Frequently
Asked Questions
1. How may I contact Compact Information Systems? You may contact us anytime
using email, telephone or via fax. We will
respond to you as fast as possible during
the hours of operation shown. Our hours of
operation are 7am - 6pm Monday through Friday
at (425) 869-1379. 2. I am an existing client, can I contact my salesperson or Account Executive with additional instructions? You may contact anyone
at Compact Information Systems to revise
your order during business hours, as long
as it has not been processed. You will
need to have your order number when you call. 3. How can I check the status of my order? You may return to the site to check the status of your job. Once you have logged in you will see a section entitle, "Orders to Complete". Next to each of these order numbers will be the status of the job..
4. What should I do if I am receiving JavaScript error messages? You may be having trouble because your browser in not set to use JavaScript. JavaScript is used on our site to ensure that all information is submitted to us before processing begins. If you are using one of the browsers listed below, we have provided some instructions on how to confirm that your browser is set up to use JavaScript: * Microsoft Internet Explorer
v4.0x or later- Netscape Navigator v4.x or
later 5. What do I do if my browser freezes? We are working hard to
make our services accessible for all of our
clients. However, technology is not uniform
across all Web browsers. Please email us
at techsupport@cisdirect.com the complete
details of your technical problem. We will
research your problem and respond back to
you . 6. What should I do if I have a problem entering my credit card information on your site. Some browsers do not support
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology. This
software is what we use to ensure that your
personal information is secure during transmission
over the Internet. Please email us at techsupport@cisdirect.com,
an CIS representative will contact you.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may
have caused. In addition, do not press the
back button on your browser and try to resubmit
the job. This will result in your credit
card being charge again. 7. Is my personal information secure? Yes, your personal information
is secure. Your name, address and credit
card number is encrypted using secure socket
layer server software (SSL). This software
ensures that your information cannot be read
or accessed by anyone as it travels though
our ordering system. All such transactions
over the Internet are secure and private.
We do not maintain credit card information
on our servers for your protection. NCOALink™- 1. What benefits will I realize by processing my file through NCOALink™? 2. What are the return on investment (ROI) benefits of NCOALink™? 3. Why do I have to sign an NCOALink™ Processing Acknowledgement Form (PAF)? 4. How often should I NCOALink™ my Database? 5. I have a database with consumers and businesses - will NCOALink™ help me? 6. If a person moves several times, will I receive the current address? 7. What does address standardization do? 8. What's the difference between NCOALink™ and DSF2®? 9. What's the difference between NCOALink™ and LACSLink™? 10. How long does it take to run NCOALink™ on my file? 11. How often do I have to CASS® certify my database? 12. Is my file secure at CIS? 13. Will I still have undeliverable mail if I process NCOALink™ on my file? 14. Will NCOALink™ validate as well as provide new move information on all the records in my database? 15. Will NCOALink™ correct spelling errors in my names and addresses? 16. Will NCOA tell me if an address is deliverable? 17. I processed my file through NCOALink™ and have received returned mail pieces. Why didn't NCOALink™ catch these undeliverable addresses? 18. Is there a difference in the NCOALink™ process provided by each licensee?  1. What benefits will I realize by processing my file through NCOALink™? Mailers using NCOALink™ will save thousands of dollars that would have been spent on wasted materials and postage that result from undelivered as addressed mail. The NCOALink™ System makes available current change of address information that will reduce undeliverable mail. Addressing errors are identified and corrected before the mail enters the United States Postal Service. Mailers will also receive a quicker response to an offer since it will go directly to the new address in the case of a move. Cash flow will also improve as a direct result of reaching a customer who has moved. In addition valuable customer names that would have been lost will be updated so that communication can continue.
2. What is the return on investment (ROI) benefit of NCOALink™? Use of the United States Postal Service® NCOALink™ program reduces costs of labor, postage and materials. Unfortunately this is news to some companies and senior managers who have yet to realize the ROI benefits of this worthy program. Presented herein are two reference tools you can share with clients and prospects: a Return on Investment Guide and a Case History. ROI Guide The United States Postal Service® has stated that the average NCOALink™ match rate in recent years was approximately 4.1%. That translates to 41,000 move changes for a 1,000,000 record file. The match rate not only includes recognized address changes but also closed PO Boxes, foreign moves and moves with no forwarding address. When associated postage and material costs related to these factors are recognized as well as non ZIP + 4® coded addresses, one begins to conceptualize the value of this service. Rule
of Thumb
The next process applies dollar values to these change dynamics. Two points regarding the figures used below. First, a typical discount for first class and standard class A letters is about the same, $0.06, which is used in the example. (Reference Domestic Mail Manual R100 and R600.) Also, the $0.05 material amount may be conservative for both mail classes.
