Ancillary Service Endorsements

Application Notes

Ancillary Service Endorsements
Ancillary service endorsements are used by mailers to request an addressee’s new address and to provide the USPS with instructions on how to handle undeliverable pieces. The endorsements consist of one keyword: "Address," "Forwarding," "Return," or "Change," followed by the two words "Service Requested." The endorsements are the same for all classes of mail, but the treatment for each class and applicable charges generally remain the same as the treatment under the previous system of endorsements. New ancillary service endorsements took effect July 1, 1997.

An endorsement must be printed in no smaller than 8-point type, and it must stand out clearly against its background. Brilliant colored envelopes and reverse printing are not permitted. There must be a 1/4-inch clear space around (above, below, and both sides) the endorsement. Any printing (including an endorsement or return address) on upgradable letter-size First-Class Mail or Standard Mail (A) must not interfere with the delivery address lines within the OCR read area.

The endorsement must be placed in one of these four positions:

Immediately below the return address.
Immediately above the delivery address area (which includes the delivery address block and any related nonaddress elements such as a barcode, keyline, or optional endorsement line).
Immediately to the left of the postage area and below any rate marking.
Immediately below the postage area and below any rate marking.

First-Class Mail

Service	Action	Comments
Address Service Requested	Months 1-12: piece forwarded; no charge; notice of new address provided: address correction fee ($0.50) charged Months 13-18: piece returned with new address; no charge Over 18 months or undeliverable: piece returned with reason; no charge	Meets Move Update requirements
Return Service Requested	Mailpiece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached; no charge	Meets Move Update requirements
Change service Requested	Separate notice of new address or reason for nondelivery provided; address correction fee charged. Piece disposed of	Meets Move Update requirements. Can only be used with ACS
Forward Service Requested or no endorsement	Months 1-12: piece forwarded, no charge Months 13-18: piece returned with new address, no charge After 18 months or undeliverable: returned with reason, no charge	Does not meet Move Update requirements. Used with NCOA or FastForward

Standard Mail (A)

Service	Action	Comments
Address Service Requested	Months 1-12: piece forwarded; no charge; notice of new address provided; address correction fee ($0.50) charged Months 13-18: piece returned with new address; Standard (A) weighted fee charged; no address correction fee charged Over 18 months or undeliverable: piece returned with reason; Standard (A) weighted fee charged; no address correction charge	NCOA is recommended unless list is up-to-date
Return Service Requested	Mail piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached; only Standard (A) single piece rate charged; no address correction fee is charged	NCOA is recommended unless list is up-to-date
Change Service Requested	Separate notice of new address or reason for nondelivery provided; address correction fee charged. Piece disposed of	If you want mail piece returned, use Return Service Requested
Forward Service Requested	Months 1-12: piece forwarded, no charge Months 13-18: piece returned with new address attached, only Standard (A) weighted fee charged. No address correction fee charged After 18 months or piece undeliverable: returned with reason, only Standard (A) weighted fee charged. No address correction fee charged	Can be expensive for heavier pieces. Good for up-to-date lists
No Endorsement	Piece is disposed of	Use only when confident list is up-to-date