[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 35289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15826]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Unused Label Refunds

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service will implement two new options for mailers 
to submit refund requests for unused labels using an automated online 
process. A hyperlink will be located on the Electronic Verification 
System (eVS[reg]) Monthly Account and Sampling Summary page where users 
can access a portal to submit unused label refunds.

DATES: These options shall be implemented August 1, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions to Jimmy A. Palma by 
email at [email protected] or by phone at (202) 268-8798.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Currently the Postal Service allows eVS mailers to submit a refund 
request for unused labels using a Type ``4'' Corrections Shipping 
Services File. Additionally, eVS mailers can submit refund requests for 
unused labels through the Dispute Queue accessible from the Business 
Customer Gateway. In this Notice, the Postal Service is announcing its 
plan to replace these methods with two new options for eVS mailers to 
submit refund requests for unused labels, using an automated online 
process. A hyperlink titled ``Submit Refund Request for Unused Labels'' 
will be added to the eVS Monthly Account and Sampling Summary page. 
This hyperlink provides access to the portal to use the two new 
options. The two options are as follows:

Option 1--PIC/EFN Submission (Text File Option)

    A mailer can upload a text (.txt) file with multiple Package 
Identification Codes/Electronic File Numbers (PIC/EFNs). There is no 
limit to the number of PIC/EFNs submitted if using the text (.txt) 
upload option. Refer to appendix N in Postal Service Publication 205, 
Electronic Verification System (eVS[supreg]) Business and Technical 
Guide (https://postalpro.usps.com/node/3724) for guidance on using the 
online interface for uploading text files or using the entry box when 
requesting refunds for unused labels. All refund requests made through 
the online interface must be submitted within 60 days of the date of 
mailing. The system will validate if PIC/EFNs are formatted 
appropriately, and will create a dispute queue case number accessible 
through both the eVS landing page and the dispute queue. If PIC/EFNs 
fail format validation, an error message will be displayed for any of 
the following reasons: Invalid PIC length, duplicate EFN, commas in 
EFN, invalid EFN prefix, EFN submitted as a PIC, and/or invalid EFN 
length. If PIC/EFNs pass format validation, the system will reconcile 
the uploaded file to manifest data to verify payment activity, physical 
scan activity, timely submission, and uniqueness. As a result of the 
system evaluation, PIC/EFNs are approved or denied. Mailers can view 
the status and the results by accessing the Unused Label Refund Report 
in the Dispute Queue in PostalOne! [reg]. A refund will be issued 
within 20 days to the shipper's CAPS account for the approved PIC/EFNs. 
As is the current practice, the refund will be 90 percent of the 
labels' postage value unless a different percentage is authorized.

Option 2--PIC/EFN Submission (Entry Option)

    A mailer can enter up to 200 PIC/EFNs in the online entry form in 
PostalOne!. Refer to appendix N in Postal Service Publication 205 
(https://postalpro.usps.com/node/3724) for guidance on using the online 
interface for uploading text files or using the entry box when 
requesting refunds for unused labels. All refund requests made through 
the online interface must be submitted within 60 days of the date of 
mailing. The system will validate if PIC/EFNs are formatted 
appropriately, and will create a dispute queue case number, accessible 
through both the eVS landing page and the dispute queue. If PIC/EFNs 
fail format validation, an error message will be displayed for any of 
the following reasons: invalid PIC length, duplicate EFN, commas in 
EFN, invalid EFN prefix, EFN submitted as a PIC, and/or invalid EFN 
length. If PIC/EFNs pass format validation, the system will reconcile 
uploaded file to manifest data to verify payment activity, physical 
scan activity, timely submission, and uniqueness. As a result of the 
system evaluation, PIC/EFNs are approved or denied. Mailers can view 
the status and the results by accessing the Unused Label Refund Report 
in the Dispute Queue in PostalOne!. A refund will be issued within 20 
days to the shipper's CAPS account for the approved PIC/EFNs. As is the 
current practice, the refund will be 90 percent of the labels' postage 
value unless a different percentage is authorized.
    The addition of the above two automated options will provide a 
benefit to mailers by reducing the processing time of refund requests 
for unused labels while providing mailers better visibility into the 
status of refund cases. Once deployed, the two automated options will 
be the only method to submit unused label refund requests.

Maria W. Votsch,
Attorney, Corporate and Postal Business Law.
[FR Doc. 2018-15826 Filed 7-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-12-P