CASS NCOA & Move Update Processing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the maximum age of a COA record that NCOA processing can return as a valid match?
- 18 months
- 36 months
- 48 months (Correct answer)
- 60 months
Correct answer: 48 months
NCOA records are retained for 48 months (4 years) from the date the move order was filed with the USPS.
Question 2: Which NCOA return code indicates that an individual move was found but the move is more than 18 months old?
- A
- 91
- 92 (Correct answer)
- F
Correct answer: 92
Return code 92 (or equivalent ANK code) signals a COA match older than 18 months, triggering a Move Update requirement for First-Class mailers.
Question 3: Under Move Update standards, a mailer using NCOA must process their mailing list within how many days before the mailing date?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- 95 days (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 95 days
USPS Move Update standards require NCOA processing within 95 days prior to the postage statement date.
Question 4: Which type of move in the NCOA database represents an entire household relocating to a new address?
- Individual (I) move
- Family (F) move (Correct answer)
- Business (B) move
- Temporary (T) move
Correct answer: Family (F) move
A Family (F) move record applies to all members of a household and updates all names associated with that address.
Question 5: When NCOA returns a 'delete' result for a record, what action should the mailer take?
- Mail to the old address
- Update to the forwarding address
- Suppress the record from the mailing (Correct answer)
- Flag for manual review only
Correct answer: Suppress the record from the mailing
A delete result means no deliverable forwarding address was found, so the record should be suppressed to avoid undeliverable mail.
Question 6: Which NCOA record category covers a move filed by a business entity rather than a residential customer?
- Family (F)
- Individual (I)
- Business (B) (Correct answer)
- General Delivery (G)
Correct answer: Business (B)
Business (B) move records in NCOA represent change-of-address filings submitted by commercial entities.
Question 7: What happens when a mailer submits a list to an NCOA licensee and a match is found with a 'temporary' move flag?
- The address is updated permanently
- The address is updated for 6 months then reverted
- The mailer is notified but no address change is applied (Correct answer)
- The record is deleted from the list
Correct answer: The mailer is notified but no address change is applied
Temporary moves are flagged for mailer awareness but NCOA does not update the address, since the person intends to return.
CASS NCOA & Move Update Processing 2
What is the maximum age of a COA record that NCOA processing can return as a valid match?