1. Contact a postage meter manufacturer[1].
Postage meters are leased (not sold) by four manufacturers. In many cases, the meter vendor will take care of your meter application for you, so before you begin, contact a vendor, get some price quotes, and ask what services are available.
Be sure to tell the meter manufacturer that you’ll be doing bulk mailings and if you are authorized to mail at nonprofit rates[2]. The meter manufacturer will sell you a special metal die (frequently called a "slug") that you insert into the postage meter for each of the different kinds of mailings you do. The "slug" prints the required rate marking on your mailpiece:
PRSRT FIRST-CLASS for Presorted First-Class Mail
PRSRT STD for Presorted Standard Mail
NONPROFIT ORG for Nonprofit Presorted Standard Mail
Your meter manufacturer will install your meter for you and will "pre-program" the meter with an amount of postage that you purchase.
- Fill out Form 3615, Mailing Permit Application and Customer Profile. This application gives you permission to mail at bulk rates using your postage meter. Copies are available from your local post office[3]. Check the box that says "Notification to Present Metered Mail in Bulk." You must contact your meter manufacturer[4] to get the right rate marking "slug" for your meter.
- Turn the completed Form 3615 in at your main Post Office. There is no application fee to get a permit to use your postage meter for bulk mailings.
4. The Post Office will process your application and give you a permit number to use meter stamps for bulk mailings. You will get a receipt with a permit number on it.
You'll use this number when you fill out your postage statement.
If you have questions, contact your meter manufacturer or vendor.
TIPS
--Although there is no fee to apply to use your postage meter for bulk mailings, you must pay an annual mailing fee[5] to mail in bulk.
--Keep this receipt in a safe place.
--Before you meter any mailpieces, make sure you have the right slug for the class of mail and the rate marking.
--You may have a different permit number for each method of payment you use: one for your precanceled stamps, one for your permit imprint, and one for your postage meter. Remember to use the right one!
Tips on using a postage meter[6]
List of meter manufacturers[7]
Quick Service Guide 604c, Postage Meters and PC Postage Systems[8]
