There seems to be a somewhat shady deal out there that nabbing some customers who are looking for a way to file their change of address orders online.
There are websites that mimic the USPS change-of-address process -- and charge fees as high as $30. They might look postal, but they aren't.
The Postal Service charges $1 for identity verification when customers change an address online using its Official Change of Address order or when they call the Postal Service at 800-ASK-USPS to request a change.
Or, customers can just get a change of address card from a retail lobby.
Why pay for something we do for free? Have you used one of these services? Any of your customers? Comment here.
9 comments:
These so-called "services" are scams, and -- to the extent that they attempt to confuse the public into thinking they are affiliated with USPS -- we should attempt to, legally, get them shut down.
I can't understand why we are charging a dollar for an internet COA. People do not like it - that's nearly a scam in itself.
The dollar is charged on usps.com to verify the identity of the person putting in the COA. The credit card has to match the name/address being changed. I know customers don't like it, but it is a security measure; if they want to use the internet, they must put up with some degree of this.
If they don't want to pay the $1, they can always do it for free through the mail!!
Just one more reason why the mail is better than the internet.......
We shouldn't be charging customers who use the internet to change their address. The dollar fee is just another agitation to our customers. It should be free and easy for our customers to change their address.
Actually, we do not attempt to match the name/address being changed with the credit card. However, the credit card charge creates a paper trail that can be followed if the COA was submitted in furtherance of an identity theft scheme.
Thanks, Grannybunny...I stand corrected! :)
I am a postal employee and try to promote using mail and change of address and here is my experience. I changed address through internet or phone and I was charged $1 and I found out that it was incorrectly redirected or change of address with spell mistake and I had to call again and pay again $1 to make change of address. i sent a first class mail stamped and it did not receive the recepient and when asked I was told first class mail is not reliable. You should have put confirmation or tracking receipt. The recepient has change of address. Now who should I trust? Are we just not trustworthy anymore as I get someone else mail delivered to my mail box. My mails do not reach destination and when complained I get this response.
I have been telling my customers who do use the ICOA that this pays for identity theft protection. That usually sells it okay.
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