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Metered Mail Technology - It's Your Best Defense
* Track Your Incoming and Outgoing Mail * Pitney Bowes Delivers Tips for Safer Mail, Helping You Protect Your Employees and Customers
Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI), the leader in global mailing technology, today announced tips on how companies can better secure their mail through metering technology and incoming and outgoing tracking solutions -- greatly improving the level of security for a company's processing of mail. By learning how to identify suspicious packages or letters before they are opened, people can reduce their risk."In recent weeks, envelopes containing suspicious powders -- mostly hoaxes -- have been sent to several companies and government offices. It's important to note that the high-profile Anthrax tainted mail used stamps or prepaid postage envelopes, not a postage meter," said Michael J. Critelli, Chairman and CEO Pitney Bowes Inc. "Metered mail can help companies easily identify the place of mailing for an envelope or a package. It is important that companies take precautions, so they do not have to experience needless anxiety. This includes teaching their employees how to identify a professional piece of mail versus one that could be suspect."
Pitney Bowes consistently invests more in research and development of secure mailing technologies and solutions than any other company in the industry. Pitney Bowes meter users are licensed by and on file with the U.S. Postal Service and Pitney Bowes. And, since every meter indicia contains a tracking number, Pitney Bowes can identify the point of mailing for every piece of metered mail. That's why, generally speaking, suspicious packages and letters use stamps, not meters; and customers who want their mail to be opened are more likely to use meters. Pitney Bowes also has incoming and outgoing tracking technology through their delivery management solutions. The incoming solutions enable customers to track mail from the point of delivery at their building to the final recipient, with electronic signature confirmation. And, like metered mail, outgoing packages can also be traced back to their point of mailing. Thereby creating comfort for the recipient.
Pitney Bowes has developed some tips to help you assess the safety of the contents of envelopes and packages. Look for this and other mailroom security information at http://www.pitneybowes.com.
Safety in Mail
For all types of mail that come into your organization and your home, Pitney Bowes strongly recommends looking for the following signs that the contents may be hazardous or that the mail has been tampered with.
* Words that prompt you to immediately open the letter or package:
"Confidential", "Personal", "Fragile"
* Excessive postage, using postage stamps as opposed to a meter
* Wrong title of employee or titles without names
* Addresses that are poorly typed, handwritten or contain misspellings
* Oily stains, strange odors or powdery substances
* Return address not consistent with the state from which it was
postmarked, or no return address
* Exceptionally large or lopsided parcels
* Envelopes where the flap is taped or parcels with excessive wrapping
material such as masking tape, strapping tape or string
Procedures for increasing mail center safety:
* Conducting a background check prior to hiring an employee
* Keep the mail center secure by doing things such as locking doors to
unauthorized personnel
* Maintain a sign-in sheet, including the times of the person's arrival
and departure
* Escort visitors to and from their destination within the mail center
* Encourage employees to notify a manager if another employee fails to
adhere to the established mail center procedures
* Window/counter hours should be scheduled, with hours displayed outside
of the mail center
* "Authorized Personnel Only" signs should be posted on outside doors
Pitney Bowes is a $4 billion global provider of integrated mail and document
management solutions headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The company serves
over 2 million businesses of all sizes through dealer and direct operations. For
additional information on the company, its products and solutions visit
http://www.pitneybowes.com.
Contact: Jennifer Panaro
jennifer.panaro@pb.com
203-351-6823
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SOURCE Pitney Bowes Inc.
CONTACT: Jennifer Panaro of Pitney Bowes, +1-203-351-6823,
jennifer.panaro@pb.com
URL: http://www.pitneybowes.com
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