The U.S. Postal Service has updated a customer support ruling regarding Pay to Order/Pay to Bearer checks.
The ruling clarified “hybrid checks,” which are checks to a retailer such as “Pay to the order of any retailer of Brand X.” While the item is a check to the retailer, it is a coupon to the addressee that anyone can submit to any retailer where Brand X may be purchased. Such mail pieces are eligible as Standard mail.
The ruling came about after the USPS last fall refunded more than $900,000 to a client of Harte-Hanks who used a hybrid check yet was told to pay First-Class rates.
