Account Inquiry Help

Overview
Submitting an Inquiry
Interpreting Report Codes
Making Changes to Existing Accounts

Overview

The CAPS Account Inquiry page lets you query a US Postal Service database about your CAPS account activity using a Web browser and an Internet connection. You can view and print your account information, or download it for use in your own data processing systems. This page, the Account Inquiry Help page, contains information about using the Account Inquiry page.

Note: To get current balance and last deposit information without using a computer or Internet connection, please call 1-866-252-9168. Please have your CAPS account number available when you call.

System Requirements

To access the USPS database that contains CAPS account information, your computer must have the following minimum components:

• Standard Web browser with JavaScript and SSL enabled, and
• An Internet connection.

Inquiry time

When you submit an inquiry to the CAPS database, the amount of time it takes to generate a report depends on several things. The speed of your Internet connection, the number of users accessing the CAPS Web server at that time, and the amount of data you request all impact the amount of time an inquiry will take. Under normal conditions, you should get results within five or six minutes.

Note: For optimal performance, we strongly suggest customers download data frequently.

Submitting an Inquiry

1. Enter your CAPS account number and password.

   The CAPS Service Center gives you an account number and password when you apply for a CAPS account. On the Account Inquiry page, the CAPS system validates the account and password combination you enter before processing your inquiry. If you are having difficulty entering a valid account and password combination, please contact the CAPS Service Center for assistance.

2. Click a selection on the Activity Type list.

   To get more information about an activity type, click the name of the activity type on this list.

   Transaction History
   Future Fee Expirations
   Past Fee Payments
   Debit Reconciliation
   International Billing
   Express Mail Activity Report
   EMCA Reconciliation Report
   Update Customer Information

3. Enter the EMCA number, if required.

– Enter your EMCA number when submitting inquires for the Express Mail Activity Report and EMCA Reconciliation Report activity types.

4. Enter the Start and End dates using the MMDDYY format.

– Use only numerals. For example, enter 070104 for July 1, 2004.
– Use an end date that is later than the start date.
– Use past start and end dates for the Transaction History, Fee Payments, and Debit Reconciliation activity types.
– Use current or future start and future end dates for the Fee Expirations activity type.
– Date ranges for Transaction History and Debit Reconciliation inquiries cannot exceed 40 days.

5. Click a selection on the Results list.

View in the browser – Displays data in report form in the Web browser. Select Print or Save As from the browser's File menu to print or save the report.

Download comma separated data – Displays data fields separated by commas in the Web browser. Select Print or Save As from the browser's File menu to print or save the report. Please note that the contents of the Customer Ref/Reason Code/Trans# field are enclosed in double quotes. This is an example of comma separated data:

2001071409304400BM,07/14/2001,SEATTLE,WA,154526,BR,B,404,179,0,"55555,SEATTLE,WA"

Note: This is the recommended format for customers generating reports with numerous transactions.

Download tab separated data – Displays data fields separated by tabs in the Web browser. Select Print or Save As from the browser's File menu to print or save the report. This is an example of tab separated data:

20010903203475300F	09/03/2001	CALISTOGA	CA	999	PI	0
20010903203475300F	09/03/2001	CALISTOGA	CA	777	PI	0
20010903203475300F	09/03/2001					0

Download Microsoft Access – Displays data in Microsoft Access after you select a download location for the file and then open the file in Access.

Note: The fields in a downloaded data file are the same, and in the same order, as the fields on the report of the same activity type.

6. Click GET CAPS ACCOUNT INFORMATION to generate the inquiry.

Interpreting Codes

Class Codes

This table shows descriptions of the mailing class codes that appear on Transaction History reports. Transactions without mailing class codes are not mailing transactions.

Transaction Codes

This list shows the transaction codes that appear on Transaction History reports when the transaction is not a mailing transaction.

A = adjustment (permit, business reply, and merchandise return)
A2 = adjustment (periodicals)
D = deposit (ACH Credit and incoming wire)
DD = ACH Debit Deposit
DN = Netpost Deposit
DP = PPC Debit Deposit
DQ = ACH Debit Deposit for International Billing
EA = Customs Fee Advance
EF = Customs Fee Payment
EJ = Customs Fee Adjustment
EM = Express Mail Payment
EP = Debit Pre-Note
EW = Customs Fee Wire Charge
EZ = AEC (address element correction)
F = fee payment
FW = incoming wire fee
R = refund
RF = refund-from
RT = refund-to
TF = transfer-from
TT = transfer-to
V = verified received

Business Reply Codes

BM = BRM/BPRS Mailing-3582
BS = Parcel Return Service
BW = BR Mailing for Weight Averaging Postage

Merchandise Return Services Codes

MR = Merchandise Return Service

Periodicals Codes

M1 = 3541 Mailing Statement
MP = CPP Mailing Statement

Permit Domestic Mail Codes

M0 = 3600: First-Class Mail
M1 = 3602: Standard Mail
M2 = 3605: Package Services Bound Printed Matter, Parcel Post and Parcel Select
M3 = 3605: Package Services Media Mail, Library Mail

Permit International Mail Codes

M4 = 3700 Part B International Surface Air Lift (ISAL)
M5 = 3700 Part A First-Class Mail International
M6 = 3700 Part C International Priority Airmail (IPA)
M7 = 3700 Part D Priority Mail International
MH = 3700 Part F Global Direct - Canada Admail
MJ = 3700 Part E Global Shipping Software
MK = 3700 Part H Global Bulk Economy
ML = 3700 Part G Global Direct - Canada Publications Mail
MO = 3700 Part I Global Direct
MY = 3700 Part J Reserved

Express Mail Transaction Type Codes

C = delivery charge
D = deposit
E = Caps receipts
F = return, receipt, COD, or insurance fee
M = mailing
P = pickup fee
R = basic postage refund
X = pickup fee refund
Y = delivery fee refund
T = transfer to PM
W = withdrawal
1 = basic postage adjustment
2 = pickup fee adjustment
3 = delivery fee adjustment
4 = return receipts, COD, or insurance fee adjustment

Making Changes to Existing Accounts

Linking Additional Accounts — To request funding of additional permit accounts through CAPS, customers may either submit a written request on company letterhead or PS Form 6002, Local Account Information, with a list of permit numbers to the CAPS Service Center. One of the contact persons listed on the CAPS account must sign the request.

De-linking Accounts — To request the de-linking of a permit account from CAPS, customers must submit a written request on company letterhead indicating the permit number, city, and state to the CAPS Service Center. One of the contact persons listed on the CAPS account customer must sign the request.