Melissa Data Helps Mailers Get Ready for New 2008 Move-Update Rules to Standard Mail

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2007

Although USPS([R]) Will Extend Move Update to Standard Mail in 2008, It's Never Too Early to Reduce Undeliverable Mail and Earn Postal Discounts

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. -- Melissa Data, www.melissadata.com, a non-exclusive NCOA(Link[R]) Full Service Provider Licensee, today announced its renewed commitment to mailers to help reduce their undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail through their SmartMover(TM) NCOA(Link) Move-Update solutions.

This announcement follows the September 28 publishing of the Final Rule in the Federal Register by the Postal Service to expand Move Update requirements in 2008 to include advertising mail, plus change the frequency of the program.

As far back as February, Postmaster General John Potter was telling the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) that the agency wanted to expand its Move Update rules. Not only will the new requirements extend to all Standard Mail in addition to First Class Mail, this Final Rule also shortens the update cycle to 95 days from 180. This is all part of the USPS's aggressive strategy to eliminate 50% of UAA mail, which currently runs at 9 billion pieces a year, by 2010. The Final Rule will take effect on November 23, 2008.

Under the current rule for Move Update - established in the late 1990s - First-Class mailers can receive automation or presort rates when they update addresses in their mailing lists every 180 days using NCOA(Link), Address Change Service, or another USPS approved service.

"Every mailer benefits from the move update process, no matter how they achieve it," said Chris Rowe, vice president of data hygiene services at Melissa Data. "Whether they mail First-Class, Standard, or Periodicals, their primary goal is to get all their mail delivered to the intended recipient."

As a USPS NCOA(Link) Full Service Provider Licensee, Melissa Data provides a SmartMover solution to meet the needs of every mailer: they can choose to submit a file; in any format, via the Internet for Melissa Data processing; use their MAILERS 4 postal automation software to format and submit their file for processing; become a USPS end-user licensee and update their proprietary files in-house using MAILERS 4 and the SmartMover add on; or take advantage of the new, SmartMover real time Web service and update addresses at their convenience, 24/7. For more information on NCOA(Link) services visit www.MelissaData.com/ncoa.> ABOUT MELISSA DATA

Melissa Data is a non-exclusive NCOA(Link) Full Service Provider Licensee, an active DMA member, as well as a member of the DMA's List & Database Council. For over 23 years, Melissa Data has been a leading provider of data quality solutions with emphasis on U.S., Canadian, and international address and phone verification, and postal software. Free trial software is available by visiting www.MelissaData.com or by calling 1-800-MELISSA (800-635-4772).

The following trademarks are owned by the United States Postal Service: NCOA(Link); First-Class; USPS; and United States Postal Service. Melissa Data is a nonexclusive Interface Distributor Licensee of the United States Postal Service([R]). AD #5.07