Apparatus for intercepting and forwarding incorrectly addressed postal mail.

摘要

The present invention comprises apparatus for identifying, intercepting and forwarding incorrectly addressed mailpieces having either a machine readable or non-machine readable address. The apparatus reads (either mechanically or manually) the addressee name and the mailpiece destination marking address for processing in a database and comparison to a list of names and former addresses in the USPS National Change of Address database of persons who have requested mail forwarding service. If the read name and address match a name and former address in the database, then the mailpiece is identified as having an incorrect address and intercepted from the mail stream. The apparatus then searches the NCOA database for a forwarding address and delivery point ZIP code corresponding to the address. The forwarding address and delivery point ZIP marking number are printed on the mailpiece in place of the incorrect address and the mailpiece is returned to the mail stream for delivery to the addressee.