Post Haste Mailing News and Information
NCOA - What Is It?
Return to News Items August 13, 2007Over 40 million Americans change their address annually, which can make keeping your mailing list clean something of a chore. But by using NCOA Link you can update your mailing list and reduce undeliverable mail before your mail hits the mailstream.
In a nutshell, the NCOA Link process improves mail deliverability by providing you with current, standardized, delivery point coded addresses for individual, family and business moves.
Here's how it works: Input address information must first be standardized in order to conform to USPS requirements. Then an attempt is made to match each name and address against the NCOA Link database. The USPS gets this information from PS Form 3575, the Change-of-Address Order, which is filed by relocating postal customers. If a match is made, then the address is updated with the new address information or reason it can't be delivered.
Post Haste Mailing Services, Inc. uses the full NCOA Link product of approximately 160 million records, or 48 months of permanent address changes (rather than the more limited 18-month NCOA Link database). We feel this provides you with the most comprehensive update available.
So why NCOA? For several rasons. You'll clean your list before mailing rather than after. That means less wasted postage mailing to old addresses. You won't need to key data and re-mail the mailpiece like you would using other postal endorsements. And you'll save money by not having as many of those pieces returned to you.
In addition to change-of-address information, NCOA Link also utilizes Return Codes to provide an explanation of your matches. The Return Codes will tell you which people or businesses moved, and also which records are undeliverable. Return Codes will also provide you with the reason a match couldn't be made.
We understand you may have some questions about NCOA Link and urge you to call us at any time. We'll be happy to answer them!
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