@Certified Mail™ & How it Works
Ever wonder why people use Certified Mail™? Or perhaps why Certified Mail™ even exists?
What is USPS Certified Mail™?
Certified Mail™ is not actually a mail class. Normally used with First-Class Mail, it is an “extra” domestic-only mail service that assigns a unique, USPS-assigned, color coded tracking number to each article mailed. These numbers are placed on the face of the designated mailpieces and are recorded and tracked within the postal system, providing the sender with legal proof of both mailing and delivery.
Why does Certified Mail™ Exist?
Certified Mail™ provides legal proof of mailing and eliminates uncertainty about receipt. According to a recent report from the Postal Service’s Risk Analysis Research Center postal customers use Certified Mail™ when experiencing critical life events such as divorce, insurance policy cancellation and mortgage issuance, with 65% of those surveyed selecting confirmation of delivery as the top reason for using Certified Mail™
The postal report notes: “It is important to remember that Certified Mail was not created specifically to meet a legal standard developed by government or the courts. Instead, it became the legal standard because the nature of the service met an important need.“
How does Certified Mail work?
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) regulations require that the signature of the addressee (or authorized agent) be obtained by the carrier before the addressee can receive and open the letter.
Click2Mail offers several options for sending Certified Mail™ with these different recipient signature requirements for each option.
- Certified Mail™. For an additional fee on top of the First-Class postage rate, the USPS provides a unique tracking number that you can check online to confirm that your mailpiece arrived at its destination. With this option, the letter carrier is allowed to deliver the mail to anyone who receives mail at the given address.
- Certified Mail™ with Return Receipt (the green card). For an additional fee, a self-addressed return receipt green card is attached to the mailpiece before mailing. This green card is then signed and dated by the recipient upon delivery and returned to you (the sender) by mail.
- Certified Mail™ with Electronic Return Receipt. For an additional fee, an electronic version of the green card is captured as a PDF document that includes an image of the recipient’s signature or an approved hand-stamp. The fee for Electronic Return Receipt Fee is less than the cost of the green card option.
- Certified Mail™ with Return Receipt and Restricted Delivery. For an additional fee, Restricted Delivery service requires delivery to the actual addressee or to an authorized agent.
How does delivery work, and why is there an extra fee?
Certified Mail™ is typically sent First-Class Mail, but it can sometimes take up to ten business days to be delivered. Since completing delivery requires that the recipient be present at the address and available to physically sign for the mailpiece, USPS cannot guarantee a delivery date and time for Certified Mail™.
Current delivery status of Certified Mail™ items can be obtained from USPS.com by entering the tracking number here.
First attempt — If you are mailing to a residential address and no one is home at the time of delivery, the letter carrier leaves a delivery reminder slip (PS Form 3849) in the mailbox. This reminder informs the recipient that a USPS Certified Mail™ letter is being held at the local Post Office for pick-up. They must either go to the Post Office to sign for the letter or schedule a redelivery.
The newest option allows USPS Informed Delivery customers to reschedule delivery online.
Delivery attempt unsuccessful — If the undelivered article is not called for
within 5 calendar days, USPS will issue a final notice on Form 3849. After the final notice reminder is left, the letter is held at the Post Office. If the article is not called for or redelivery of the article is not requested, after 15 calendar days it is marked “Return to Sender — Unclaimed” and returned to the sender.
Click here for additional information on Click2Mail Certified Mail™ products. If you have questions, contact our Customer Support at 866–665–2787 or support@click2mail.com. Live phone and online chat support is available Monday — Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.
