Refunds and Exchanges for Metered Postage Changed

New 60-Day Limit for Unused Metered Postage Stamps

Postage Technology Management (PTM) has revised the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) to reduce the time limit for obtaining a refund for unused meter stamps.

Effective January 1, 2002, the time limit for unused meter stamps changed from 1 year to 60 days for all postage evidencing systems except PC Postage systems. Unused meter stamps must be submitted by the licensee to the licensing post office for refund within 60 days of the date printed on the meter stamp. (Unused PC Postage indicia must be submitted for refund to the system provider within 30 days of the date printed.)

A grace period has been established to allow time for customers to submit unused meter stamps already on hand. Unused meter stamps printed between March 1, 2001, and December 31, 2001, may be submitted for refund until March 31, 2002.

The following procedures must be followed for refund requests for unused meter stamps submitted to the licensing post office:

• All refund requests for unused meter stamps presented to a post office must include proof that the person or entity requesting the refund is the licensee for the postage meter (postage evidencing system) that printed the meter stamp. Proof could include, for example, your lease, contract, or rental agreement.
• Refund requests must be submitted to the postmaster at the licensing post office with Form 3533 within 60 days of the date in the meter stamp.
• Refunds are made only for complete, legible, valid, and unused meter stamps printed on unmailed envelopes, wrappers, or labels. The refund request must be submitted with the complete envelope or wrapper showing the addressee’s name and address (including the window on a window envelope). Meter stamps printed on labels or tapes not stuck to wrappers or envelopes must be submitted loose, unstapled and not affixed to any other paper in any manner.
• If any part of the meter stamp is printed on more than one envelope or card (known as "shingling"), all pieces must be fastened together to show that they represent one meter stamp.

Users of PC Postage systems must follow procedures established by their provider in accordance with Postal Service requirements. The provider may charge for refund processing.

This revision to the Domestic Mail Manual will be incorporated into the printed version of DMM 57 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

— Postage Technology Management,

— Retail, Consumers and Small Business