One of the most important USPS innovations was the Centralized Account Payment System (CAPS). Prior to CAPS, most mailers had to pay for postage via check into trust accounts associated with each local mailing permit they established, and in advance of mailings. The CAPS system allowed for customers to cover all of their payments to USPS through one centralized account funded with electronic funds transfers.
The most advanced feature of CAPS was enabling mailers to have their own bank accounts debited by the USPS with the Automated Clearinghouse (ACH), after the mail was entered. This enabled “just in time payment” that brought USPS customer service more in line with the business world. It also reduced costs on both the customer and USPS sides, as it replaced thousands of paper checks with ACH transfers.
Today the USPS has given CAPS a makeover, (now known as Enterprise Payment System (EPS)). EPS will keep the core enhancements of CAPS that are now taken for granted and add more functionality and ease of use, according to a recent Postal announcement.
As of April 1, 2019, the USPS will retire CAPS. After launching the new EPS payment processing system which supports multiple payment options, including mobile check deposit, offers more reporting features, and allows management of multiple USPS business functions under one account.
Eligible Products and Services include First-Class Mail®, Letters, Cards, and Flats, Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service, USPS Marketing Mail™, Letters, Flats, and Parcels, Parcel Select®, Media Mail®, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Periodicals, International Products, Business Reply Mail (BRM), and Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM®), submitted via hard copy, eDoc (Mail.dat/Mail.XML), Postal Wizard or the Intelligent Mail® small business (IMsb) Tool, PO Box, Caller & Reserve Services (EPOBOL), and Address Quality Products (AEC, AECII and ACS™).
Products not currently supported include Electronic Verification System (eVS®), Parcel Return Service (PRS), PC Postage®, Scan Based Payment (SBP), Merchandise Return Service (MRS), Official Mail Accounting System (OMAS), Premium Forwarding Service Commercial (PFSC™), Share Mail®, and Intelligent Mail barcode Accounting (IMbA). Customers utilizing these products will be continue to be supported through CAPS.
Effective September 1, 2018, new payment accounts must be established through EPS. Effective April 1, 2019, eligible CAPS accounts must be migrated to EPS, although customers are encouraged to migrate now.
Mail Entry and Business Mailer Support is hosting a series of informational sessions on EPS and the migration process:
o When: Occurs every Tuesday 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST
o Webex: https://uspsmeetings.webex.com/uspsmeetings/j.php?MTID=mb2fa637535b3d99a3c91879db494ff8f
o Call-in toll-free number (US): 1-855-860-7461
Conference Code: 358 251 5082
For more information:
Visit PostalPro Enterprise Payment System Page: https://postalpro.usps.com/eps
For more EPS benefits and how to create an EPS account review the Enterprise Payment System Account Creation Fact Sheet: https://postalpro.usps.com/EPS/MigrationFactSheet
To sign-up today contact:
Your local Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU): https://ribbs.usps.gov/locators/find-bme.cfm
PostalOne! Helpdesk
o Call: 1-800-522-9085
o Email: Postalone@usps.gov