| POST OFFICE STATION 17 | Meter Mail |
The VUMC meter mail system allows for the quick dispatch of outgoing mail without the purchase of stamps for each item. Mail is sent through
one of Station 17's postage meters, which prints the needed postage on the item and automatically debits the amount (see sample meter impression at right) to Station 17's postage account.
Meter mail can be sent by two methods: 1) by meter slip (described just below) or 2) meter token.
(In either case, meter mail complies with USPS package security guidelines, since the meter slip can be traced back to the meter that produced it.) |
| METER SLIP |
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The most common way to send meter mail is with the Metered Mail Service
form, shown below. (This item is generally referred to as a meter mail
slip.)
NOTE: This item was formerly
form# 60-005-826, ordered via Procurement.
(Older Medical Center slips, with the blue paper
top copy, may still be used until supplies are exhausted.)
The meter slip should be fully filled out and attached to the mail piece or pieces to be sent out; the bundle may then be picked up by your
campus mail carrier or placed in the Metered Mail slots in the Post Office Station 17 lobby
or at the VCH mail room. In order for the charge to be processed correctly
and your mail to be sent without delay, there are three critical points that should be
kept in mind when using this form:
(The budget/signature area is emphasized in
After your meter order is processed, you will receive a copy of your slip back by campus mail showing the charges made. Proper completion of your departmental contact information (marked in green on the small illustration above) is essential for this. Please note regarding copies of these documents:
There is no copy of the meter slip for the Post Office to file. If you need a copy later for pullsheet reconciliation
or other purposes, you will need to obtain one from the Department of Finance
Archives. Contact them at 2-2381.
From your pullsheet, provide the journal entry id, the month of the journal entry, and the meter slip number.
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| METER TOKENS | |||||
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This is a small, round, blue sticker (see picture at bottom) which can be purchased from the Copy Center, in sheets of 120, like any other form—the form number is MC 0200.
(For information on ordering MC forms, click here.) Each token is always priced the
same as a first-class stamp.
Meter tokens are designed for use by departments that have security concerns about keeping actual stamps on hand. Station 17 meter tokens are not good at any other post office and so have no value except for VUMC business. If you use only small amounts of stamps and/or have a secure place to store your stamp stock, you should prefer stamps as a simpler alternative. An important point to note: Letters bearing this token MUST BE SENT TO STATION 17 AS METER MAIL. This means, either bundled and picked up by your campus mail carrier, or placed in the meter mail slot in the Station 17 lobby. Such items CANNOT BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. If placed in any U.S. mail slot or box, they will be returned as postage-due mail. If you decide to use tokens, please be sure all your staff understand this.
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