(g) Restricted delivery. The fee for this service must be paid at the time of mailing. The mail must be conspicuously endorsed "Deliver to Addressee Only" or "Deliver to Addressee or Order." The endorsement, if not placed by the mailer, will be entered by the employee accepting the mail. Restricted delivery service is subject to the following rules:

(1) Mail marked "Delivery to Addressee Only" will be delivered only to the addressee, except as provided in subparágraph (4) and (5) of this paragraph.

(2) Mail marked "Deliver to Addressee or Order" may be delivered either to the addressee or to the person he authorizes in writing to receive his mail.

(3) When the mail is addressed jointly to two or more persons, the addressees will be notified to be present to accept delivery together, and the delivery receipt obtained, and the return receipt, if any, must be signed by all of the addressees. The registered article then may be delivered to any of the addressees unless the others object, in which case delivery will not be made until all of the addressees sign a statement designating the one to receive the mail.

(4) When the registered mail is addressed to officials of executive agencies, or members of the legislative and judicial branches of the Government of the United States, or of the States and possessions, or to members of the diplomatic corps, delivery may be made either to the addressee or to the person he authorizes to receive his mail.

(5) Registered mail addressed to the commander or head of a staff section of military organization, installation, or activity, or to military personnel who, because of their military assignment, are located at a place remote from the serving post office, may be delivered to an agent designated in writing by the addressee on Form 3849, "Mail Arrival Notice", or 3801, "Standing Delivery Order."

(h) Bad condition. If the addressee accepts a registered article that has been repaired with sealing stamps or reenclosed in a new envelope or wrapper, it must be opened in the presence of the delivering employee. If anything is missing, the envelope or wrapper must be given to the employee after it has been endorsed to show what was missing. [26 F.R. 11587, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 11767, Nov. 29, 1962, 28 F.R. 1509, Feb. 16, 1963]

(a) Purpose. The sender may obtain payment for loss of, rifling of, or damage to domestic mail by having it insured.

(b) Classes of mail to which applicable. Only third- and fourth-class mail or airmail which contains third- or fourth-class matter may be insured. Insured airmail may contain incidental first-class enclosures. The mail must bear the complete names and addresses of sender and addressee. The following are not acceptable for insurance.

(1) Parcels containing matter offered for sale, addressed to prospective purchasers who have not ordered or authorized their sending. If such matter is received in the mail, payment will not be made for loss, rifling, or damage.

(2) Nonmailable matter.

(3) Articles that are so fragile as to prevent their safe carriage in the mail regardless of packaging.

(4) Articles not adequately packed to withstand normal handling in the mail. § 52.2

Fees.

§ 52.3 Mailing.

(a) Payment of fees and postage. Insurance fees must be paid in addition to the regular postage. The mailer guarantees to pay return and forwarding postage unless he writes instructions on the wrapper or envelope not to forward or return the mail.

(b) Where to mail. Mailers must mail parcels that they insure at a post office, branch, or station, or give them to a rural carrier. They must not be deposited in mail drops at post offices, nor in or on street mailboxes. They must not be left on, but may be placed in, rural mailboxes.

(c) Individual receipts for mailing. Mailers are issued a receipt for each insured parcel mailed. The post office keeps no record of the mailing of insured packages. Mailers must enter the name and address of addressee on the receipt and retain it. Mailers must submit the receipt if they file an application for payment of insurance or if they file an inquiry concerning the parcel.

(d) Firm mailing books. Mailing books, Form 3877-A, are furnished without charge to patrons who mail an average of three or more parcels at one time. Spaces are provided for entering the description of parcels to be insured. The sheets of these books become the sender's receipts. The books must be presented with the parcels to be mailed. Following are instructions for their use:

(1) Parcels to be insured for $10 or less are not to be numbered and should be listed on separate sheets or grouped together. Prepare on copy only.

(2) For parcels to be insured for more than $10, the postmaster will assign a series of numbers. The mailer must number the articles and the items in the book to correspond.

