USPS Office of Inspector General

Comments (51)

• 

  Mary Ferguson

  We are merging with another company. How do we close our business reply account and transfer the funds to the company that we are merger with?

  Feb 21, 2018

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  Denise P.

  My Company has moved to a new city. We have closed our PO Box as it gets delivered to new office building whereas we had to go old local PO to pick it up daily. I have renewed our BRM Acct but was wondering how to change the address on the BRM envelopes. I have thousands of pre-printed in on-hand inventory and would like to use these up if possible. I also am told that BRM mail can't be forwarded by our Change of Address on file. I still have to go to former city to pick it up. What's my best option?? Can I change address on BRM or do i have to close old one out and open a new brm in new city?

  Feb 12, 2018

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  Patty Tucker

  Cannot get mail delivered on a daily basis in a stand alone store.

  Jan 09, 2018

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  Stuart Rundlett

  I received a form from Social Security that needed to be filled out and returned. They provided a Business Reply envelope to use. I filled out the form and mailed it, then a few weeks later got a notice that no reply had been received. I re-mailed, this time as certified mail to make sure it got there. The clerk at the post office accepted it, took the $7.50 fee, applied tracking number, etc. Then a few days later it was returned to me with notice that certified mail can't be used with BRM! Tracking showed it went to the regional center, then to the destination, then was returned. I would have gladly put a stamp on it if I knew that was needed. The clerk apparently didn't know about the rule. Now I will need to drive an hour to the SSA office to deliver the form in person, and hope benefits haven't been cut off due to lack of a reply. It seems it would have been easier for them to just deliver it instead of going to all the trouble of returning it to me.

  Dec 06, 2017

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  Francesco

  I would like to use the BRM to allow my customers in USA to post the product registration form and send this post to Hong Kong where my company is located. How can I do that ? thx

  Oct 23, 2017

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  Anonymous

  BUSINESS REPLY MAIL IS SLOW AS CRAP. CONTINUALLY HAVE PEOPLE MAIL STUFF AND WONT GET IT FOR 20-25 DAYS. USPS GET YOUR CRAP TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  Sep 21, 2017

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  USPS Customer

  I was mailing a Business Reply Mail envelope at my local post office. I told the clerk I wanted to send it with Certificate of Mailing. She said ,' No additional services can be added to BRM.' I've been mailing my letter for years with that service. Was I given bad information?

  May 19, 2017

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  Dipesh Jung Karki

  I need to post a business reply mail. I am wondering if I can post it through my own mail box or do I have to go to the post office by myself and post it?

  Feb 25, 2017

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  KAREN PETERSON

  Right now we have two BRM envelopes from a client that were mailed 2 1/2 weeks ago that still have not been received. Today 1/31/17 is the deadline for the information that is not received yet.

  Jan 31, 2017

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  KAREN PETERSON

  We have a client located in Tustin with two businesses that she dropped in an outside US Mail box 2 1/2 weeks ago and we have still not received their BRM mail? We get BRM mail from this client every single month with no problem. We called BRM and talked to Keith and he did not have either of the two envelopes missing. But Keith did just receive today a third missing envelope from another client who also mailed BRM 2 1/2 weeks ago. There was either theft or the mail carrier is setting BRM mail to the side and forgetting or misplacing it for some reason. We often have to wait five days after BRM is mailed to us to get it. This is not efficeint.

  Jan 31, 2017

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  Sofia

  I'm returning a package. I was given a BRM card by company to attach to box. I wanted to track package, but I was told by window clerk that I couldn't add any services since I wasn't paying for postage. Is this true?

  Dec 23, 2016

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  Sheryl Williams

  We use BRM for our donors to return their gifts to our non-profit organization. Sometimes these are three or more weeks after they write their check to us and put it in the mail. This is people's money we are talking about; money they want to come to our organization and not to sit in the post office for weeks. For the post office to hold this mail until they get ready to process it, is inexcusable! Please consider changing the policy.

  Dec 07, 2016

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  Cristoff Shay

  We have had a BRM for many years and recently started using a new printer. We supplied them with our current BRM and now I am being asked for a "special zip code" not on the BRM, but I have no idea what they are asking for. Thank you.

