[0]Certificate of Bulk Mailing
Prove you mailed it with a Certificate of Bulk Mailing.
When you need proof from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that you mailed a batch of letters, you can get the extra confirmation that you might need with a Certificate of Bulk Mailing. Careful, sometimes this is confused with a Certificate of Mail and sometimes even confused with Certified Mail. While these products sounds similar in name, they each have their own unique purposes.
What is a Certificate of Bulk Mail?
As defined by the USPS; "A Certificate of Bulk Mailing - Domestic service is available only at the time of mailing and is used to specify only the number of identical-weight pieces mailed; it does not provide evidence that a piece was mailed to a particular address."
The Certificate is more technically known as the PF Form 3606-D. The letter D stands for Domestic, or mail going to addresses in the United States. These forms can be found on the USPS website here and for international mail here.
When would I need a Certificate of Bulk Mailing?
Most mailings don't require this type of Certificate. In fact, most Certificates of Bulk Mailing are requested by Attorneys and Law firms so they can retain a legal record of the mailing. While there may be other uses, we often see this in conjunction with a court-mandated mailing or a large quantity class action lawsuit mailing. If you are legally obligated to provide proof of your mailing, a Certificate of Bulk Mailing may accommodate your needs. But double check with your legal counsel just to make sure. Keep in mind, this type of mailing does not specify exactly who your documents were mailed to, instead it only says that a certain number of letters were put in the mail. Sometimes this service is requested from LetterStream in conjunction with an Affidavit of Mail, which we can provide as well. If you are mailing just a single piece and need proof of the mailing, Certified Mail may be a simpler and less costly method.
How does it work?
I think we've covered most of the unique attributes of the Certificate of Bulk Mailing, so the next step is simply contacting us and requesting that your First-Class Mailing also have the certificate. We will process mailing, fill out a PS 3606D (or PS 3606) and deliver both to the USPS representative for review. The postal employee will apply an acceptance signature and date stamp and return the form to us. We will post the completed certificate online connected with your job for immediate access whenever you might need it. If you need the original, at your request we can mail it to you. LetterStream's pricing is subject to change based on number of pieces and type of mail, but for most mailings the additional fee for this service is $59.00.
