USPS NCOA Rules

The USPS attempts to keep track of address changes with the National Change of Address system.

According to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), “over 40 million Americans change their address annually, which creates formidable obstacles in maintaining a high-quality mailing list.” To deal with these obstacles, the National Change of Address (NCOA) system was established. This USPS-affiliated system provides access to the most current addresses of individuals and businesses, though disclosure of this information is subject to certain regulations.

NCOA Link

The NCOA Link is the newest change of address system, using software licensed by the USPS. Any company that has a license with NCOA Link receives access to USPS registered changes of address. This system is in place to reduce the number of undeliverable mailings, to prevent re-mailings to the same addresses, to reduce mailer and USPS costs, and to provide opportunities for faster and more effective marketing through the mail. NCOA accomplishes this “by providing mailers with current, standardized, delivery point coded addresses for individual, family, and business moves,” and also by correcting undeliverable addresses prior to mailing, both of which reduce errors and make the process of mail-marketing cheaper and more efficient.

Licenses

Many companies desire access to NCOA information, including private companies seeking to maintain current consumer mailing lists and companies looking to more easily provide NCOA information to third-party companies with newly interfaces and software programs. However, to have access to NCOA services, these companies must have been granted a license from the U.S. Postal Service. There are several specific licenses available regarding the NCOA, with a difference price for each. Without a license, USPS NCOA information may not legally be accessed.

Interface Developer

This NCOA license is provided to companies that wish to develop new interfaces and software programs using NCOA information, which they can then use internally or sell to private companies for a profit. A license to create a new NCOA program/interface costs $5,000 initially, with a $1,000 annual fee.

Interface Distributer

This license allows companies and developers to use the already-established NCOA Link interface, the easy-to-use program utilized by the USPS to monitor and track changes of address. The annual license for this license is $25,000.

End User Mailer (EUM)

Companies with this license may access NCOA information only for internal purposes. Third-party and related companies, including parent organizations, may not use NCOA access through these EUM licensed companies. The annual fee for this license is $7,500.

Full Service Provider (FSP)

This license allows companies to act as middle men, allow outside companies to access the NCOA system. For this license to be valid, at least 51 percent of a FSP’s processing of NCOA information must be from third parties. FSPs also receive some extended features, including 48 month change of address updates every week from the USPS. This license costs $125,000 annually.

Limited Service Provider (LSP)

This license is similar to the FSP license, but with fewer features. LSPs also receive weekly change of address updates, but only dating back for 18 months. Additionally, LSPs can use the NCOA system internally as well as for third-party companies. An LSP license costs $15,000 a year.

Privacy Concerns

Individuals or businesses who don't want to be on the NCOA registry can refuse to fill out a USPS change of address card.

When the NCOA system was first being developed, privacy concerns were raised by some individuals wishing to escape commercial mailing lists. However, those who do not wish to have addresses listed on via the USPS National Change of Address system can refuse to fill out a Change of Address card when moving. Additionally, these individuals can choose to have addresses removed from commercial mailing lists.

References

• U.S. Postal Service: NCOA Link Systems
• U.S. Postal Service: National Customer Support Center
• Privacy Rights Clearinghouse: Junk Mail