(c) Where to mail. Patrons may mail certified mail at the post office, branch, or station or give it to a rural carrier. It may also be deposited in mail drops in post offices, street letterboxes, nonpersonnel rural stations and branches or any other receptacles for first-class mail, provided the specific directions in paragraph (d) of this section are followed.

(d) How to mail. Obtain blank certified mail coupons (no charge) at the post office or from rural mail carriers. Also obtain blank return receipt forms if needed. Following is the procedure:

(1) Enter on the receipt portion of the certified mail coupon the name and complete address of the person or firm to whom the mail is addressed.

(2) If return receipt is wanted check block on the mailing receipt to show the

fee and endorse the article on the address side near the certified mail endorsement "Return Receipt Requested" or "Return Receipt Requested Showing Address Where Delivered." See § 58.3. The mailer must enter the certified mail number on the return receipt card, address it to himself, and attach it to the back of small envelopes and on front of packages and large envelopes if it will not cover the address. If the mailer desires that the return receipt show the address where the article was delivered, there is a block at the top of the form which must be checked by him.

(3) Attach to the envelope sufficient postage stamps to pay for the certified mail fee, first-class postage, return receipt fee, or special delivery fee.

(4) If a postmarked sender's receipt is desired, the sender must attach the certified mail sticker to the address side of the article and present the article and the completed coupon to the postal employee. If requested to do so, the postal employee will show on the receipt the time the article was accepted for mailing. If given to a rural carrier, he will return the postmarked receipt to the patron.

(5) If a postmarked receipt is not desired, the sender must attach the "Certified Mail" sticker to the address side of the article, detach his receipt, and mail the article. He must mark his receipt to show the date.

(6) If the sender desires to restrict delivery of certified mail to the addressee or someone named by him in writing, he must endorse the mail "Deliver to Addressee Only or Deliver to Addressee or Order." This service is available only for articles addressed to specific individuals by name.

(e) Firm mailing books. If an average of three or more letters is mailed at one time, the sender may use mailing books, Form 3877a, "Firm Mailing Book for Registered, Registered COD, and Certified Mail," which are furnished by the Postal Service without charge, or specially printed mailing bills. A Series of numbers will be furnished the sender. The sheets of the books become the sender's receipts. If the sender wants the firm mailing bills receipted by the Postal Service, he must present the books with the articles to be mailed. He must also obtain at his expense a stamp for endorsing the certified letters, or he may have his envelope overprinted with the endorsement. The endorsement must be a facsimile or proportionate enlargement

of the official endorsement shown in §168.1. Following are instructions for use of firm mailing bills:

(1) Insert the word "Certified" in the space provided at the top of the bill.

(2) The mailer must endorse and number the letters. If return receipt or special delivery services are requested, mark the letters "Return Receipt Requested, Return Receipt Requested Showing Address Where Delivered," or "Special Delivery." Prepare and attach return receipt to the back of the envelopes with the receipt side showing.

(3) Show on the bill the number of each article and the name and address of addressee.

(4) Enter only the amount of fees paid for return receipts.

(5) Affix necessary postage to the articles.

(6) The accepting employee will count the items, postmark and receipt the bill for the total number, indicate time of mailing, if requested, and return the bill to the sender.

[26 F.R. 11595, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 29 F.R. 2757, Feb. 27, 1964; 31 F.R. 8237, June 11, 1966; 31 F.R. 11103, Aug. 20, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 168.5

Delivery.

(a) Procedure. Mail for delivery by carriers is taken out on the first trip after it is received, unless the addressee has requested the postmaster to hold his mail at the post office. Certified mail not restricted in delivery will be delivered to the addressee or his authorized representative. Certified mail marked "Deliver to Addressee Only" will be delivered only to the person addressed. If marked "Deliver to Addressee or Order" delivery will be made to the addressee or to a person designated in writing by the addressee to receive the mail. Delivery rules are the same as for registered mail. See § 161.9 of this chapter.

(b) Notice of arrival. The carrier will leave a notice of arrival if he cannot deliver the certified article for any reason. The article will be brought back to the post office and held. If the article is not called for or its redelivery requested, it will be returned at the expiration of the period stated by the sender, or after 15 days if no period is stated.

(c) Rural delivery. For delivery by rural carriers or at personnel and nonpersonnel rural stations and branches, see Part 156 of this chapter.