Cost Savings Benefit #1 - Standard Mail®
Cost Savings Benefit #2 - First-Class Mail® & Standard Mail®
Summary of Examples:
Cost Saving Benefits:
This study is presented as an example of the savings potential to small file owners that use standard class A letter mail, in this case an owner with 82,153 records.
4. Why do I have to sign an NCOALink™ Processing Acknowledgement Form (PAF)? The United States Postal Service® requires this acknowledgement form. The form states " the sole purpose of the NCOALink™ service is to provide a mailing list correction service for a list that will be used for the preparation of a mailing". If you do not have a PAF on file with CIS, please fax us a signed PAF at the time of placing your order. Per United States Postal Service regulations, a mailing list owner's PAF will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing. For each subsequent year a new form must be signed and returned to us as soon as possible. We suggest that you download
an NCOALink™
Processing Acknowledgement Form,
print, sign and mail/fax it to us at Compact
Information Systems, 7120 185th Ave NE, Redmond,
WA 98052. or fax it to us at 425-885-4617
There is no obligation for you to place an
order with us. However, we will have the
form on file in case you decide to place
an order and send us your file for processing. 5. How often should I NCOALink™ my Database? To qualify for postage
discounts of up to six cents for First-Class
Mailing®, you are required to update your
files every six months. In addition, you
also benefit from the improved deliverability
that results from NCOALink™. While it is generally
recommended that you perform NCOA processing
prior to each mailing, many companies update
their database or mail file every 3 to 6
months. You should calculate the savings
gained each time you mail to your list. This
is done by multiplying the number of addresses
that the NCOALink™ process corrects by the cost
of your mailing piece. Since the cost to
NCOALink™ your file is almost always less than
the cost incurred from having undeliverable
pieces (and subsequently not reaching your
clients or prospects), it often makes economic
sense to NCOALink™ your list prior to each mailing. 6. I have a database with consumers and businesses - will NCOALink™ help me? Yes, the NCOALink™ file is comprised
of approximately 47% family moves, 47% individual
moves and 6% business moves. It almost always
makes sense to NCOALink™ your file whether it
is comprised of all consumer, all business,
or both types of addresses. In the case of
business moves, the whole company must move,
not just an individual. 7. If a person moves several times, will I receive the current address? When possible, postal customers
who move multiple times within the life of
a COA in NCOALink™ and have notified the United
States Postal Service® are linked to ensure
the latest address is furnished when a NCOALink™
match is attained. 8. What does address standardization do?
9. What's the difference between NCOALink™ and DSF2™? NCOALink™ is a process that
matches a file of names and addresses to
the United States Postal Service® licensed
NCOALink™ database comprised of 110+ million records
of individual, family and business moves.
DSF2® is a United States Postal
Service® licensed database that improves delivery
of your mailing by examining address data
and comparing it to the DSF2® database
that contains each of the 145+ million delivery
points. DSF2® confirms the existence
of the address, provides delivery type, business
versus residential, and provides a Pseudo
Sequence Number to qualify for walk sequence
postal presort discounts. DSF2® detects
potentially undeliverable addresses for reasons
other than Change of Address. 10. What's the difference between NCOALink™ and LACSLink™? NCOALink™ is a process that
matches a file of names and addresses to
the United States Postal Service® licensed
NCOALink™ database comprised of 110+ million records
of individual, family and business moves.
LACSLink™ is a United States Postal Service® licensed
database. As of December 12, 2002 the LACSLink™
database contains approximately 5 million
records that enables you to update your mailing
lists when addresses have been converted
by local authorities, i.e. renumbering of
houses or addresses converted from rural
style to city style addresses, usually as
a result of a 911 conversion. 11. How long does it take to run NCOALink™ on my file? Your order should be
completed within 24-48 hours of your submission
date. The United States Postal Service® requires
that processing be completed within 7 days
of receipt of your files for processing. Unless you have given us
written authorization to take a longer time. 12. How often do I have to CASS™ certify my database? If you are barcoding your
mail, the requirement is every 3 months,
all input addresses are standardized and
CASS™ Certified and ZIP + 4®/DPC processed. Yes, CIS has taken every precaution to make sure your file is secure throughout the NCOALink™ process. Before upload, your file is encrypted using secure socket layer server software (SSL). Your file is then processed in our United States Postal Service approved secure facility. Last, before your file is sent back to you, it is again encrypted using SSL software. CIS respects
your right to privacy and follows the guidelines
set forth by the Direct Marketing Association.
