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If you are still using Green Cards, the USPS has a better way

By Andrew Newmark | December 5, 2019

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • USPS Return Receipt Electronic is a modern, more efficient alternative to the traditional Green Card for Certified Mail, offering the same legal proof of delivery in a convenient PDF format.
  • This digital receipt can be stored, printed, and emailed without the risk of loss or damage.
  • Certified Mail software, like SimpleCertifiedMail.com, make accessing these electronic receipts easy and fast, while reducing costs and eliminating the need for physical storage.

If you’re still using Green Cards with your Certified Mail®, you really should consider a change. 

The U.S. Postal Service’s Return Receipt Electronic contains the same information as the Green Card (PS Form 3811), but in a PDF format. Unlike the Green Card, where only the original is deemed acceptable for Proof of Delivery with a signature, any printout of the Return Receipt Electronic PDF is accepted as the legal equivalent of the Green Card. As a result the Return Receipt Electronic can be saved on PCs and servers, printed at any time in multiple copies, and it can be emailed. All are considered as originals.

As an electronic PDF file, the Return Receipt Electronic eliminates the inconvenience when a Green Card gets lost in the mail or damaged in the mail stream. It also saves mailers from having to store the original Green Cards in file rooms, in case Proof of Delivery is required sometime in the future as part of a legal case.

Web based Certified Mail software, such as SimpleCertifiedMail.com, is the easiest way to get the most from the Return Receipt Electronic. With SimpleCertifiedMail.com, the Return Receipt Electronic is posted to your account within 24 hours of the mail carrier delivering your Certified Mail piece, enabling you to move legal processes forward faster. You can also download the PDF for ten years, thus eliminating any need for manual files.

There is no charge to sign up for the SimpleCertifiedMail.com service, no software to install, and no minimums. Just a small transaction fee each time you use the service to prepare Certified Mail. You’ll save considerably compared to using Green Cards.

Ready to sign up?
There is no charge to set up an account. Sign up today! If you have questions, contact us toll-free at 1-888-462-1750.

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