(d) Star route delivery. Star route carriers will deliver certified mail if re

(a) Where sold. Patrons may buy domestic money orders at all post offices, branches, and stations in the United States and its possessions, except for certain offices in Alaska. Money order facilities are also provided for members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Special procedures for patrons of rural routes and nonpersonnel rural stations and branches are explained in paragraph (e) of this section.

(b) Amounts, fees, payments—(1) Money order amounts. Patrons should ask the clerk to issue a money order for the desired amount. The maximum amount for a single money order is $100. There is no limitation on the number of orders that may be purchased at one time, except when the Department may impose temporary restrictions. (2) Money order fees.

FILL IN OTHER SIDE PURCHASER ASSUMES

RESPONSIBILITY

(c) Manual issuance of money orders must be kept to the minimum. Inoperable machines must be replaced as quickly as possible as provided in the Operators Manual.

(2) Dating stamp and initials. The employee who issues the money order shall put the all-purpose dating stamp (item 570) and his initials, in ink, in the spaces provided on form.

(d) Completion of money order by purchaser. After receiving cash for the order and fee, the postal clerk shall remove the post office record stub, partially detach purchaser's receipt stub, give the order and receipt to patron, and remind him of necessity to complete information on the order. The purchaser must fill in the following information on the money order:

(1) Name of payee and name and address of purchaser. The patron must fill in his name and address as purchaser and the name of the person to

whom it is to be paid. He should do this promptly to protect his rights in the event the order is lost. Money orders may be payable:

(i) To purchaser, if desired.

(ii) To only one firm or person, by complete name. Don't put the name "Smith" for an individual. But "Smiths" may be used if it is the name of a company or firm.

(iii) To payee (the person to whom payable) by his official title. For example: Cashier, First National Bank; Superintendent of Insurance, New York State; Director of Internal Revenue, Baltimore.

(iv) To a person who has adopted a name in a religious order, such as Sister Theresa, or Brother Joseph.

(2) Identifying data. The purchaser should add his insurance policy number or other identification data to insure proper credit. Designate government

agencies directly, as: Director of Internal Revenue; Superintendent of Documents; Veterans Administration.

(e) Issuance to rural patrons—(1) Application form. Rural patrons must obtain an application from the carrier, The purchaser will be given a numbered receipt when he returns the completed application form with the money. If the carrier cannot give the correct change in payment, he will meet the purchaser on his next trip. Money must never be deposited in a rural box. When carriers do find money in a box with a completed application, Form 6001, "Application for domestic money order", they will take it to their post office for issue of the money order. Carriers will deliver the money orders with receipts attached, to patrons on their next regular trip. The postmaster shall keep applications in a separate file, in money order number sequence.

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(2) Requesting the mailing of order to payee. If the purchaser wants the money order mailed to the payee, he should furnish the carrier with stamped addressed envelope. The carrier will take the application form, the money, and the envelope, to the post office where a postal employee will complete the money order and mail to the payee. No extra charge is made for this service.

(3) Form 6387 for rural carriers. Postmasters will furnish rural carriers Form 6387, "Receipt of Carrier to Purchaser and Certificate of Postmaster for Issue of Money Order", for the purpose of transacting money order business. These transactions shall be conducted in accordance with instructions on the back of the book cover of Form 6387.

(4) Nonpersonnel rural stations and branches. The procedures outlined in subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this paragraph will be followed in providing money order service to patrons of nonpersonnel rural stations and branches. Patrons should meet the carrier at the station or branch. A supply of applications is maintained at the station or branch.

(f) Issuance to star route patrons. If required to do so by the contract, star route carriers will accept money and applications for money orders and give receipts on Form 1096, Cash Receipt, for

the money. Except when an intermediate office is involved, the application and money shall be turned in for issuance of the money order at the post office at which the carrier begins and ends his trips. Wherever possible, without delay to the issuance of the money order or to the proper dispatch of mail, the carrier will submit the money order application and money to the intermediate office for issuance. When the money order will not be issued before the carrier leaves the post office, he shall be given a receipt on Form 1096 for the funds turned in. In all other respects, money order procedures for star route carriers are the same as provided in paragraph (e) in this section.

(g) Spoiled or lost money orders—(1) Spoiled when being issued. (1) The purchaser must make sure that the money order received agrees with the amount requested. When a money order is returned after it has been issued and made a matter of record, a new one will be issued. If the post office was at fault, no fee will be charged for the new one. Should the purchaser spoil an order in completing it, no charge will be made for a new one if the purchaser returns it to the post office on the same day it was issued. The purchaser's receipt for all spoiled orders must be recovered.