  Oct 19, 2016

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  Buat Rumah

  I commented on another post about the fact that I work in a station without a supervisor on duty. I process the BRM mail every morning. If I am not there another person is trained to do the job. We work as a team and we try to cover the window so each of us has time to complete certain duties. Of course there are always days when not everything gets done, but our main focus is making sure the mail we get is all delivered, whether it is BRM, first class, whatever.

  Sep 16, 2016

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  Arti Mimpi

  I am confused about how the Postal Service collects postage due from businesses once BRM mail is returned. Do carriers collect money on the spot? it's not clear form your blog. Isn't that expensive? It seems inefficient and outdated? Doesn't make the BRM mail expensive for the Postal Service to handle (if they are handling the postage due manually). if so, why would the Postal Service want to increase this money losing mail stream? I am just confused. Perhaps I missed the point. please clarify

  Sep 02, 2016

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  JMR

  Like some of the other comments, our business relies on timely responses and deadlines. After experiencing our BRM arriving 28 days after their postmarks this week I started an inquiry and complaint. I was told by USPS Consumer Affairs that BRM / first class mail isn't late or lost until it's more than 30 days old. That wasn't really a helpful solution. It looks like we must insert wording in our mailings to the effect that if you want to submit a response to our company in a timely manner, please scan and email, fill in the data online at our website, etc. - please do not use US mail.

  Mar 25, 2016

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  MTB

  BRM is a business killer. We send out hundreds of pieces per month with BRM returns. It takes weeks to get it back, if ever. My local post office is s a model of inefficiency and dysfunction (there are some days when there is no p/u if the carrier thinks the bin "looks heavy". Seriously.) After reading the posts below, it seems obvious the BRM is simply cast aside until whenever.

  Feb 27, 2016

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  NANCY BROACH

  We are a CPA firm that uses the business reply service. Recently, we have not been getting the business reply mail timely. When it is not in the box, we ask at the counter for it and are told they aren't processing it that day or that we don't have any (then it appears in our box the next day). This mail is information from clients to be processed and is usually time sensitive. The current delay in this mail can cause government penalties and interest to us and our clients. Are there rules for the timely delivery of business reply mail? This was not a problem until the last six months. Thank you. ESTESS & CO CPAS P O BOX 1040 LULING LA 70070

  Jan 20, 2016

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  JZK

  As I sit here, we're probably waiting on 300 to 400 pieces of mail. We have not received a business reply envelope in over a week. This is the week leading to our highest volume. We will process over 500 transactions with check dates from late November when we finally get everything, that's an educated guess. This will put more pressure than necessary on our staffing. At year end, we receive more than 1000 brm responses over the course of three weeks. Instead of receiving parsed out, manageable deliverables, we will get this in lots that clog our processes. We are considering having folks put stamps on their own mail next year, but the Postal Service won't care because they're collecting first class postage either way. The PS receives the same amount of money whether a stamp or BRM , but the quality of service declines dramatically if we pay for it instead of our clients. On the bright side, since there aren't any deliverables to process, I have time to type this. Thanks for the window of opportunity. FWIW...the Burlingame, CA Post Office appears to be way more efficient than the E Palo Alto Post Office

  Dec 08, 2015

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  Russell McMillan

  Hello, If I am concerned with the speed of how quickly to receive mail, should one choose BRM Priority of First Class?

  Jul 02, 2015

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  Jeanne

  If the BRM is not completed someone is falsifying documents by performing the BRM reconciliation report checking that it is completed. When that was happening in our office I sent screen shots to OIG but I never heard back.

  Oct 10, 2013

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  Doug Duerr

  there are some things that just must be delivered as a document or form and BRM has a place in making that more likley to happen.

  Sep 18, 2011

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  MarketingMaven

  Well, personally I think that the BRM has had its heyday in the past. But these days, there are a lot of people if not most people rely on email for speed and efficiency. The BRM can still be effective these days if it would have to contain some sort of valuable material that cannot be sent through email. We have to stop and ponder on this a bet and do a little brainstorming. With the right people and minds at work, the solution to this problem should arise on its own.

