A Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) is a private business that accepts mail from the Postal Service™ on behalf of their customers and delivers it to a private mailbox (PMB), or re-mails it to another location of the customer's choosing with new postage. Customers are responsible for the expenses associated with the services provided by CMRA stores such as Mail Boxes Etc., PostNet, Postal Annex, Pak Mail, and others.
To learn about CMRA mail processing, see DMM Section 508.1.8.3 for details.
General Guidelines
- Customers apply for a PMB at a CMRA and will be required to fill out PS Form 1583.
- Two forms of ID (one with a photo) are required when applying for a Private Mail Box.
- The United States Postal Service delivers all of a CMRA customer’s mail to the CMRA, but is not responsible for putting the mail in the individual boxes.
- Contact the CMRA directly (not the Postal Service™) to resolve any delivery issues.
- You must go to the local Post Office to accept Registered Mail. A CMRA may accept other Accountable Mail.
- To receive Restricted Delivery at your CMRA, make sure to authorize the Postal Service by signing in box #5 on PS Form 1583. Mail can be forwarded to a CMRA, but not from a CMRA.
- It is Postal policy that only addressees can refuse mail. PS Form 1583 obligates the CMRA to accept its customer's mail.
- If you have your mail forwarded to a CMRA, it may cost you money to have your mail forwarded back.
Customer Termination of Private Mail Box
When a customer terminates their Private Mail Box (PMB) the CMRA may, but is not required to, notify the Post Office. CMRAs are required to provide the USPS with a quarterly report of customers who have terminated their relationships with the CMRA. This allows us to adequately monitor CMRA compliance and to determine potentially fraudulent activity.
The CMRA is responsible for forwarding their customers’ mail for 6 months following PMB termination. USPS cannot process a change of address request from a CMRA to another address.
Selling Postal Products
CMRAs may sell Postal products. However, prices on postal products through a CMRA may not be the same as what the Postal Service charges. This is a legal service provided by the CMRA (not the United States Postal Service) as a for-profit business transaction. All refunds for products purchased at a CMRA must be handled by the CMRA. USPS can not issue refunds for postage or products purchased through a third-party vendor.
