The United States Postal Service® allows mailers who purchase Signature Confirmation™ service or Express Mail® service to request individual proof of delivery records in letter format by e-mail, fax, or mail. Customers can make these requests through the Track & Confirm site on usps.com or by calling 800-222-1811. Additionally, customers who purchase other extra services (previously called “special services”), such as Certified Mail™ service, can obtain individual proof of delivery records with recipient signatures by purchasing return receipt service. Return receipt service is available for purchase either at the time of mailing or after mailing, although the electronic return receipt service is available only at the time of mailing.
To better serve customers who send many items through the mail and want proof of delivery for all (or most) of those items, the Postal Service™ offers a bulk proof of delivery service. Bulk proof of delivery service meets three key customer needs:
- It frees the customer from having to request individual proof of delivery records or from placing PS Form 3811, Domestic Return Receipt, on each mailpiece.
- It allows mailers to retain signature records for longer than the Postal Service’s retention period.
- It provides mailers with a more efficient way to handle signature records.
Bulk proof of delivery service is available to mailers who participate with the following programs:
- Express Mail Manifesting (EMM).
- Signature Confirmation electronic option.
- Signature Confirmation retail option (when the customer prints its own labels).
- Certified Mail service, Registered Mail™ service, insured mail (more than $200), and collect on delivery (COD) mail (when the customer prints its own labels and purchases return receipt service at the time of mailing).
Certified Mail service, Registered Mail service, insured mail (more than $200), and COD mail customers requesting participation in the bulk proof of delivery program meet the “at the time of mailing” criteria because they agree to pay for all records. Mailers can make payment at the time of mailing (with the payment included in the postage affixed to the mailing) or with a credit card at the time the Postal Service compiles and provides the records. These customers can find additional information on the bulk proof of delivery program in Publication 109, Extra Services Technical Guide.
At this time, records are available for items delivered only in the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
Participants in the bulk proof of delivery program must have a Postal Service–issued Mailer ID number.
Note: A participant who was in the program before August 2007 may continue to use the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS®) number as the customer’s Mailer ID number. (A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit number assigned by Dun & Bradstreet to identify a business.) Throughout this publication, the term “DUNS number” refers to the customer’s unique nine-digit number, whether it is actually a DUNS number or a Mailer ID number. See 2-2 for more information.
A mailer may choose to have a third-party designee (consolidator, software vendor, etc.) receive its records. See 2-6 for more information.