CIS will not sell, rent, exchange
or release any of the information you submit
on this web site, without your permission. 14. Will I still have undeliverable mail if I process NCOALink™ on my file? It is estimated that only 66.9% of mail is deliverable as addressed. The remaining percentage has some form of addressing deficiency which could affect deliverability. Endorsed mail and First-Class Mail® can be forwarded or returned to the mailer, Standard Mail® is normally discarded. NCOALink™ will reduce the amount of undeliverable mail by Address Standardization and ZIP® Correction as well as Move Update, but will not completely eliminate undeliverable mail. Some examples of returned mail NCOALink™ will not correct are:
15. Will NCOALink™ validate as well as provide new move information on all the records in my database? No, NCOALink™ processing does not validate name and address information on your database. The NCOALink™ database contains Change of Address information only. If a person or company files a change of address with the United States Postal Service® the information is maintained on the NCOALink™ database for 3+ years. If a person or company does not file a change of address and the carrier does not file a "Moved No Forward" it does not appear on the NCOALink™ database. Additional reasons a person/company would not be maintained on the NCOALink™ database are:
16. Will NCOALink™ correct Spelling Errors in my names and addresses? NCOALink™ will not correct spelling
errors in your names or addresses. Address
Standardization will standardize your addresses
to postal regulations and may also correct
some street name misspellings. DSF2® also
has the ability to correct misspelled street
names. 17. Will NCOALink™ tell me if an address is deliverable? NCOALink™ will give you move
update information and usually provides a
ZIP + 4®. DSF2® determines the deliverability
of address records. ZIP + 4® validates addresses
based on valid house number ranges but not
the actual number. DSF2® validates
based on exact house number and apartment
number. 18. I processed my file through NCOALink™ and have received returned mail pieces. Why didn't NCOALink™ catch these undeliverable addresses? It is estimated that only
66.9% of mail is deliverable as addressed.
The remaining percentage has some form of
addressing deficiency which could affect
deliverability. Endorsed mail and First-Class
Mail® can be forwarded or returned to the
mailer. Standard Mail® is
discarded. NCOALink™ will reduce the amount of
undeliverable mail through Address Standardization
and ZIP® Correction as well as through running
Move Update, but will not eliminate it. Some
examples of returned mail NCOALink™ will not correct
are: Forwarding Order Expired, No Such Number,
Address Unknown, Moved-No Forward. See DSF2® for
additional information on undeliverable mail. 19. Is there a difference in the NCOALink™ process provided by each licensee? Each licensee is tested
and audited and their processing approved
by the United States Postal Service®, However,
licensees use their own NCOALink™ matching logic & CASS™
certified address matching software in the
process. LACSLink™ 1. What
is LACSLink™ and what does it do? 1. What is LACSLink™ and what does it do? LACSLink™ provides mailers an automated
method of obtaining new address when a 911
emergency system has been implemented. 911
address conversion normally involves changing
rural-style addresses to city-style addresses,
but in some instances conversions may result
in the renaming or renumbering of existing
city style addresses. United States Postal
Service Address Management offices across
the country collect and transfer information
for this database to the United States Postal
Service® National Customer Support Center
in Memphis, TN. The LACSLink™ service is only
available through non-exclusive licensees
of the United States Postal Service®.Compact
Information Systems offers LACSLink™ as a stand
alone process or as a back-end process with
NCOALink™ service to ensure a highly deliverable
mailing list. As of December 12, 2002 the
LACSLink™ database contains approximately 5 million
records. Addresses are first standardized
to conform to United States Postal Service®
CASS™ requirements and ZIP + 4® appended. The
address is then matched against the addresses
in the LACSLink™ file. The LACSLink™ matching rules
are set by the United States Postal Service®
and are very strict. Unlike NCOALink™, most records
are matched based upon address only. If an
exact match is made, CIS is permitted
to provide the LACSLink™ conversion address
to the mailer. 3. What are some of the benefits associated with LACSLink™? Key benefits include:
4. What is returned after I process LACSLink™ on my file? United States Postal Service regulations require the LACSLink™ processing return:
5. What is appended to my record? The following is appended to your records:
6. How long does it take to process a file through LACSLink™? Your files should be done
within 24-48 hours after your submission
date. 7. What is the difference between NCOALink™ & LACSLink™? NCOALink™ is a United States
Postal Service® licensed database that matches
name and address of a record for move update
purposes. LACSLink™ is a United States Postal Service®
licensed database that enables you to update
your mailing lists when addressees have been
converted by local authorities. i.e. Renumbering
of houses or address converted from rural
style to city style addresses, usually as
a result of a 911-conversion effort. Maximum
list hygiene benefits are realized when LACSLink™
processing is done in conjunction with NCOALink™
including DSF2®. 1.
What benefits will I receive by processing
my file through DSF2®? 1. What benefits will I receive by processing my file through DSF2®? Mailers using DSF2® could save thousands of dollars that would have been spent on wasted materials and postage that result from undelivered as addressed mail because DSF2® standardizes and verifies addresses at the house number level before the mail enters the USPS®. Mailers will receive a better ROI on their mailings due to the elimination of bad addresses. In addition mailers can save money through additional postal discounts for walk sequence sortation. Some key benefits include: 2. I have a database with consumers and businesses- does DSF2® help me? Yes. The DSF2® file
allows validation of all 145 million plus
addresses to which the USPS® delivers mail.
