[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 39, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 39CFR501.16]

[Page 170-171]
 
                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
 
                 CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
 
PART 501_AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE
 
Sec.  501.16  PC Postage payment methodology.

    (a) The PC Postage customer is permitted to make payments for 
postage in one of two ways: automated clearinghouse (ACH) transfer or 
credit card.
    (b) The provider must make payments on behalf of the customer to the 
Postal Service in accordance with contractual and/or regulatory 
responsibilities.
    (c) The Postal Service requires that the provider publicize to all 
PC Postage customers the following payment options (listed in order of 
preference):
    (1) Automated clearinghouse (ACH) debits/credits.
    (2) Credit cards.
    (d) Returned ACH debits and credit card returns are the 
responsibility of the Postal Service. The RC must lock the customer 
account immediately so that the customer is unable to reset the account 
until the Postal Service receives payment in full.
    (e) Refunds. The provider issues a refund to a customer for any 
unused postage in a Postage Evidencing System. After verification by the 
Postal Service, the provider will be reimbursed by the Postal Service 
for the individual refunds provided to customers by the provider, as 
long as the individual customer requests meet the Postal Service 
approved minimum and time frame.
    (f) Security and revenue protection. To receive Postal Service 
approval to continue to operate PC Postage systems, the provider must 
submit to a periodic audit of its system, to be conducted by an 
independent systems auditor, the frequency and scope of which shall be 
determined by the Postal Service. The provider will be responsible for 
all reasonable costs to conduct these audits.
    (g) Inspection of records and facilities. The provider must make its 
facilities, which handle the operation of the PC Postage system and all 
records about the operation of the system, available for inspection by 
representatives of the Postal Service at all reasonable times. At its 
discretion, the Postal Service may continue to fund inspections as it 
has in the past, provided the costs are not associated with a particular 
security issue related to the provider's CMRS or supporting 
infrastructure.
    (h) To the extent that the customer maintains funds on deposit for 
the payment of postage, the provider is required to incorporate the 
following language into its agreements with PC Postage customers:

            Acknowledgment of Deposit Requirement--PC Postage

    By signing this agreement with the provider, you represent that you 
have read the Acknowledgment of Deposit Requirement--PC Postage and are 
familiar with its terms. You agree that, upon execution of this 
agreement with the provider, you will also be bound by all terms and 
conditions of the Acknowledgment of Deposit Requirement--PC Postage, as 
it may be amended from time to time.

    Effective Date Note: At 72 FR 33163, June 15, 2007, Sec.  501.16 was 
revised, effective July 16, 2007. For the convenience of the user, the 
revised text is set forth as follows:

Sec.  501.16  PC postage payment methodology.

    (a) The PC Postage customer is permitted to make payments for 
postage in one of two ways: Automated clearinghouse (ACH) transfer or 
credit card.
    (b) The provider must make payments on behalf of the customer to the 
Postal Service in accordance with contractual and/or regulatory 
responsibilities.
    (c) The Postal Service requires that the provider publicize to all 
PC Postage customers the following payment options (listed in order of 
preference):
    (1) Automated clearinghouse (ACH) debits/credits.
    (2) Credit cards.
    (d) Returned ACH debits are the responsibility of the Postal 
Service. The RC must lock the customer account immediately so that the 
customer is unable to reset the account until the Postal Service 
receives payment in full.
    (e) Refunds. The provider issues a refund to a customer for any 
unused postage in a Postage Evidencing System. After verification by the 
Postal Service, the provider will be reimbursed by the Postal Service 
for the individual refunds provided to customers by the provider.
    (f) Security and revenue protection. To receive Postal Service 
approval to continue to operate PC Postage systems, the provider must 
submit to a periodic audit of its system, to be conducted by an 
independent systems auditor, the frequency and scope of which shall be 
determined by PTM. All such audits will be an expense of the provider.

[[Page 171]]

    (g) Inspection of records and facilities. The provider must make its 
facilities, which handle the operation of the PC Postage system and all 
records about the operation of the system, available for inspection by 
representatives of the Postal Service at all reasonable times.
    (h) To the extent that the customer maintains funds on deposit for 
the payment of postage, the provider is required to incorporate the 
following language into its agreements with PC Postage customers:

            Acknowledgment of Deposit Requirement--PC Postage

    By signing this agreement with the provider, you represent that you 
have read the Acknowledgment of Deposit Requirement--PC Postage and are 
familiar with its terms. You agree that, upon execution of this 
agreement with the provider, you will also be bound by all terms and 
conditions of the Acknowledgment of Deposit Requirement--PC Postage, as 
it may be amended from time to time.