  Dec 02, 2010

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  Recoveryfromastroke

  these are some of the greatest invention by the post office.

  Nov 16, 2010

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  Steven

  I used to use the service but cost and lack of roi put an end to that. Although, I've heard that this type of direct marketing in the offline world does actually work for some people. I'm guessing my offer wasn't good enough or I just plain wasn't doing it right.

  Nov 02, 2010

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  License Plate Search

  I used to use BRM in the past but, only for inbound orders. It's become cost prohibitive to use it for anything other than increased amount of leads that will yield a large return or for prepaid orders.. The advance of modern technology is weeding out the old ways of doing business..

  Oct 06, 2010

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  Nick

  I agree that it's a valuable service. As a consumer, I'd rather not spend the $0.44 to return a piece of mail to a company. For my small business, I am going to look into this service - it may increase my response rate from clients.

  Oct 06, 2010

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  sam

  I think this is a very valuable service for business. Lets face it as a customer it is always much easier to send a pre-paid envelope back. I tend to find it is more of an incentive. It also enables businesses to manage their postal costings more efficiently and within their specific budgets.

  Aug 17, 2010

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  work from home dad

  As a work from home businessman, I rely heavily on BRM with clients as well as vendors. It is an extremely valuable service that I hope will continue to be provided in the future. Strong 'yes' vote from me. Best, Scott

  Mar 24, 2010

• 

  alexa information

  We are considering just dropping BREs and asking customers to affix postage — and including a note explaining that because the USPS no longer can be counted on to deliver BREs reliably, we have had to discontinue the service — another black eye for the Post Office.

  Mar 22, 2010

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  Mailer

  I have had nothing but problems at the Rogers Park, Chicago Post Office. When we applied for our permit we asked if we need to monitor our renewal date and were told that the post office will notify us when permit will expire (we also confirmed this service in the domestic mail manual). W'ell you guessed it. Our permit lapsed because we never received a renewal notice. After several mailings we figured out our permit expired. So leeson 1, we learned is to track your renwal date yourself. Then we paid to renew our permit and it took WEEKS to get a straight answer from anyone. We called the local branch (Rogers Park) we called downtown on Harrison St. Each time we received different answers on how to renew our permit. Eventually we sent in our payment. Spoke to numerous people at Rogers Park and received nothing but a run around. Now we have a renewed permit and sent out seed names and tests and still have not received any back after 2 weeks! What other options do I have? Is there a different service I can use? We really need BRM. Please contact me to discuss this.

  Sep 04, 2009

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  Corey Rosen

  BRE is first class mail -- we pay for it that way, at least. But over the last two years, the Oakland post office has been delivering our BRE's once a week or less, instead of the daily deliveries we once had (and pay for). This causes customers to complain about orders not being filled promptly and administrative headaches from getting large batches of BRE's on one day. We have complained to the Post Office perhaps 20 times, including through the D.C. office and our Congressional office. We are always promised a call back within a day (this rarely happens, however). If we are given a cal back, we are usually told that someone is on vacation or the person is new (for two years?). I have no confidence whatsoever that this issue will ever be resolved. We are considering just dropping BREs and asking customers to affix postage -- and including a note explaining that because the USPS no longer can be counted on to deliver BREs reliably, we have had to discontinue the service -- another black eye for the Post Office. We are far from alone in this area with this problem. The delivery person says a lot of people complain. Before the Post Office decides how to charge differently for BREs, it needs to figure out if it can deliver the service people are buying. If we don't get the service FedEx promises (and we have switched all ground shipments to FedEx because they are much more reliable and can track delivery), we would a) be called back promptly on complaint (or have the issue resolved up front) and b) get a full refund of what we paid for shipment. This inattention to customer service, sadly, seems to create a downward spiral for the Post Office where it does not have the money to provide better service and people abandon it because it doesn't.

  Aug 21, 2009

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  w2112

  I commented on another post about the fact that I work in a station without a supervisor on duty. I process the BRM mail every morning. If I am not there another person is trained to do the job. We work as a team and we try to cover the window so each of us has time to complete certain duties. Of course there are always days when not everything gets done, but our main focus is making sure the mail we get is all delivered, whether it is BRM, first class, whatever. We time manage ourselves, rather than being micromanaged by management. Works well because we work well together.

