BCG verification non-compliance risk
William Edmundson on the risk of BCG verification non-compliance
As an experienced leader and former operator in the workspace industry, I want to share my concern for those of you whose CMRA address is not yet verified in the USPS BCG (Business Customer Gateway) portal.
This is the first step in complying with the new CMRA regulations. Many workspaces, who properly filed a Form 1583-A with their local Postmaster, have come to find their address was never uploaded to the BCG database. Other workspaces have not yet filed the 1583-A or gave up if the Postmaster was not available or uncooperative. Either way, if your address is not verified in the BCG, you are not an authorized CMRA location in the eyes of the USPS and not in compliance.
The ramifications of non-compliance to the updated postal regulations, specifically the BCG process, could prove disastrous for your business. The USPS has set deadlines for CMRAs to comply with their new regulations, which include workspaces that offer mail services to their virtual and office members.
The USPS intends to audit CMRA locations for compliance with the new regulations. Their announced plan is to issue a series of warning letters over a 90 day period before taking any action if compliance issues are not fixed. While the USPS has indicated its intention to be flexible to help CMRAs achieve compliance, you want to get out ahead of this, as the USPS could terminate mail delivery to the CMRA entirely for all recipients due to non-compliance.
Please take a moment to think about what this would mean to your entire business; no mail delivery. This would affect your mail, your virtual and office members’ mail, and the mail of customers of a digital mailbox service you partner with. It would likely place you in violation of your MSA or VSA, and any service provider’s Terms and Conditions. You could lose business and revenue, and yet still be on the hook for your lease and operating expenses.
If you think I’m trying to frighten you, you’re correct. Please take immediate action!
iWorkSpaceMail with iPostal1 wants to assist you with resources and best demonstrated practices based on our knowledge and experience as the industry leader.
Below is our CMRA tips sheet along with our FDB guide to help you navigate the process. Visit our Resources page on iWorkSpaceMail.com for more information, and the forms you will need for your Postmaster. There are detailed instructions on how to set up your account on the BCG if you need some assistance with that too. We value our partnerships and are hopeful that our resources will make it easier for you to complete this USPS requirement.
Here’s the bottom line: If you have not started the process, don’t wait. If you have started the process but not completed it, it is time to get it done. Your business depends on it!
Please take the following steps to stay in compliance and avoid any stoppage in mail service:
Call your Post Office and try to make an appointment with the Postmaster or a supervisor. If successful, this will save you time and alert the Postmaster to the purpose of your visit.
Bring 2 completed but unsigned 1583-A copies (one for you and one for the Postmaster).
For more detailed instructions for completing steps 1 and 2, click here to view the iWorkSpaceMail CMRA tip sheet.
Make sure you write down the first and last name of the Postmaster or supervisor who met with you, and the date of the meeting.
Confirm with the Postmaster or supervisor that your 1583-A will be uploaded to the USPS Facilities Database (FDB).
If your Postmaster does not know what to do, click here to view the iWorkSpaceMail FDB tip sheet.
Confirm your registration status by signing up for a BCG account on gateway.usps.com.
For a detailed list of the steps, click here to view the Phase 1 letter from USPS.
If, after five days from your visit to the Post Office, your location is still not listed on the BCG, the following steps are recommended:
Call, or better yet, visit your Post Office location with your 1583-A Form in hand to report the problem and request appropriate action.
Email USPS at cmraprogram@usps.gov about your issue. Include your Post Office address and the USPS contact name (first and last).
Email us at support@iPostal1.com so that we can also follow up with USPS on your behalf to resolve your CMRA status issue.
Feeling overwhelmed? Whether you are an iWorkSpaceMail partner or not, we are happy to help!
