Mailing costs may rise for bank 'skip-a-payment' and other similar notices.

• Position: Marketing News - Brief Article

Financial institutions that mail out skip-a-payment notices, convenience checks and pre-approved credit card or loan offers face the possibility of higher mailing costs in the future, according to a recent report in DM News.

The newspaper for direct marketers says that the U.S. Postal Service is considering a requirement that such direct mail pieces be classified as "first-class" rather than "standard," which would raise the cost of mailings by $88 per thousand.

The rationale for the change is that Postal Service regulations require that mail containing "actually and personal information" be classified as "first class." Direct mail pieces such as "skip-a-payment" usually contain personal account...