form 1500, obtain a prohibitory order directing the mailer of the advertisement to refrain from making further mailings to that addressee. Using this form is not mandatory if the information that the form solicits is in a signed written statement.

A person entitled to receive mail addressed to a deceased person is regarded as the addressee of such mail for obtaining a prohibitory order in the name of the deceased.

A person authorized to receive mail addressed to a job title (e.g., sales manager) of any business, government agency, or institution, is regarded as the addressee of such mail for obtaining a prohibitory order covering such job title.

Any person with apparent authority to act for a business, governmental, or institutional addressee is regarded as the addressee of such organization’s mail for obtaining a prohibitory order in the name of such organization.

The application for prohibitory order may be submitted at any Post Office and must be accompanied by the advertisement on which the application is based, and its opened envelope or other cover or wrapper. When applying for a prohibitory order, if the addressee receives mail at more than one address, the addressee should complete an additional Form 1500 for each address.

An addressee who is the parent of one or more children less than 19 years of age residing with that parent may request an order on behalf of any or all such children. If the parent of any such child determines that matter offered for sale in an advertisement addressed to the child is “erotically arousing or sexually provocative,” the parent may request issuance of an order prohibiting further mailings to such child. This order is not enforced for mailings received by such person after that person reaches 19 years of age. Such person, however, may ratify the order by giving written notice to the manager of the Prohibitory Order Processing Center (see 608.8.0 for address) that the order is to continue in effect for himself or herself.

The prohibitory order forbids the mailer, his or her agents, or assigns from making further mailings to the designated addressees, effective on the 30th calendar day after the mailer’s receipt of the order; directs immediate deletion of such addressees from all mailing lists owned or controlled by the mailer, his or her agents, or assigns; and prohibits any sale, rental, exchange, or other transaction by the mailer, his or her agents, or assigns, involving mailing lists bearing the names of the designated addressees.

An addressee protected by a prohibitory order who has a permanent change of mailing address may continue the protection provided by the order by notifying the mailer of his or her change of address and desire to have the order honored for the new address. The notification must be sent by Certified Mail, return receipt requested. To enforce any violation of the order at the new address, a copy of the notification and return receipt must be submitted to the manager of the Prohibitory Order Processing Center (see 608.8.0 for address). Such written notification must modify the order by substituting the new address for the address designated in the original or previously modified order. An order thus modified takes effect in the same manner as the original order.

A prohibitory order is not issued when the application is based on any of these:

An applicant for a prohibitory order or its enforcement is deemed to have abandoned the application if the applicant fails to comply, within 60 days, with any USPS request to supplement, correct, or complete the application. The USPS does not keep abandoned applications.

A prohibitory order is considered void on expiration of 5 years from the date of issuance, except that, when application for enforcing a prohibitory order is made, it is not considered void until expiration of 5 years from the last application for enforcement. USPS files on such void orders may be disposed of, if a record is kept of the disposal of each such file and the reason for the disposal.

The fact that a name and address is on the USPS list of persons not wanting to receive sexually oriented advertisements through the mail does not limit or affect the authority of the USPS to issue a prohibitory order protecting such name and address. The issuance of a prohibitory order also does not limit or affect the authority of the USPS to list, under 10.0, the name and address protected by such prohibitory order.

If a person protected by a prohibitory order who receives a mailpiece apparently in violation of such order opens the envelope or other outside cover of such piece and writes on it the identifying number of the prohibitory order (if known) and a statement indicating receipt by mail and the date of receipt (for example, “I received this mailpiece on [date].”), followed by the person’s signature. The person submits the piece directly, or through a Post Office, to the Prohibitory Order Processing Center. Such submission constitutes an application for enforcing the order.

When the USPS finds, after appropriate administrative proceedings under prohibitory order Standard Operation Procedures (formerly Notice 241) and 39 CFR 963, that enforcement is warranted, it requests the U.S. Department of Justice to seek a court order directing compliance with the prohibitory order.

39 USC 3010(d) defines sexually oriented advertisement as “any advertisement that depicts, in actual or simulated form, or explicitly describes, in a predominantly sexual context, human genitalia, any act of natural or unnatural sexual intercourse, any act of sadism or masochism, or any other erotic subject directly related to the foregoing.” It also provides that “material otherwise within the definition of this subsection shall be deemed not to constitute a sexually oriented advertisement if it constitutes only a small and insignificant part of the whole of a single catalog, book, periodical, or other work the remainder of which is not primarily devoted to sexual matters.”

