Did you know that one in seven people in the United States change their address each year? Naturally, this creates a tremendous challenge for the Postal Service, which strives to maintain a high-quality repository of current addresses.
Change-of-address requests can be made in person at local Post Offices using a hardcopy form (PS 3575), or electronically using the Internet. They can even be made over the telephone. By far, the most popular way to change one’s official address is still using the hardcopy form, but those contemplating a move should consider their options carefully.
Loading ... Loading ...While the Postal Service’s change-of-address process generally works properly, our audit found that improvements are needed in the way hard copy requests are processed, authorized, and validated. Although Postal Service employees should reject and return orders with no signature, in some cases change-of-address orders without a proper signature slipped through. We also saw signature mismatches and occasions when Postal Service employees rather than customers signed or initialed the forms.
Is there a better way? We think there is. Our audit also examined the Internet and telephone change request systems. We found that these electronic alternatives are not only much more convenient for the customer, they are also far more effective in ensuring that only authorized and validated change-of-address requests are processed. Digital requests can be electronically matched against customers’ credentials quickly and efficiently. This results in a more secure environment, which is important because mail diverted to another location based upon unauthorized change-of-address orders is a major contributor to identity theft — America’s fastest growing crime.
There has to be a catch, you say. Well, there is. This service costs $1. We think it’s a bargain! To change your address online, go to moversguide.usps.com. To change your address by telephone, call 1-800-275-8777.
You should know the Postal Service does have systems in place to protect customers against unauthorized address changes. If a change of address has been submitted for you, the Postal Service will follow up with a Move Validation Letter. This letter is sent to your current address and notifies you that a request has been made to forward your mail to a new address. If you did not request to change your address, you should inform your local Post Office immediately as a potentially fraudulent situation may exist. In our audit, we found that the Postal Service generally sends these letters in a timely manner. Recently, the Postal Service has taken steps to further improve the timeliness of these letters, ensuring that they are processed within 3 to 10 days.
What do you think about the Postal Service’s change-of-address process? How can it be improved?
This topic is hosted by the OIG’s Information Technology audit directorate.
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What is the point of not making the Change Of Address form (PS 3575) available on the USPS website?! We want to print one out and give it to our father who’s moving to a nursing home. Your present system forces us to go to the post office to get the form, bring it back to our father’s house and fill it out, then go back to the post office with it. That’s CLUNKY! Please post a PDF on your website with all the other forms. Thank you!
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We live in Venice Florida for the winter as do hundreds/thousands of others. The Post Office here has run out of Forms PS3575 and there are none online. I tried to fill in the form online but we are Canadians and the online system will not let us enter a Canadian Province or Postal Code in order to get our mail forwarded until we rweturn in the late fall. This is not a very impressive system. The post office can’t give us a date as to when the new form will be in (they have been out for a week now). They are probably sending the forms by USPS so who knowswhen or if they will ever arrive. Can’t believe this system!!
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Seems like the $1 change is going to be an issue with many. But if they realize they are paying for convenience then maybe they’ll be more relaxed about it.
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The whole system has become a joke.They forward your mail to a proccessing center hundreds of miles away.Can’t change address on bank accounts until the USPeiceS of crap gets around to doing their job.
Tracking numbers don’t track anything,Talk to someone in person and they stare at you like your stupid.
I just want my mail delivered in a timley manner.
Instead i have to wait weeks because they aren’t even sure my address exists.
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I want to change my address.
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My son is a college student who doesn’t have a credit card, so your new validation system wouldn’t work for someone like him. He now has to find a way to get to the post office and hope they have a form there. Why can’t he just print a form and give it to his mail carrier? With gas at $4.25 per gallon no one wants to drive to the post office just to get a form.
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It really is ridiculous that you can’t print a COA form from the USPS website. My wife and I go to Canada in the summer and forward our mail there while we’re up there. You can’t find a PS form 3575 to download, and then fill it out and take it down to the Post Office as you are not allowed to forward mail internationally without going into the post office. Where’s the logic in that??? You should make the PS Form 3575 available to download for customers with similar situations. Or if you would put international options on the interactive way I’d be more than willing to pay $1.00…maybe even $2.00!
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Put the form back online. So I can print it out and hand write it. The system seems to be set up so you fill the info out on-line and then are forced into the advertising site.
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it should be that you can have the option of printing up a form and handing it to your mail carrier or filling out the form online and charging a buck. Even though I must tell you it took two bucks to have mine changed recentlty as the first change order worked for a week and then my mail was going to the old address again. lucky for me I was at the old address and caught it. I put a note inside the box to tell the postal worker delivering my mail to not leave mail in that box for me but to see forwarding orders and send there. It’s best to let all your credit card companies, DMW, and utility companies know of change of address right away. those type of things getting into the wrong hands are death to a persons credit report. I know! it happened three times to me. My mailbox was broken into in dec 03 and it took me until 2011 to correct evrything that happened as a result of bad people getting my mail.
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Still no 3575 form online. This is why the USPS is going bankrupt. Keep up the good work.
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Someone told me over 6 billion pieces of mail are sent out over the holidays… Hmmm each one paying 40 cents or more? You do the math… And they are complaining about bankruptcy? Are you kidding me? What they make during the holidays should be enough to keep them in the green for the entire year! And provide tip top service like they are famous for hahahaha ha lol
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