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Decertification of Phase IV Postage Meters on Schedule
Three phases completed, one more to go, in the Postal Service’s effort to replace older, fraud-prone meters with more secure and innovative technology.
In 1995, in cooperation with authorized postage meter manufacturers, USPS began a phase-out of all mechanical postage meters. These meters were targeted due to cases of tampering and misuse. More than 776,000 mechanical meters have been withdrawn from service.
We’re now in phase IV, which should be completed by the end of the year.
USPS is working with meter providers to ensure their customers receive adequate notices outlining the migration mandate. Phase IV will complete the removal of all non-digital (letter press) printing meters from the marketplace.
Effective Jan. 1, 2009, the following policy changes will be in effect to ensure Phase IV meters are removed from operation:
• Downloading of funds will not be permitted into any Phase IV meter.
• No replacement or repair of a Phase IV meter will be authorized.
• Phase IV meters have a built-in timeout feature that will render the meter inoperable in a range of 90 to 109 days after the last meter reset (or disabled funds download).
The deadline for meter customers to apply for and receive a refund for any remaining postage is June 30, 2009.
The Postal Service encourages customers to act early and contact their postage meter representative for replacement options. If you have any USPS related questions or would like further information on postage meter decertification, contact USPS Postage Technology Management at ptm@usps.gov, or write:
Attn : Meter Decertification
Postage Technology Management
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW RM 4200
Washington DC 20260-4200
Not sure if your present postage meter is
a Phase IV meter?
(Ascom) Hasler, Inc.
1263–16413ZTMOS–4280TMS
1263TMS–16413ZTMS–4280TMOS
1263TMOS–17563ZTMOS–64280TMS
17563ZTMS–64280TMOS–5280
(Francotyp-Postalia) FP Mailing Solutions
8000
8100
EFS 3000
Neopost
9647
9648
9659–9659G
Pitney Bowes, Inc.
B900
reminder for al periodicals mailers
Annual Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation due Oct. 1.
All publishers (not printers) of Periodicals publications, including agents for foreign publications accepted at Periodicals prices, must complete and file with the Postmaster of the original entry Post Office a Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation no later than Oct. 1 each year. They must use the September 2007 edition of Form 3526, or Form 3526-R, as appropriate. Instructions appear on the reverse of each form. A separate form must be completed and filed for each publication title. See Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 707.8.3.
In addition, publications authorized as “general publications” (DMM 707.6.1) or “requester publications” (DMM 707.6.4) must publish all information required on Form 3526 in the issue of the publication noted in item 16 of the form. Publishers may print this information on a reproduction of Form 3526, or it can be published in editorial format. Each numbered item on the form must be included and contain an entry (i.e., “zero,” n/a, etc.).
Publication of the information must appear in an issue whose primary “mailed distribution” is not later than:
• Oct.10 for publications issued more frequently than weekly.
• Oct. 31 for publications issued weekly or less frequently but more frequently than monthly.
• For all other publications, the first issue published after Oct. 1.
PS Forms 3526 and 3526-R can be obtained at pe.usps.com and from your local Post Office. Click Postage Statements, then Periodicals Forms. If you have any questions, contact your original entry Post Office. |
