Extra Services Refund Time Limit
| Published date | 24 February 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 11124 |
| Record Number | 2021-03406 |
| Section | Rules and Regulations |
| Court | Postal Service |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 35 (Wednesday, February 24, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 24, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11124-11125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03406]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Extra Services Refund Time Limit
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to revise the
time limit for extra service refunds.
DATES: Effective Date: April 5, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheila Marano at (202) 268-4257,
Adaisja Johnson at (202) 268-6724, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-
7281.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 14, 2020, the Postal Service
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (85 FR 28917-28918) to revise
the time limit for extra service refunds on all classes of mail except
Priority Mail Express[supreg]. The Postal Service elected to issue a
second revised proposed rule on January 7, 2021, (86 FR 1080-1081) that
included revising the timelines for Priority Mail Express with an extra
service. One formal response was received as follows:
Comment: The commenter requested the time limit for extra service
refunds be revised on all classes of mail except Priority Mail Express.
USPS Response: The Postal Services believes this revision to extend
the time limits for filing a refund for all classes of mail will
provide consistency within the refund policy.
Currently, DMM Exhibit 604.9.2.1, Postage and Fees Refunds,
provides that for Priority Mail Express with an extra service a
customer must apply for an extra service refund no sooner than 10 days,
or no later than 30 days, and for all other classes of mail with an
extra service a customer must apply for an extra service refund no
sooner than 10 days, or no later than 60 days, from the date the
service was purchased.
Certain extra services (e.g., Certified Mail[supreg]) have workflow
timelines that extend beyond the current 10-day limit to initially file
for a refund. As a result, to meet the required workflow timelines for
these extra services, and for consistency in application of the refund
processes, the Postal Service is extending the current Priority Mail
Express with an extra service timeline to no sooner than 30 days, or no
later than 60 days. For all other classes of mail with an extra
service, the 10-day time limit will be extended to a 30-day time limit
before a customer can file for a refund.
We believe this revision will provide customers with a more
efficient process and a more consistent customer experience.
The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.
See 39 CFR 111.1.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:
PART 111--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219,
3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.
0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
* * * * *
604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds
* * * * *
9.0 Exchanges and Refunds
* * * * *
9.2 Postage and Fee Refunds
* * * * *
9.2.1 General Standards
* * * * *
Exhibit 9.2.1 Postage and Fees Refunds
Customers must apply for a refund within the time limits in the
chart below.
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When to apply (from mailing date)
Mail type or service ---------------------------------------
No sooner than No later than
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* * * * * * *
[Revise the text of the
``Priority Mail Express with an
Extra Service'' line item to
read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express with an 30 days........... 60 days.
Extra Service(s) (9.2.4h).
* * * * * * *
[Revise the text of the ``Extra
Services'' line item to read as
follows:]
All other classes of mail with 30 days........... 60 days.
an Extra Service or Extra
Services (9.2.4h).
* * * * * * *
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[[Page 11125]]
9.2.4 Postage and Fee Refunds Not Available
Refunds are not made for the following:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item h to read as follows:]
h. Fees paid for extra services, as allowed under 9.2.3, when
refund request is made by the mailer less than 30 days, or more than 60
days, from the date the service was purchased, unless otherwise
authorized by the manager, Revenue and Field Accounting (see 608.8.0
for address).
* * * * *
9.5 Priority Mail Express Postage and Fees Refunds
* * * * *
9.5.4 Conditions for Refund
A postage refund request, as allowed under 9.0, must be made within
the timelines provided in Exhibit 9.2.1.
* * * * *
Joshua J. Hofer,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2021-03406 Filed 2-23-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