(3) The parcels must be conspicuously endorsed with the stamped or printed official insurance endorsement.

(e) Temporary receipts. A temporary receipt showing only the total number of parcels accepted may be issued when a large number of articles are mailed. The permanent receipt will be issued as soon as possible.

(f) Mailing on rural routes. Mailers may give the mail to the rural carriers; or they may leave the mail in rural mail boxes, provided stamps are affixed for postage and fee, or money for postage and fee is left in the box. Mailers must leave a note stating the amount of in

surance desired. The carrier will issue a receipt at the time the mail is received. The Postal Service assumes no responsibility for articles or money left in rural mail boxes until the articles are receipted for by the carrier.

[26 F.R. 11590, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 6979, July 24, 1962, 28 F.R. 6537, June 26, 1963]

§ 52.4 Special services.

(a) Restricted delivery service. Mailers may at the time of mailing direct that a parcel insured for over $10 be delivered only to the addressee or to someone named by him in writing. The mail will be endorsed: "Deliver to Addressee Only or Deliver to Addressee or Order."

(b) Return receipt. Mailers may request a return receipt for a parcel insured for more than $10. Request at the time of mailing may be made either to the postal employee or by endorsement on the mail reading "Return Receipt Requested," or "Return Receipt Requested Showing Address Where Delivered." Request after mailing must be made at the post office where the insured parcel was mailed. The insurance receipt must be shown and the prescribed additional fee for this service paid. When the request is made after mailing, the return receipt will not show the address where delivery was made.

§ 52.5 Delivery.

(1) In

(a) At letter carrier offices. sured mail is held for the period specified in the sender's return card, but not in excess of 15 consecutive days. If no return period is specified, the mail is held for 15 days. The retention period of 15 days applies also to offices to which the mail may be forwarded.

(2) Insured parcels will be delivered to the addressee's home once, or if he receives his mail in a post office box or through general delivery, he will be furnished a notice of the arrival of the parcel. If the parcel is undelivered after five days, a second notice will be sent. If addressee does not accept the parcel when it is delivered, it will be returned to the post office and held for the length of time directed by the sender, but never more than 15 days. The addressee may go to the post office and obtain the parcel or he may request that it be delivered to his home again. The mailer may also request that it be delivered again.

(3) A request that a second attempt be made by a carrier to deliver an insured

parcel that was refused, the first time must be accompanied by postage at the local rate. A parcel that was not refused will be delivered a second time only if the addressee gives assurance that it will be accepted; and no extra postage will be charged. A request by the sender for renewed delivery service must be accompanied by postage at the local rate.

(4) When delivery of an insured parcel has been attempted twice by carrier, postage at the local rate must be paid for each additional attempt.

(b) At offices not having carrier delivery service. The addressee is notified when an insured parcel is on hand for delivery. The notice is placed in the general delivery or in a post office box. A second notice is issued if the article is undelivered after 5 days.

(c) On star route affording delivery service. Star route carriers will deliver insured parcels if required by the contract, but delivery will be made only at the patron's box or along the route.

(d) Examination of mail. The addressee or his representative may read and copy the name and address of the mailer from insured mail while it is in the possession of the postal employee. Examination of the contents may be made only after delivery has been made.

(e) Type of delivery service. Receipts are not obtained for the delivery of parcels insured for $10 or less. Parcels insured for over $10 are delivered in accordance with the regulations for the delivery of registered mail (see § 51.7 of this chapter), except that when delivery has not been restricted, mail addressed to a person at a hotel, apartment house, or the like, may be delivered to any person in a supervisory or clerical capacity to whom the mail is customarily delivered. Delivery receipts are obtained by the delivering carrier.

[26 F.R. 11590, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 1509, Feb. 16, 1963]

(a) Purpose. Patrons may mail an article for which they have not been paid and have the price and the cost of the postage collected from the addressee when the article is delivered. This is collect-on-delivery service, which is usually called COD service. The amount collected is returned to the mailer by a postal money order. The fees for COD service include insurance against loss, rifling, or damage to the article and failure to receive the amount collected from the addressee.