  Jul 21, 2009

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  Field Financial...

  I agree that you have great cause for complaint. I have forwarded your concerns and comments (including the yelp link) to the appropriate officials. I do not wish to leave specific names and telephone numbers on this post. However, if you send me your email address, I will forward you the information regarding the name and number of the station manager. Thank you

  Jun 16, 2009

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  Field Financial...

  Thanks Randy for your comment. I agree that BRM customers should receive their return mail promptly. I would discuss your concerns with the postmaster.

  Jun 15, 2009

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  Randy S

  I had just recently started a business that is dependent upon timely BRM. I have been running it now for the past month and have been very disappointed with what has been going on at my post office. There seems to be one person trained for BRM. Often times it can take up to a WEEK AND A HALF between when BRM peices are postmarked and when it arrives. Sometimes BRM peices postmarked a week apart arrive together. I don't know if I should change post offices or what. My guess is that they are sitting on someones desk waiting to be processed and they take their time.

  Jun 15, 2009

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  Field Financial...

  Thanks for your comments Scottie.

  May 22, 2009

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  scottie

  I am a Business Reply clerk. When I got to work Monday,18 May 09, I found little had been done to work the BR Mail Saturday and I had two days work to do. I told my supervisor it would take me 10 and a half hours to finish the work. He told me the Postmaster said no overtime. I ask him what he wanted to do with the mail. He said he would try to find someone to finish it up. I came in Tuesday and nothing had been done. The mail was still seting there. Delayed for another day. When service comes up against Overtime, service loses. Untill Management is held accountable for BR Mail being delayed I would not recomend it to our customers.

  May 20, 2009

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  Field Financial...

  Thanks Mike. You point out some risks that may need to be addressed. However, what are your thoughts about changes to the product or pricing to recoup some of the volume and revenue.

  May 20, 2009

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  mike

  My husband is a Business Reply Clerk. He has worked at the PO for 32 years and watched it slowly go downhill. He is hoping that this job lasts seven more years until retirement. They do not train people for when he is gone. Mail is given out all of the time to the customers without collecting payment when he is gone. One of our largest accounts used to get twenty to thirty trays of BRM a day. Now they are lucky to get a half a tray. They are going down the tubes, so to speak. I had no idea as a window clerk, that carriers did not pull this mail out. Shouldn't the machines pull it out? As a clerk who spreads mail, I never see it in the mail that I have to case up. It would be interesting to ask the carriers in our office if they see any get through, but then, we are on the west coast and we get numerous letters everyday for England. So, someone is not minding the store. We send back two to three full tubs of mail that is missent to our office every day, including Priority and Express. I can totally see why we are a money losing company right now.

  May 20, 2009

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  Postage due Clerk

  Postal Management has informed us that BRM / Postage Due mail is not a priority. More concern is needed for the window. They eliminate postage due clerk positions and have nobody trained to process this mail which is time consuming. Last Presidential election trays and trays of voter registration cards did not get processed (BRM) as a result of not having the manpower to process this mail. Postal Management is trying and causing the Postal Service to fail in order to privatize. Whoever takes over the Postal Service would be crazy to hire any postal executive that would cause their company to fail because they may cause the new one fail as well.

  May 19, 2009

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  bill miller

  In my office clerks and carriers are told not to finger the mail. I have looked thru firm mailings that come in direct flat tubs and letter trays and have found BRM mail that has not been counted. I have counted 25 pieces or more in one hamper for a firm. Supervisors say do not go thru the mail you are wasting time, there is also certifieds that go thru every day, make sure you upsell at the window thou.

  May 18, 2009

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  Anonymous

  I am confused about how the Postal Service collects postage due from businesses once BRM mail is returned. Do carriers collect money on the spot? it's not clear form your blog. Isn't that expensive? It seems inefficient and outdated? Doesn't make the BRM mail expensive for the Postal Service to handle (if they are handling the postage due manually). if so, why would the Postal Service want to increase this money losing mail stream? I am just confused. Perhaps I missed the point. please clarify.

  May 18, 2009

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