Postage Meter Machine Date Rules

Metered mail users must mail items on the same date printed on the postage label s postmark.

Postage meter machine date rules.

No non digital postage meter may be rented and as a result of this update many machines have been discontinued. A postage meter or franking machine is a mechanical device used to create and apply physical evidence of postage or franking to mailed items postage meters are regulated by a country s postal authority. If the postage bears a previous or future date the meter stamp is considered stale the meter date must be updated daily. Postage can be used which was date stamped on the day the item was deposited in the mailbox or the date of when the next scheduled collection will be.

Mail deposited after the day s last scheduled collection may bear the actual date of deposit or the date of the next scheduled collection. The meter stamp serves as proof of payment and eliminates the. A meter stamp must bear the current date. Regulations set by the usps since 1st january 2009 it is only permitted to lease digital postage meters.

Postage meters and pc postage systems. Rules for use of a postage meter. The date format used in the indicia is subject to the following conditions. Print a new label with the correct date.

Mail must be metered with the actual date of mailing. The five current approved providers are listed below. Users can print a corrected label if they miss the original mailing date. The machines cannot be sold resold or purchased.

Updated september 26 2017. Postal service rents or leases postage meters to businesses. That can be a problem since the post office might only be open until three or four in the afternoon and pickups at local boxes typically aren t any later than five or six o clock. If the postage bears a previous or future date the meter stamp is considered stale the meter date must be updated daily.

The first corrected label is free but additional corrections incur a fee. The customer accepts responsibility for control and use of the system and agrees to abide by all rules and regulations governing its use.