(b) Mail which may be sent COD. First-, third-, and fourth-class matter may be sent as COD mail. See § 51.4 of this chapter for registered COD fees. (c) Conditions. (1) The mail must bear the complete names and addresses of sender and addressee.

(2) The largest amount that will be collected from the addressee is $200.

(1) Sending articles to addressees who have not ordered them or agreed to accept them.

(2) Collection agency purposes.

(3) Return of merchandise about which some dissatisfaction has arisen, unless the new addressee has consented in advance to such return.

(4) Sending only bills or statements of indebtedness even though the sender may establish that the addressee has

agreed to the collection in this manner. However, when a legitimate COD shipment consisting of merchandise, bill of lading, etc., is being mailed, the balance due on a past or anticipated transaction may be included in the charges on a COD article, provided the addressee has consented in advance to such action.

(5) Parcels containing moving-picture films mailed by exhibitors to moving picture manufacturers, distributors, or exchanges. Such parcels may be sent as insured mail, or, if sealed, by first-class registered mail.

(e) Restrictions on COD service to military installations. COD service is not available for articles having an APO or FPO designation as part of the address. This restriction applies also to official shipments and shipments to Armed Forces agencies.

(f) Service with U.S. Possessions and Territories. There is no COD service with the Canal Zone, Canton Island, Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, or Marshall Islands or to Samoa. However, COD articles may be mailed from Pago Pago, Samoa.

[26 F.R. 11591, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 6979, July 24, 1962]

(a) Payment of fees and postage. Fees and postage must be prepaid. If the mailer includes in the charges to be remitted the postage and fee prepaid, the COD fee will be based on the total COD charges, which include the postage and fee.

(b) Where to mail. COD parcels must be mailed at a post office, branch, or station or through a rural carrier. They may not be placed in mail drops at post offices, nor in or on street mail boxes. They may not be left on, but may be placed in, rural mail boxes. (See also paragraph (h) of this section regarding mailing COD matter on rural routes.)

(c) Individual receipts for mailing. A receipt is issued for each COD parcel mailed.

(d) Firm mailing books, COD tags, and address labels. Firm mailing books, Form 3877-A, are furnished without charge to patrons who mail an average of three or more parcels at one time. Spaces are provided for entering the description of parcels to be sent COD. The sheets of these books become the senders' receipts and the post office rec

ords. The books must be presented with the parcels to be mailed. Following are instructions for their use:

(1) The postmaster will assign a series of numbers. The mailer must number the articles and the items to correspond. Entries must be made in duplicate with carbon paper.

(2) A COD tag must be securely fixed by the sender to each COD article, showing article number, names and addresses of sender and addressee, amount due sender, and amount of money order fee necessary to make remittance. The necessary particulars must be filled in by sender. Stock tags are furnished by the post office without charge. There are three types of tags eyeletted for tying to parcels, and one uneyeletted type for attaching by gummed tape. Specially printed COD tags approved by the Postal Service are also used. The eyeletted tag, form 3816, composed of delivery office portion, delivering employee's coupon, mailing office record and the sender's receipt, is intended for use by patrons mailing less than three articles at one time.

(3) The particulars required on the tag must be filled in by the sender with ink, indelible pencil (not ordinary lead pencil), or typewriter. The Postal Service is not responsible for errors by senders in stating charges to be collected.

(4) When COD remittance is to be sent to someone other than the actual mailer, the name and address of the person to whom the money is to be sent must appear in the proper spaces on the address side of the COD tag. The name and address of the actual mailer must be placed on the back of the delivery office portion of the tag. The name and address of the person to whom the money is to be paid must be shown as sender on the COD parcel itself, together with directions as to return, if undeliverable.

