초록 ▼

A method is disclosed for ensuring proper payment by a mailer for postage indicia printed by the postage meter of a mailing machine operated by the mailer. The method includes a series of steps carried out by the mailer in connection with the preparation of a discrete quantity of mail by use of a ma

A method is disclosed for ensuring proper payment by a mailer for postage indicia printed by the postage meter of a mailing machine operated by the mailer. The method includes a series of steps carried out by the mailer in connection with the preparation of a discrete quantity of mail by use of a mailing machine which has the capability of determining and recording in a database various characteristics of the mail that affect the postage required for a postal facility to handle the mail, and generates a product usage profile of the mailer's history of mailing. The Post Office counts the mail, and then calculates an expected cost of the mailing using data from the mailer's product usage profile, and then compares that expected cost with the amount of postage credit funds remaining in the mailer's postage meter to determine whether it is likely that any fraud has occurred in the preparation of the mailing.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of ensuring proper payment by a mailer for postage indicia printed by the postage meter of a mailing machine operated by the mailer, said method comprising the steps of:A. at a mailer's location, preparing a discrete mailing for which the expected cost of mailing thereof i

[ We claim:] [1.] A method of ensuring proper payment by a mailer for postage indicia printed by the postage meter of a mailing machine operated by the mailer, said method comprising the steps of:A. at a mailer's location, preparing a discrete mailing for which the expected cost of mailing thereof is to be audited, said preparation of the discrete mailing including printing with a postage meter a postage indicia on each piece of mail in the discrete mailing to evidence payment by the mailer to a postal facility for handling that piece of mail, and delivering the discrete mailing to the postal facility,B. at the postal facility, counting the discrete mailing to determine a piece count of the number of pieces of mail in the discrete mailing,C. ascertaining whether or not it is likely that there was insufficient postage credit funds in the mailer's postage meter to cover the expected cost of the discrete mailing, andD. if it appears so likely, causing a fault signal to be generated to indicate an apparent discrepancy between the expected cost of the discrete mailing and the amount of funds actually received by the postal facility for the postage credit used by the mailer in preparing the discrete mailing, reby the postal facility is afforded an opportunity to statistically monitor the amount of funds paid by a mailer for postage meter credit without performing a 100% audit of his mailings.