The Postal Service is proposing to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) throughout various sections to modify the policy for filing claims for domestic Express Mail® refunds from 90 days to 30 days after the date of mailing, and to change the Express Mail “waiver of signature” standard for domestic items by obtaining an addressee’s signature only when the mailer selects the “signature required” option on the Express Mail label.

The USPS proposes to align the refund policy for domestic Express Mail with the industry standard for overnight products by requiring all claims for postage refunds to be filed within 30 days of the date of mailing instead of the current filing timeline of 90 days.

Additionally, the USPS proposes to make the following change in conjunction with the implementation of the redesigned Express Mail Label 11-B and Label 11-F, Express Mail Post Office to Addressee.

The Postal Service proposes to modify Express Mail Label 11-B and Label 11-F, by eliminating the “waiver of signature” check box. A mailer sending an Express Mail item, and requiring an addressee’s signature, must select the new “signature required” box on the new Express Mail label dated January 2012. If the box is not selected, the Postal Service will not obtain a signature from the addressee upon delivery of Express Mail Next Day Delivery and Express Mail Second Day Delivery items. Instead, the carrier will scan the barcode and leave the item in the customer’s mail receptacle or other secure location to indicate delivery.

Express Mail Hold For Pickup service always requires the signature of the addressee or addressee’s agent. Therefore, the Express Mail Label 11-HFPU, Express Mail Hold For Pickup, will not be revised.Show citation box

Although we are exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C of 553(b), (c)] regarding proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), we invite public comments on the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.

Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., Room 4446, Washington DC 20260-5015. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW., 11th Floor N, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. E-mail comments concerning the proposed rule, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Express Mail Refund Policy and Waiver of Signature.” Faxed comments are not accepted.

Federal Register | Express Mail Domestic Postage Refund Policy and Waiver of Signature

USPS changes to express mail