1. What is NCOALink?

NCOALink (National Change of Address) is a secure dataset of approximately 160 million change-of-addresses going back 48 months that enables mailers to update mailing lists with new addresses from individuals, families and businesses that have moved.

The USPS has introduced NCOALink to replace NCOA and FASTforward Mailing List Correction (MLC) services. Mailers were required by the USPS to switch to the new NCOALink technology instead of NCOA on October 1, 2004 or replace FASTforward by October 1, 2005.

2. How do I prepare for NCOALink?

Read the NCOALink Required Text Document.

Complete and sign an NCOALink Processing Acknowledgement Form (PAF) and fax it to Peacock Data, Inc. at (818) 480-4391.

The USPS requires a new six digit field that must be entered in the "List Owner" area called "NAICS". Please refer to the NAICS/SIC document listing the most commonly used SIC Codes, or visit http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics07, or contact Peacock Data to determine your specific NAICS Code.

3. How is NCOALink different than NCOA?

Nixies (or "Return Codes") that offer information about name and address records that do not exactly match the USPS change-of-address database were previously only available with NCOA processing. With NCOALink these "Return Codes" (no longer called Nixies) have different meanings. Testing indicates the actual number of input names coded with "Return Codes" as compared to "Nixie Option Codes" are greatly reduced with NCOALink versus NCOA processing.

DPV (Deliverable Point Validation) is now included as part of NCOALink and DPV footnotes are part of the output.

NCOALink will return the move effective date, the specific name and address utilized in the query that obtained the match, and the move type. The move type is determined by the interface based on the specific name inquiry utilized to obtain the match. Please note: The specific name utilized in the query may be slightly different from the name supplied, i.e. Robert versus Bob. Please see the NCOALink Required Text Document for additional output details.

4. Why the change to NCOALink?

NCOALink provides enhanced technology to protect the privacy and security of name and address information entrusted to the USPS.

With NCOALink the USPS hopes to increase the utilization of change-of-address (COA) information and reduce further the costs associated with handling Undeliverable-As-Addressed (UAA) mail.

5. What benefits will I realize by processing my file through NCOALink?

Mailers using NCOALink can save thousands of dollars that would have been spent on wasted materials and postage that results from undelivered as addressed mail. The NCOALink System makes available current change of address information that will reduce undeliverable mail. Addressing errors are identified and corrected before the mail enters the USPS. Mailers will also receive a quicker response to an offer since it will go directly to the new address in the case of a move. Cash flow will also improve as a direct result of reaching a customer who has moved. In addition valuable customer names that would have been lost will be updated so that communication can continue.

The NCOALink process at Peacock Data:

• Improves address quality through standardization and parsing
• Speeds delivery of your offer by eliminating forwarding
• Is less expensive than ACS (Address Change Service) and Ancillary Endorsements on the mail piece
• Reduces undeliverable mail resulting in postage and material savings
• Helps maintain accurate customer address files
• Provides CASS processing of your list enabling you to qualify for postal discounts
• Appends address type to data to input records allowing segmentation
• Increases the effectiveness of Merge/Purge processing
• Adds ZIP+4, Carrier Route and Delivery Point Bar Codes
• Adds a proprietary NCOALink-Index to help you sort and filter your list based on change of address updates

6. What are NCOALink Return Codes and what benefits do they provide?

An NCOALink Return Code is a record that is close, but does not meet the USPS standards for matching to the NCOALink database and does not receive a forwarding address. It is flagged as a possible move. A new address cannot be provided, however Return Codes are appended to the record to allow the mailer to make a mail/no mail decision. NCOALink Return Codes typically identifies 40% to 70% additional names as possible moves over those found with the more restrictive matching rules required for providing a new address Option added to NCOALink processing can result in additional savings and sales.

7. Why do I have to sign an NCOALink Processing Acknowledgement Form (PAF)?

The USPS requires this acknowledgement form. The form states "the sole purpose of the NCOALink service is to provide a mailing list correction service for a list that will be used for the preparation of a mailing". If you do not have a PAF on file with Peacock Data, please fax us a signed PAF at the time of placing your order. Per USPS regulations, a mailing list owner's PAF will remain in effect for one year from the date of signing. For each subsequent year a new form must be signed and returned to us as soon as possible.

