CASS NCOA & Move Update Processing 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under USPS Move Update rules, which class of mail is REQUIRED to meet Move Update standards to qualify for automation rates?
- Standard Mail (USPS Marketing Mail) only
- First-Class Mail only
- Both First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail (Correct answer)
- Periodicals only
Correct answer: Both First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail
Both First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail must comply with Move Update standards to qualify for presort and automation discounts.
Question 2: What is the consequence for a mailer who fails to meet Move Update compliance requirements at the time of mailing?
- Pieces are automatically forwarded by USPS at no charge
- The mailer may be assessed postage adjustments and lose presort discounts (Correct answer)
- The mailing is returned in full without delivery
- The mailer's CASS certification is immediately revoked
Correct answer: The mailer may be assessed postage adjustments and lose presort discounts
Non-compliant mailers risk postage assessment and loss of the presorted discounts claimed, as Move Update compliance is a condition of those rates.
Question 3: Which USPS-approved Move Update method uses ancillary service endorsements printed on mailpieces to obtain address correction information?
- NCOA processing
- Address Change Service (ACS)
- Ancillary Service Endorsements (ASE) with physical notices (Correct answer)
- OneCode ACS
Correct answer: Ancillary Service Endorsements (ASE) with physical notices
Ancillary Service Endorsements direct carriers to return or forward pieces and provide paper address correction notices back to the mailer.
Question 4: How does OneCode ACS differ from traditional ACS in the context of Move Update?
- OneCode ACS uses a barcode to route electronic COA notices, eliminating the need for printed endorsements (Correct answer)
- OneCode ACS requires a separate postage payment per notice
- OneCode ACS only works with Standard Mail, not First-Class
- OneCode ACS provides notices only for business addresses
Correct answer: OneCode ACS uses a barcode to route electronic COA notices, eliminating the need for printed endorsements
OneCode ACS encodes a unique ID in the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) so that electronic COA notices are delivered without requiring a printed endorsement line.
Question 5: A mailer's NCOA processing run is completed 100 days before the postage statement date. Is this compliant with Move Update standards?
- Yes, 100 days is within the allowed window
- No, NCOA must be run within 95 days of the postage statement date (Correct answer)
- Yes, any processing within 6 months is acceptable
- No, NCOA must be run within 30 days
Correct answer: No, NCOA must be run within 95 days of the postage statement date
USPS requires NCOA processing to be completed within 95 days of the postage statement date; 100 days exceeds this window and is non-compliant.
Question 6: What is the purpose of the NCOA 'move-effective date' field returned with a COA match?
- It determines which mail class the piece qualifies for
- It tells the mailer when the person physically moved, helping assess data freshness (Correct answer)
- It sets the expiration date for the COA record in the database
- It triggers automatic postage refunds for old mail sent to the old address
Correct answer: It tells the mailer when the person physically moved, helping assess data freshness
The move-effective date indicates when the COA was filed, allowing mailers to assess how recent the move is and whether subsequent contact at the old address was wasted.
Question 7: When NCOA processing is outsourced to a licensed service bureau, who bears responsibility for Move Update compliance under USPS rules?
- The service bureau bears full responsibility as the licensed entity
- The mailer bears responsibility, as they are the party presenting mail and claiming rates (Correct answer)
- USPS assumes shared liability with both parties
- Responsibility shifts to the USPS Postmaster at the origin facility
Correct answer: The mailer bears responsibility, as they are the party presenting mail and claiming rates
Regardless of who performs the processing, the mailer presenting the mailpieces is responsible for ensuring Move Update compliance and accurate postage statements.
CASS NCOA & Move Update Processing 5
Under USPS Move Update rules, which class of mail is REQUIRED to meet Move Update standards to qualify for automation rates?