Full Text: Postal Service Affinity Credit Card Ruling for Nonprofit Mail Rates

CREDIT CARD REFERENCES ON NONPROFIT STANDARD MAIL

PS-292 (E670.5)

[1] A question was raised concerning permissible references under the provisions of Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) E670.5.7. That standard provides that an authorized organization's material is not disqualified from being mailed at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates solely because that material contains, but is not primarily devoted to:

a. Acknowledgments of organizations or individuals who have made

b. References to and a response card or other instructions for

[2] The question concerns the use of the words "Visa" or "Mastercard" or others when announcing membership benefits which include an affinity credit card. It is permissible for an authorized organization to announce the availability of an affinity credit card provided the announcement contains no promotional material or application materials (see Publication 417, Nonprofit Standard Mail Eligibility, section 6-3.3.7, of the October 1996 edition). A simple reference to a membership benefit of an organization is not considered promotional (for example, "Members receive an affinity credit card. Write for details"). However, the use of brand names such as "Visa" or Mastercard" is considered promotional. Therefore, references to membership benefits such as "Members receive a Visa card" are prohibited from being mailed at the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates.

[3] Promotional material concerning an affinity credit card such as terms or conditions (e.g., "Benefits include a 13.5 percent interest rate, no annual fee for six months, and the availability of purchase insurance"), makes the reference ineligible for the Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Additionally, language describing the card or its uses or benefits (e.g., "low-cost") or the issuer (e.g., "well known national corporation") is considered promotional. However, previous publications have not made clear that brand names such as "Visa" are also considered promotional. However, previous publications have not made clear that brand names such as "Visa" are also considered promotional. Indeed, an early Classification Currents Communicator article published in March 1992 may have caused some customers to believe that the word "Visa" may be permissible. Therefore, a piece produced before July 1, 1997 is not disqualified from being mailed at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates solely because a reference contains a brand name such as "Visa". If other promotional material such as those described above is present the mailpiece is ineligible for Nonprofit Standard Mail rates. Customers are advised that future mailings at Nonprofit Standard Mail rates should not include the brand name of the credit card referred to in the mailpiece.

Anita J. Bizzotto