Other Products and Services
- Postage Meters

Overview

Canada Post and Canadian postage meter suppliers have been working for a number of years to define and develop technology that better meets customer, supplier and postal requirements. The last phase of the meter replacement program will take effect on June 30, 2007*, at which date Canada Post will not accept meter impressions from decertified meters as valid postage.

This limited grace period will provide meter suppliers and customers with additional time to complete the transition to fully compliant digital technology. Canada Post remains committed to our original objectives and as such it is critical that all metered mail meets our requirements. Converting as quickly as possible is the best way to ensure that your metered mail continues to be processed within our published service standards.

To encourage the development and introduction of this new technology and to ensure a smooth transition, the following actions were taken:

• In February 2002, Francotyp-Postalia Canada Inc., Neopost Canada and Pitney Bowes Canada sent a joint letter with Canada Post to current meter customers providing information on the postage meter replacement program, including the changes required and withdrawal dates for then current meter models.
• On March 31, 2003, Canada Post withdrew approval of mechanical postage meters.
• On March 12, 2004, Canada Post withdrew approval of electro-mechanical meters.
• In December 2005, June 2006 and again in October 2006, Canada Post sent a letter to current meter customers to remind them, that Canada Post will decertify all postage meters that are not fully compliant with its security, digital indicia and product capture requirements.

Next Steps

Many of the current digital meter models will require software and/or software and hardware upgrades to become fully compliant while other digital and all electronic models will need to be replaced with a new line of meters. This means that by June 30, 2007*, customers must convert to fully compliant digital postage meters.

Francotyp-Postalia, Neopost and Pitney Bowes are developing a complete new product line of digital postage meters that are fully compliant with Canada Post's requirements.

Click here for a list of meter models that will be decertified as of December 31, 2006 and a list of meter models that have been approved for use after December 31, 2006*. Information will be updated as it becomes available.

Customers should contact their current postage meter supplier to discuss the status of their current postage meter and discuss availability and features of new postage meter models.

Benefits of Fully Compliant Meters

Data integrity and security are paramount with today's electronic transactions. Canada Post has an obligation to its customers to ensure data integrity and security are key postal requirements.

While technology evolution has exposed some security issues that reveal the importance of data security, fully compliant meters are in keeping with today's technology in mailing solutions and will ensure secure electronic transactions. More convenient and time-efficient, these meters offer intelligent tracking and reporting capabilities, which will provide better service. Evolving to digital technology also presents new possibilities moving forward which translates into added value for mailers.

Adds convenience:

• The internal modem dials out and downloads postage and rates from the EPSS Account
• Self-diagnostic maintenance, fewer moving parts and user maintenance capability minimizes the need for service calls while increasing productivity
• User-friendly, menu-driven, and more powerful
• Ink cartridges have replaced messy ink bottles
• Clear and clean meter impressions and a higher tolerance to envelope imperfections results in a more professional look
• Date changes automatically reducing the chance of returned mail
• Customers can be "top of mind" with their own customers with Canada Post approved promotional slogans on their envelopes through the meter

Saves valuable time with more advanced tracking and reporting:

• Prices are automatically calculated, reducing manual intensive price chart look-up
• Built-in cost expenditure tracking allowing customers to track expenses internally, keeping information such as number of mail items or postage value readily accessible, and providing ability to set up multiple user accounts by meter

Increases security:

• Customers do not have to be concerned about meter tampering with the Postal Security Device (PSD) found in all new meters. The PSD maintains purchased financial values
• All new meters have security access protection providing greater user control

Click here for Questions & Answers. Information on this website will be updated as it becomes available.

* As of December 31, 2006, some postage meters will become decertified (see Approved Postage Meters), however, their meter impressions will continue to be recognized as valid postage until June 30, 2007.