CASS™ Processing

CASS™ Processing

CASS™ is a certification system from the United States Postal Service (USPS) for software that processes mailing lists. When mailers process their address lists using software that is CASS™ Certified, they are able to obtain bulk mail discounts from the USPS. CASS software will standardize your mailing list, update outdated addresses, and verify that addresses are valid and complete. It will also provide you with a form that you can submit with your mail to obtain a discount.

LiveAddress for Lists does the following:

• Address Standardization

  With LiveAddress for Lists, the addresses in your list are modified so that they meet the format the USPS expects. For example, 'Avenue' will be abbreviated to 'AVE' and '#' may be replaced by 'STE' or 'APT'.

• Address Correction

  If an address is misspelled or missing address information, it cannot be approved for a mailing discount. CASS-Certified software will attempt to correct misspellings in your address list and add required information, such as the ZIP Code, +4 code, carrier route, or delivery point, that may be missing.

• Address Updating

  Every now and then, an address will change. LiveAddress for Lists will compare the standardized addresses in your list with a list of addresses that have changed. For example, many rural route addresses have been updated to standard city-street style addresses. These addresses will be updated by CASS™ software using LACS^Link® (Locatable Address Conversion System).

• Address Verification

  After the addresses have been standardized, corrected, and updated, they are compared with a list of addresses that the USPS considers valid and complete. This verification ensures that your letter or parcel can be delivered with the information you've provided. Delivery Point Validation (DPV) will also indicate whether or not the address is missing secondary information such as apartment or suite number. CASS™ processing does not validate the person or business that is at the address, but it does validate whether mail can be delivered to an address.

• Postal Reports

  After you process a list with CASS-Certified™ software, you will receive PS Form 3553, also known as a CASS™ Summary Report. This form is given to the post office when you deliver your mail so they can verify that your list is qualified for a discount.

Conclusion

If you want a bulk mail discount, you are required to process your address list on CASS-Certified™ software, such as the software offered by SmartyStreets. Even if you don't need a discount, cleaning up your address list and including the delivery point barcode and a complete, standardized address on the mailpiece will speed up delivery of your mail.