ZIP+4 Isn't Enough
CASS Certification Required
for Automated Mail Discounts

CASS verifies ZIP codes, adds ZIP+4 and more

Another postal acronym you need to know before you can mail. CASS is a United States Postal Service (USPS) acronym that stands for Coding Accuracy Support System.

The term CASS is widely used by the USPS when they refer to the verification status of an address list. In order for an address list to receive CASS certification, the list must be checked against the USPS Address Matching System (AMS) , a match must be found for each address and the correct 11-digit Delivery Point ZIP code and corresponding barcode must be added.

Only addresses with the Delivery Point ZIP code and barcode are eligible for automation bulk mailing rates. A mailing list must undergo address verification every 95 days and is particularly important to clients because of the difference between "automation" and "non-automation" mailing rates, which is about five cents per piece.

For a 10,000-piece mailing, CASS certification of the address list could save the mailer approximately $500. The data files maintained by the USPS and provides information on every address in the United States – over 140 million addresses. Mailers must use a software package that is CASS-certified by the USPS to perform address verification. This software package is a major annual expense.

Similar to tax software, users must update their software annually to maintain the certification status. When a bulk mailing is submitted, a PS 3553 report (also known as a CASS Certificate) must accompany it to substantiate that the address list has been checked using the Address Matching System and meets all USPS specifications.

National Change of Addressing processing

Verifying the address is just a first step in the list cleaning process. CASS certification says there is a verifiable address -- but does not tell you if the person being mailed to is still living there. That's why the Post Office now requires National Change of Address processing.

MarketPlace-Solutions.com does both as standard operating procedure. Contact us at 919-848-4332 or info@marketplace-solutions.com to get your mailing list CASS certified and your mail out the door.