About Ancillary Endorsements

Ancillary service endorsements are instructions printed on your mailpiece that tell the USPS how to handle it if it cannot be delivered to the original address. These endorsements are crucial for managing undeliverable mail, updating your address lists, and minimizing wasted postage.

Key things to know:

• Consistent endorsements, varying treatment: While the endorsements themselves are the same across all mail classes, the way the USPS handles the mail and the associated fees can differ depending on the class (e.g., First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, etc.).
• USPS Fees: When you use an ancillary service endorsement, you are responsible for paying any applicable USPS fees for forwarding, returning, or providing address updates.  
• Address Updates are mandatory:  Per USPS Move Update requirements, you are obligated to update your address records with any new address information you receive from the USPS when using ancillary endorsements. This helps ensure your mailings reach their intended recipients and reduces waste.

Common Ancillary Service Endorsements:

• Address Service Requested: Provides you with the recipient's new address if they have filed a change-of-address, allowing you to update your mailing list.
• Forwarding Service Requested: Forwards mail to the recipient's new address if they have a change-of-address on file.
• Return Service Requested: Returns undeliverable mail to you with the reason for non-delivery.

By understanding and utilizing ancillary service endorsements, you can improve the efficiency of your mailings, maintain accurate customer data, and reduce the costs associated with undeliverable mail.