We suggest that you download an NCOALink PAF, print, sign and mail/fax it to us at Peacock Data, Inc., 120 Rollins Rd, Chatsworth, CA 91311-7007 USA, or fax it to us at (818) 480-4391. You are under no obligation to place an order with us. However, we will have the form on file in case you decide to place an order and send us your file for processing.

8. I have a database with consumers and businesses - will NCOALink help me?

Yes, the NCOALink file is comprised of approximately 40% family moves, 54% individual moves and 6% business moves. It almost always makes sense to process your file through NCOALink whether it is comprised of consumer, business, or both types of addresses. In the case of business moves, the whole company must move, not just an individual.

9. If a person moves several times, will I receive the current address?

When possible, postal customers who move multiple times within the life of a COA in NCOALink and have notified the USPS are linked to ensure the latest address is furnished when an NCOALink match is attained.

10. What does Address Standardization do?

• The primary and secondary input addresses are standardized to USPS regulations
• The input city names are standardized from the USPS ZIP+4 file
• The 5 digit ZIP and Plus4 Codes are verified, corrected or appended
• The Carrier Routes are appended from the USPS ZIP+4 file
• Delivery Point Bar Codes are appended from the USPS ZIP+4 file

11. What's the difference between NCOALink and DSF2?

NCOALink is a process that matches a file of names and addresses to the USPS licensed NCOALink database comprised of 160+ million records of individual, family and business moves. DSF2 is a USPS licensed database that improves delivery of your mailing by examining address data and comparing it to the DSF2 database that contains each of the 145+ million delivery points. DSF2 confirms the existence of the address, provides delivery type, business versus residential, and provides a Pseudo Sequence Number to qualify for walk sequence postal presort discounts. DSF2 detects potentially undeliverable addresses for reasons other than Change of Address.

12. What's the difference between NCOALink and LACSLink?

NCOALink is a process that matches a file of names and addresses to the USPS licensed NCOALink database comprised of 160+ million records of individual, family and business moves. The LACSLink Product is a USPS licensed database. As of September 22, 2004, the LACSLink database contains approximately 5.3 million records that enables you to update your mailing lists when addresses have been converted by local authorities, i.e. renumbering of houses or addresses converted from rural style to city style addresses, usually as a result of a 911 conversion.

13. How long does it take to run NCOALink on my file?

You must submit your file for NCOALink processing with an NCOALink Processing Acknowledgement Form. Normal turnaround time from this point is one business day. The USPS requires that processing be completed within 7 days of receipt of your files for processing unless express written consent is provided.

14. Will I still have undeliverable mail if I process NCOALink on my file?

It is estimated that only 66.9% of mail is deliverable as addressed. The remaining percentage has some form of addressing deficiency which could affect deliverability. Endorsed mail and First-Class Mail can be forwarded or returned to the mailer, Standard Mail A Class (Third Class) is normally discarded. NCOALink will reduce the amount of undeliverable mail by Address Standardization and ZIP Correction as well as Move Update but will not completely eliminate undeliverable mail. Some examples of returned mail NCOALink not corrected are:

• Someone who moves and does not notify the USPS
• The match to the COA file is not good enough to meet USPS requirements for licensees to provide a forwarding address
• Someone who has moved and filled out the address change form, but the information has not yet been added to the NCOALink database
• Someone who has moved and filled out the address change form, but the information is never added to the NCOALink (e.g. data quality issues)

15. Will NCOALink validate name information as well as provide new move information on all the records in my database?

No, NCOALink processing does not validate name and address information on your database. The NCOALink database contains Change-of-Address information only. If a person or company files a change of address with the USPS the information is maintained on the NCOALink database for 48 months. If a person or company does not file a change of address and the carrier does not file a "Moved - Left No Address", it does not appear on the NCOALink database. Additional reasons a person/company would not be maintained on the NCOALink database are:

• The person/company still lives at the address on your database
• The person/company may have filed a temporary move (for example a college student moves home for the summer)
• Person may be deceased

16. Will NCOALink correct Spelling Errors in my names and addresses?

NCOALink will not correct spelling errors in your names or addresses. Address Standardization will standardize your addresses to postal regulations and may also correct some street name misspellings. DSF2 also has the ability to correct misspelled street names.

17. Will NCOALink tell me if an address is deliverable?

NCOALink will give you change-of-address information and usually provides a ZIP+4. DSF2 determines the deliverability of address records. ZIP+4 validates addresses based on valid house number ranges but not the actual number. DSF2 validates based on exact house number and apartment number.