(5) The package must bear the complete names and addresses of the sender and addressee, and the COD endorsement showing the amount due the sender and the money order fee necessary to make the remittance.

(6) When COD parcels are addressed to distant points or to overseas domestic destinations, the mailer may, if he desires to expedite remittance, attach an addressed, prepaid airmail reply enve

lope to the back of the COD tag at time of mailing.

(e) Nursery stock shipments. Firms mailing nursery stock may print special COD tags bearing instructions as to disposition of shipments that are not immediately delivered. These tags must contain a coupon that will be returned with the money order. The following rules apply:

(1) If the sender does not desire to have the parcel, if undeliverable, disposed of to the highest bidder, the sender's instructions on the back of the delivery-office portion of the COD tag (1), and the sender's coupon (2), should read:

(i) If addressee refuses to pay charges for any reason, deliver at once without collecting the charges. Notify sender at once if parcel is not delivered, and if no reply is received in 30 days, destroy parcel. See sender's coupon for further instructions.

(ii) Return this coupon with money order. If parcel is delivered without collection of charges, or is destroyed after 30 days, check disposition and send coupon to sender in penalty envelope.

Delivered to addressee without collecting charges.

Destroyed after 30 days.

(2) If sender desires to have the parcel, if undeliverable, disposed of to the highest bidder, the sender's instructions on the back of the delivery office portion of the COD tag (1), and on the sender's coupon (2), should read:

(i) If addressee refuses to pay charges for any reason, deliver at once without collecting the charges. Notify sender at once if parcel is not delivered, and if no reply is received in 30 days, sell to highest bidder and remit proceeds less commission. If sale cannot be made destroy parcel. See sender's coupon for further instructions.

(ii) Return this coupon with money order. If parcel is delivered without collection of charges, is destroyed after 30 days, or is sold, check disposition and send coupon to sender in penalty envelope.

Delivered to addressee without collecting charges.

Destroyed after 30 days.

Sold for $------. Remittance, less commission, herewith.

(f) Multiple mailing forms. Specially designed and privately printed multiple mailing forms are found by many mail

ers to be advantageous. They provide in one operation, by carbon or spot carbon process, address labels, firm mailing and post office records, and COD tags or labels to be stuck on stock COD tags. Specially designed recapitulation sheets are used for receipting purposes. Mailers desiring to use multiple forms should consult printers specializing in business forms, and submit specimen proofs to their local postmasters before printing.

(g) Temporary receipts. When, at the discretion of the postmaster, the number of articles presented for COD at one time warrants, a temporary receipt showing only the total number of parcels accepted may be issued. The permanent receipt will be issued as soon as possible.

(h) Mailing on rural routes. Patrons may present mail to rural carriers for COD service. For COD mail the sender must fill in a COD tag with ink, indelible pencil (not ordinary lead pencil), or typewriter. Patrons may leave mail in rural mail boxes for COD service provided sufficient stamps are fixed for postage and fee, or money for postage and fee is left in the box. If indemnity coverage for more than the COD charges is desired, a note should be left so stating. The Postal Service assumes no responsibility for articles or money left in rural mail boxes until the articles are receipted for.

[26 F.R. 11591, Dec. 6, 1961] § 53.4 Special services.

(a) Restricted delivery service. Patrons may, at the time of mailing, direct that a COD parcel be delivered only to the addressee or to someone named by him in writing. The mail will be endorsed "Deliver to Addressee Only or Deliver to Addressee or Order."

(b) Alteration or cancellation of COD charges or delivery. Alteration or cancellation of COD charges or delivery to another addressee may be directed by the sender on payment of the prescribed additional fee. The request must be made at office of mailing on Form 3818, "Authorization to Cancel or Change Charges on a COD Article." Such change may be directed by telegram, the telegram being authorized and paid for by the sender but sent in the name of the postmaster.

(c) Notice to sender. Senders desiring a notice of undelivered COD mail must request Form 3849-D by endorsement on the address label. This re