(ii) Disposition of spoiled orders. Postal employees shall treat money order forms that are defective by misprint or mutilation or spoiled when being issued as follows:

(a) Stamp or write boldly "NOT ISSUED" across the amount block on the order. Detach and destroy purchaser's receipt. First- and second-class officers must submit these money orders with Form 6125-A, Money Order Group Report; or Form 6126, Statement of Accountability Money Order Business. Third- and fourth-class offices must enter "NOT ISSUED" opposite the serial number on Form 1846, Quarterly List of Money Orders Issued, or Form 1846-A, Report of Money Orders Issued, and submit the spoiled orders with the form. Spoiled-not issued money orders are processed though accounting machines and should not be pinned, stapled or have other matter attached thereto.

(b) Stamp or write "NOT ISSUED” across the amount block of the post office record (money order stub).

(2) Orders lost, mutilated, or void by endorsements—(i) Application for duplicate order. (a) The Post Office Department will replace without charge a money order (1) that is lost provided it was completed by the purchaser to show his name and address and the name of the intended payee, (2) a mutilated order, or (3) one void by too many endorsements. The owner-purchaser, payee, or endorsee-should make application for a duplicate, using Form 6401, Inquiry as to Payment of a Money Order. If a money order lost before completion by purchaser is cashed the circumstances should be reported to the postal inspector in charge.

(b) Patrons must wait 60 days after date of issue of original money order before filing Form 6401, Inquiry as to Payment of Money Order, when an order has been lost. Form 1510 should, however, be initiated and processed immediately if loss is believed to have occurred in the mail.

(c) Application for a duplicate of a multilated order or an order void by too many endorsements, on Form 6401, may be filed at any time if the order is attached.

(d) If the purchaser's receipt is presented, the post office shall endorse it "Form 6401 (date)" and return it to the applicant. The postmaster shall not keep any record of the filing of the form. Reply will be made directly to the inquirer.

(ii) Issuance of duplicate order. (a) A duplicate money order will be issued in accordance with the wishes of the purchaser-applicant without the consent of the payee or endorsee.

(b) The post office shall send the mutilated or void order to the Money Order Division where duplicates are issued. A duplicate money order will be issued if the original order is not in the paid files at the Money Order Division; it will show the serial number of the original order and the amount as entered on Form 6401. When a record of the amount of the original order is not available at the Money Order Division, the Division will issue the duplicate based on information shown on Form 6401 and will send the order to the post office of issue of the original order for verification. In such cases, Form 787, "Form 6401 and Replacement Money Order,"

accompanies the duplicate money order; it describes the verification required and the disposition of the order. The employee performing the verification will initial the duplicate if both the serial number and the amount are in agreement with the post office record (stub).

(iii) Orders recovered after duplicate issued. When a duplicate order has been issued, the postal employee shall write Canceled-Duplicate Issued on the original order and send it to the Money Order Division. If the postal employee does not know whether a duplicate was actually issued, he shall send the recovered order with Form 6401, "Inquiry as to Payment of Money Order."

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(iv) Payment of duplicate orders. duplicate money order is payable only to the payee named thereon or to his endorsee.

[26 F.R. 11596, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 224, Jan. 9, 1962; 27 F.R. 4836, May 23, 1962; 28 F.R. 6645, June 27, 1963; 28 F.R. 7833, Aug. 1, 1963; 28 F.R. 10518, Oct. 1, 1963; 29 F.R. 286, Jan. 11, 1964; 30 F.R. 11719, Sept. 14, 1965; 31 F.R. 3120, Feb. 25, 1966; 31 F.R. 4207, Mar. 10, 1966; 31 F.R. 4347, Mar. 12, 1966; 31 F.R. 8237, June 11, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 171.2 Issuance of international money

orders.

(a) Where sold. International money orders may be purchased at almost all first-class post offices. Some second-, third-, and fourth-class post offices have been designated to provide this service. Post offices not designated but having sufficient need for the service will make application to the regional controller. International money orders will be issued to addressees in those countries that have agreed with the United States to conduct such business.

(b) Application. (1) For all countries and localities listed in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this section the international money order form is used and application must be made on Form 6701. In some cases, the order is written in foreign currency. In most cases, the amount is written in United States dollars and converted into foreign currency in the country where payable.

(2) Purchasers must complete Form 6083, Supplemental International Money Order Advice, written in the foreign language, if possible, when they send money