USPS Package Intercept: How It Works (2024)

Need an intercept?

With USPS Package Intercept, you can request a mailpiece be returned or redirected before final delivery is made to the original address.

See Also
USPS.com FAQs

• Available for letters, flats and packages with a tracking barcode.
• For any domestic Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Parcel Select, USPS Ground Advantage and Package Services shipment or parcel, measuring not more than 130 inches in length and girth combined.
• Options include return to mailer or redirect to a new address or to a Post Office as Hold For Pickup service.
• Automated customer notification on the status of the service request is available through email, USPS Package Intercept history reports through the application or customer extract file through the Product Tracking System.

How do I get started?

Access to the USPS Package Intercept application is through the Business Customer Gateway (BCG) at gateway.usps.com. The following criteria must be met to use the USPS Package Intercept application:

1. 1.Customer must be a registered BCG user.
2. 2.A permit imprint linked to a valid CAPS debit or trust account must be associated to the Customer Registration ID (CRID) for the business location.
3. 3.The Customer must have access to the Manage Mailing Activity and be assigned a Mailer ID services on BCG.
4. 4.Customer must request access to the USPS Package Intercept service via BCG.
5. 5.Each business location, identified by a CRID, is required to have a USPS Package Intercept Business Service Administrator (BSA).
6. 6.The USPS Package Intercept BSA will manage and grant access to the USPS Package Intercept service to other users of the same CRID.

Additional information on requesting access to services on BCG can be found at:
User Access to Electronic Mailing Information and Reports Guide: Business Customer Gateway Information, On-line Services, and Full-Service Tools (PDF)

Pricing

All intercepted mailpieces that are redirected back to the sender, a new delivery address or a Post Office as Hold For Pickup service through the electronic commercial method are relabeled and handled as a new Priority Mail piece. The new Priority Mail piece is charged the applicable Priority Mail postage from the location where intercepted to the new destination based on the dimensions, weight and zone of the piece, except for pieces being redirected back to the sender that were originally sent by Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail or First-Class Mail.

See Notice 123, Price List, for details.

Payment

Payment of the USPS Package Intercept fee must be made using a Permit Imprint account that must be linked to a Centralized Account Payment System (CAPS) debit or trust account.

Extra Services

Customers can purchase the following additional Extra Services for the outgoing Priority Mail item:

• Adult Signature Required.
• Adult Signature Restricted Delivery.
• Insurance.
• Signature Confirmation.

Note: If a mailpiece was originally sent as Registered Mail, it can only be returned to the sender. The mailpiece will maintain the original Registered Mail label number.

Additional Priority Mail postage will apply to intercepted mailpieces under the following conditions:

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