Section 3010 of Title 39 USC provides members of the public with a means to protect themselves and their minor children from receiving unsolicited sexually oriented advertisements through the mail. This section permits any person served by the USPS to file with the USPS a statement that he or she does not want to receive such advertisements through the mail. Any mailer who sends that person an unsolicited sexually oriented advertisement more than 30 days after the date when the USPS adds that person’s name to its reference list of those who want this protection may be subject to civil and criminal sanctions, under 39 USC 3011 and in 18 USC 1735-37.

The responsibility for ensuring that no unsolicited sexually oriented advertisement is sent through the mail to any person in violation of section 3010 is placed by that section on the mailer of such advertisements. No USPS regulations may be used to place this responsibility on the USPS.

A person who mails sexually oriented advertisements only to persons who request to receive them does not violate the statute or regulations, if otherwise in compliance with the law whether buying and using the USPS list.

A person may invoke the protection of section 3010 by completing and filing, with any postmaster or designated USPS representative, Form 1500, available at Post Offices.

A person may file in his or her own behalf and in behalf of any of that person’s children under the age of 19 years who reside with that person or are under his or her care, custody, or supervision. An authorized officer, agent, fiduciary, surviving spouse, or other representative, may file in behalf of a corporation, firm, association, estate, or deceased or incompetent addressee.

A person’s name and address are kept on the list for 5 years, unless a request for revocation is filed sooner by that person. A person must file a new application at the end of the 5-year period to keep his or her name on the list. The names and addresses of minor children are removed from the list after the 5-year period or when they reach 19 years of age, whichever comes first. A minor must file an original application in his or her own behalf if the minor wants his or her name to remain on the list after reaching 19 years of age.

The filing of a single application results in the listing of a single address for the person filing. A person who moves must file a new Form 1500 to receive the protection of section 3010 at his or her new address. Form 3575 may not be used for this purpose.

It is not a violation of section 3010 to mail a sexually oriented advertisement to a person at an address other than that which is shown for that person on the list. It is a violation to mail such an advertisement to that person at the address shown for that person even though he or she has moved from that address.

A person, at any time, may request the removal of his or her name and address, or that of one or more of his or her minor children, from the list by notifying the manager of the Pricing and Classification Service Center (see 608.8.0 for address).

It is not evidence of a violation of section 3010 if a person (or that person’s minor child) receives a sexually oriented advertisement in the mail on or after the date he or she requests the removal of his or her name from the list or his or her minor child’s name.

Copies of the list and/or periodic amendments to the list are available to any person paying the annual service fee. The list is provided on a CD-ROM. Information about or requests for the list must be submitted to the manager of the Pricing and Classification Service Center (see 608.8.0 for address). A certified or cashier’s check made payable to the USPS must be received in payment before the list is provided to the buyer. More information on CD-ROM format can be obtained from the manager.

The annual service fee is determined by dividing the number of buyers for the previous calendar year into the total cost to the USPS of compiling, processing, printing, and distributing the list.

This list may be used by a mailer only to protect persons whose names appear on it from receiving unwanted sexually oriented advertisements through the mail. No person, including a subscriber to the list, may use the list for any other purpose, and no person may sell, lease, rent, lend, exchange, or license another to use this list for any other purpose, including its use by another to remove names from a list of persons to whom sexually oriented advertisements are to be sent. No person may use the list or a copy of the list for preparing mailings or other lists for sale, lease, rent, loan, exchange, or use by another. Violators are subject to criminal prosecution.

Section 3010(a) authorizes and directs the USPS to provide a mark or notice that must be placed on the envelope or cover of any sexually oriented advertisement sent through the mail, with the sender’s name and address. The following provisions implement this authority and direction:

This is a partial list of conduct that may violate 39 USC 3010 or 18 USC 1735:

Anyone who wants to report receipt of an unsolicited sexually oriented advertisement after an addressee’s name and address are on the list for more than 30 days should submit to any postmaster, or directly to the Pricing and Classification Service Center manager, the entire mailpiece, including the envelope or other wrapper. The piece must have been opened by the addressee. When submitting the piece, the addressee must endorse the envelope or other wrapper and also the inside contents in substance as follows: “I received this mailpiece on [date],” and sign the statement. If received by the postmaster, the piece must be forwarded promptly to the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC). The PCSC then forwards the piece to the appropriate Inspection Service Field Division Office.

A customer wanting to verify inclusion on the list should write to the Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) (see 608.8.0 for address).