USPS launches online change-of-address campaign
At moving time, who needs another errand on their “to do” list? No one, of course.
That’s why all employees can help customers save time and simplify their moves by encouraging them to make change-of-address transactions at usps.com — the convenient, safe and secure way to change addresses.
Internet Change of Address is faster and more accurate than the paper form, and helps reduce undeliverable as addressed mail — providing better service to our customers.
Only 20 percent of customers now use Internet Change of Address (ICOA). Most are still using the traditional PS Form 3575, Official Mail Forwarding Change of Address Order.
To help increase online address changes, the Postal Service will conduct an Internet Change of Address Growth Challenge July 1 through Sept. 30. All Post Offices will be eligible to participate. The area, district and Post Offices achieving the largest increase in ICOA share will earn awards.
To promote ICOA as the best option for submitting a change-of-address order, retail employees should keep the Mover’s Guides behind the retail counter and encourage people to visit usps.com. Be sure to display ICOA message cards in lobbies and on counter tops.
PEN Editor: USPS seems to be promoting more and more of their online business services – changing their business model to online destinations. For a company that really exists because of their hard copy communication delivery services USPS certainly seems hell bent on convincing the public to stop using hard copy and go digital. Sooner or later their desires will be answered and HQ will be looking for jobs along with thousands of postal employees. Rick Owens – PEN
Invaluable article , I am thankful for the facts – Does anyone know if my company might be able to get ahold of a blank IRS 1040-ES form to type on ?
This is a just another way to scam the American people. You really have no way of knowing if the computer acknowledges the change and if the Post Office knows of the change. Anther way to steal from the american People with another useless Idea from the soon to be DEFUNCT Postal service. And you wonder why people send E-mails and pay their bills online while the volume of your business drops to nothing.
I want to be sure my address was changed in Human Resources.
I have not received my income tax information. email sould be changed.
This process I have used and I must say it was convenient however it unfortunately did not work. Our post office wasn’t aware we had made an online request and was still holding our mail. When I went into the post office they said “we aren’t used to looking for address changes there” so I filled out the 3575 form. I did both of these only two months ago and still have mail being sent back to sender with notices on them stating: Mail forwarding has expired. I was told this would be in effect for one year, yet they are sending the mail back just short of two months.
What a mess.
I agree with the PEN editor in regards to shifting processes online.
What I see as a carrier, are MORE errors with online address changes, as many addresses are not valid delivery points. So, the customer may THINK they have a change of address in place, but in reality they do not, and 10 days later their mail is returned to sender as moved left no address. This increases the work for all levels of employees, at the route, the office, and back from where the change occurred. Also, the $1 charge to verify identity adds up when you have to file for ALL names used individually. I receive 4 and 5 3982 labels for a single address move when families have multiple names. Using the paper 3575 costs them nothing.
As a carrier, I sometimes don’t get the notification that my customer is gone for more that 2 weeks after they have submitted it online. I’d rather them use the 3575, so at least I know when they are leaving. Most of my customers tell me in person, that they are leaving, but some, do not.
Next thing you know the Postal Service will start charging a dollar a day to have your mail held!!! The Board of Governors has change the Postal Service into a business whose primary beneficiaries, since there are no stockholders, are the managers and Executives who share in the pay-for-performance payments. The public be damned!
Article fails to mention the $1 charge (credit or debit card required) to do the Online COA.