It almost always makes sense to DSF2® your
file whether it is comprised of all consumer,
all business, or both types of addresses. 3. What data is returned after I process DSF2®? Each record contains ZIP + 4®,
Carrier Route, Delivery Sequence and Delivery
Type information. Address Standardization,
identification of business versus residential
delivery points and Pseudo Delivery Sequence
Numbers for walk sequence postal discounts
are appended. CIS provides a Deliverability
Index to help you decide whether to mail
to a specific address. These corrections
and reports enable you to not only increase
the efficiency of your mailings, but also
make educated marketing decisions. 4. How much will I save
with DSF2®? 1.
How often must I perform change-of-address processing on
my file to receive postage discounts? 1. How often must I perform change-of-address processing on my file to receive postage discounts? The United States Postal
Service® requires that First-Class Mail® entered
as of July 1997 be processed through move update change-of-address
processing within
180 days of being delivered to the Post Office™. Mailers
will need to perfom change-of-address processing on addresses
once every six months using one of a variety of address
quality improvement software tools in order
to qualify for automation rate discounts. 2. Does a list or name have to be updated every 180 days? No, an address can be updated
anytime but to meet the "Move Update" requirement
it must be updated within 180 days or six
months before it is actually mailed at discounted
postal rates. 3. Must I process my complete list through every time? The requirement applies
to individual addresses so you only have
to update those addresses that will be mailed
at discounted rates to meet the standard.
The remainder of your file or those addresses
that will mail at other rates do not have
to meet the standard. You do, however, have
to provide the processing and provide certification
as is appropriate for those other rates. 4. Do I have to perform change-of-address processing when mailing to an address that is new to my list? The new customer address
can be included with the move qualified list
until the next cycle for update. This is
only allowable when the person for whom the
mail piece is prepared has asked to be added
to the list through some transaction such
as buying something or requesting services,
literature etc. These should not exceed 1%
of the list total. New records from other
sources have to be mailed at single piece
postal rates until they are change-of-address processed. When a rented list is mailed
at discounted postal rates and includes a
mix of records that have been move update change-of-address processed
as well as new names, list owners must furnish
proof that the move update process was performed
and must include the number of new names
acquired directly from the customer since
the time of the last change-of-address processing.
This must be done for each list rental. CIS
Change of Address Index (ACAI) CIS Change of Address Index (ACAI) The CIS Change of Address
Index helps you easily identify whether NCOALink™
successfully matched the name and address
to a move and whether a new address was provided.
The CCAI provides a logical interpretation
of the NCOALink™ Action code and other match criteria
and makes it easier for you to decide wether
or not to mail an individual record. It is
assigned to each record during NCOALink™ processing. CASS™ is a United States
Postal Service® administered methodology to
certify the accuracy of Postal Processing
software and systems. CASS™ certified products
meet the United States Postal Service® requirements
for accuracy in Standardization Addresses. A location where the mail
carrier delivers the mail to the recipient.
A Delivery Point can be a PO Box, individual
home address, cluster Box or Company mail
room. DSF2® is
a service that is used to standardize and
confirm addresses, which can be provided
by a non-exclusive licensee of the United
States Postal Service®. DSF2® is
a computerized file that contains all of
the 145 million plus delivery points to which
the USPS® delivers mail. DSF2® uses
this data to prepare your mail for delivery
sequence sortation. Each record contains
ZIP + 4®, Carrier Route, Delivery Sequence and
Delivery Type. Address Standardization, identification
of business versus residential delivery points
and Pseudo Delivery Sequence Numbers for
walk sequence postal discounts are appended.
CIS provides a Deliverability Index to help
you decide whether to mail to a specific
address. Maximum address hygiene benefits
are realized when DSF2® processing
is done in conjunction with NCOALink™ and LACSLink™. A United States Postal
Service database that provides the conversion
of Rural Route, PO Box and General Delivery
Addresses to Street Address, as well as renaming
of streets. This service is named LACSLink™. LACSLink™ processing
has resulted in savings of 1% to 3% for many
direct marketers, in addition to the cost
saving benefits of NCOALink™ and
DSF2® processing. National Deliverability Index (NDI) The NDI provides a measure
of the deliverability of Addresses on you
file. It is output as part of NCOA processing.
The higher the percentages, the more deliverable
the file. It is based on United States Postal
Service® matching criteria. NCOALink™ action codes define the type of NCOALink™ match. It is appended to the input record.
NCOALink™ Forms
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