By now you may have heard about the new USPS Move Update requirements that went into effect on November 23, 2008. The Move Update standards have been expanded to include all First-Class™ and Standard Mail^® and are required for postal discount rates. Additionally, the minimum frequency of change-of-address processing will change to 95 days prior to the date of the mailing (from 185 days) to be eligible for automation and presort discount rates.

What does this mean for MDR customers?

The changes to the Move Update standards can have a significant affect if you mail via Standard Mail. You and your MDR Sales and Fulfillment Teams will need to coordinate when our files were last updated with your planned mail dates and be sure you select lists within an appropriate timeframe. You may need to pull your lists in tighter windows.

Your mail house may ask you to complete a USPS certification of compliance. You will need to respond to these requests from your mail house or the post office directly.

MDR has several ways to help your mailing lists stay in compliance to maximize your mail discount opportunities:

• Documentation that confirms MDR data is Move Update compliant is available in the Support section of our Web site on the List Documentation page.
• All MDR products are compliant with the USPS Move Update standards as of November 10, 2008.
  • This means the MDR school file will be NCOA updated every 30 days and the InfoBuyers and Educators at Home files will be updated on a quarterly basis. MDR's entire database will be refreshed within the 95-day window for eligibility.
  • When ordering lists, consult with your MDR Representative about the window of time in which you will be mailing. You may choose to pull your list closer to the time of drop to ensure you meet the discount eligibility.
• Data lease customers can request additional services from MDR for monthly or quarterly updates.
• You may want to update your house files to be compliant with the Move Update standards and take advantage of the postal discount rates. MDR's Database Marketing Solutions can help you maintain the most deliverable house file possible. Services include NCOA processing, Educator Scrub Merge/Purge, CASS certification, append services, and more to help you get the most ROI from your mailings.

If you have any questions on how these changes affect your mail plans, contact your MDR Representative today at 800-333-8802. We are always here to help!