USPS Move Update – NCOA at Blue Hill Press
Effective November 23, 2008, the USPS Move Update standard, which had been required for address lists used for Presorted First-Class Mail mailings, has been extended to address lists used for Presorted Standard Mail mailings (which includes Nonprofit Mail mailings).
The Move Update standard is a means of reducing the number of mail pieces in a mailing that requires forwarding or return by periodically matching mailers’ address records with change-of-address orders received and maintained by the Postal Service. Mailers who claim presorted or automation rates for mailings must demonstrate that they have updated their mailing lists before the mailing date.*
The Move Update standard is met when an address used on a mail piece is updated with an approved method within 95 days after the address has been updated.*
The Postal Service offers four pre-approved methods to meet the Move Update standard: Address Change Service (ACS), National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink), FASTforward, and ancillary service endorsements except for Forwarding Service Requested. Mailers must use one of the pre-approved or alternative methods to meet the Move Update standard.*
(Use of the alternative address format, such as “John Doe or CURRENT RESIDENT,” in lieu of one of the pre-approved methods is permitted. In such cases, mail pieces are delivered as addressed, regardless of addressee names, as long as addresses are valid.)
Blue Hill Press offers service for National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink).
National Change of Address Linkage System (NCOALink) is an address correction service provided through companies licensed by the Postal Service. Updated change-of-address information for the entire country is provided on a regular basis by the Postal Service, and licensees match mailing lists submitted electronically by mailers against the computerized information. When a match is made, NCOALink corrects the address before it is printed.*
Reduces undeliverable mail by providing the most current address information, including standardized and delivery point coded addresses, for matches made to the NCOALink file for individual, family, and business moves.
Prevents the need to re-mail after address corrections are received, because the address correction is applied prior to the mailing.
Reduces mailer costs by reducing the number of undeliverable mail pieces.
Provides faster product/service marketing through accurate mail delivery.*
To help ease the imposition of the extended USPS requirement, Blue Hill Press is offering NCOALink service for $50 per mailing (regardless of the number of addresses) through the end of 2009. With NCOALink service, we can help keep your mailing costs as low as possible by preserving discounts for presorted and/or automation mailings and by reducing your need to pay for undeliverable mail.
