Mail Services
Mail Service Guidelines
The University of Guelph Mail Services is a centralized mail service established to assist University Departments.
The following guide has been prepared as a source of basic information to help you make the most efficient and economical use of University of Guelph’s Mail Services. These guidelines should eliminate unnecessary returns, delays, or excessive postage charges on outgoing mail.
These guidelines include some Canada Post Regulations, including their Priority Courier Regulations, and the University’s procedures for the smooth, effective operation of the mail system.
Your cooperation on the following these guidelines will contribute to the operating efficiency of the mail system.
Please contact Mail Services for additional information on Postal Rates, Regulations and questions regarding mailing services at (519)824-4120 x52264.
Hours of Operation
Mail Services is located in Room 020 University Centre
| Monday to Friday | 8am - 3pm |
*with the exception of statutory holidays
Responsibilities
Mail Services Responsibilities
The following are the responsibilities of Mail Services:
- To provide a centralized cost effective and efficient distribution system for official University of Guelph Mail.
- To provide information, advice and training to clients of Mail Services
- To ensure compliance with the laws, regulations and rate structure of Canada Post.
Customer Responsibilities
The following are the responsibilities of the customer:
- To ensure department staff are aware of and abide by the guidelines in this document
- To notify Mail Services of changes in location, office hours, and personnel, including the names of visiting professors, to ensure mail is delivered accurately
- To secure mail into bundles not larger than 4” high with two elastic bands, one across the width and one across the length of the bundled envelopes. Include in each bundle the proper Account Card.
- In order to facilitate mail pick up, please notify Mail Services at least one day prior to pick up, if your volume of mail is unusually large.
Restrictions, Junk Mail and Dangerous Goods
The internal distribution of external commercial or business advertising matter, give-aways and/or promotional material are not allowed unless received directly from Canada Post, properly addressed to individuals and/or departments.
Should you receive unwanted, unsolicited mail, often referred to as junk mail, it is recommended you return it to the sender and demand to have your name removed from future mailings. Inter Department and outgoing mail will be processed and distributed only if it pertains to official University of Guelph activities. Official mail may include promotional material distributed on behalf of University of Guelph departments.
Mail Services assumes the good faith and integrity of University personnel in that University mail will be used for matters on official business only. However, as a courtesy, Mail Services will pick-up and forward to Canada Post personal mail provided the appropriate postage is affixed and the mail is bundled separately.
The University mail system must not be used for chain letters, distributing unauthorized advertising, or non official university documents.
Items classified as dangerous goods can be handled or mailed by Mail Services. For information please contact the Mail Room by phone 519-824-4120 x 52264 or by email at ucmailrm@uoguelph.ca for procedures regarding the transport of dangerous goods.
- Information about Transportation of Dangerous Goods – TDG may be found on the Transport Canada website.
- University of Guelph Policy for Transportation of Dangerous Goods on the Human Resources website.
- For further details of Canada Post restrictions, please contact Mail Services, 519-824-4120 x 52264 or ucmailrm@uoguelph.ca
Schedules & Charges
Pick Up and Delivery Schedule
Mail is collected and delivered throughout the campus on a regular basis.
Departments wanting mail processed the same day and who have missed the mail pickup may bring their mail to the Mailroom before 1:00pm. This will ensure that the mail will reach Canada Post the same day.
Charges
As University departments exercise control over their mailing activities, the cost of postage and special services for outgoing mail is charged back to the customer through the Financial Reporting System (FRS).
Mail charges will be posted in FRS. The billing cut-off date will be the 28th of each month. Charges in FRS will include the postage costs plus the non-rebatable portion of HST. All postal rates are subject to the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
A University Department Account Card from Mail Services identifying the G.L. Account must accompany each bundle. The expense code for postage and special services is 64311. These Account Cards will be the method of identifying where costs are allocated.
Please contact Mail Services, 519-824-4120 extension 52264 for Account Cards. Lost Cards must be reported to Mail Services immediately.
Requests for new Account Cards to identify separate (additional) accounts will not be provided unless the volume of mail to be charged exceeds 500 pieces per semester. Customers who do not meet the minimum quantity per semester may be charged the minimum fee for 500 pieces.
Preparing Your Mail
To help Mail Services operate effectively and efficiently, mail must be properly prepared by the sending department.
Preparation includes:
- All envelopes must have a University of Guelph return address identifying the sending department
- Flaps on unsealed envelopes must be overlapped
- All mail must be pre-sorted into separate bundles as follows:
- INTER DEPARTMENT
- CANADA DESTINATIONS
- USA DESTINATIONS
- INTERNATIONAL (OVERSEAS)
- Each bundle must be securely banded with two elastic bands, one across the width and one across the length of the bundled envelopes, with the Account Card captured on top.
- Mail that does not meet the above will be returned to the sender.
Important Information
Inter department envelopes are available from our current stationery supplier. These envelopes are designed to be used repeatedly.
Addressing information for inter department mail must include full department name, not initials, and a specific person’s name, if applicable.
These envelopes can only be used for Inter department mail and not for Canada Post.
Often the need to use address labels or to insert department flyers, circulars, announcements, etc. can be eliminated. Please contact Mail Services, 519-824-4120 x 52264 for advice.
All addressed bulk mailings, 50 or more similar pieces, must be pre-sorted and bundled by department.
Student bulk mailings are to be sorted and bundled by building number and then by student box number.
Departments sending official University mail to addresses off campus are responsible for the proper preparation of all lettermail and parcels.
The following guidelines and appendices should eliminate unnecessary returns, delays, or excessive postage charges on outgoing mail.
Each piece of mail must clearly identify the name of the originating department in the top left hand corner of the envelope, under the University of Guelph logo. This will ensure that undeliverable mail can be returned to the sender.
All mail must be properly addressed. The recipient’s name, agency or company, street address or P.O. Box, city, province or state, country and postal code or zip code is required. The postal code must always appear last on the envelope and must reflect the proper address. No other information should be placed below the postal code.
Do not abbreviate international addresses, with the exception of the U.S.A. Use the complete spelling of a foreign city and country.
Mail must be enclosed in an appropriate envelope or parcel.
Items must be properly packed and safe to handle.
Restrictions apply to the mailing of certain items to foreign countries. Please contact Mail Services, (519)824-4120 x 52264, for information regarding restrictions and advice on how to package fragile or unusual material.
- Standard envelopes are available from our current stationery supplier.
- Window envelopes must be matched with the insert to ensure the entire address will show through the window, even when the insert slides inside the envelope.
- Mail Services will seal external mail envelopes. To facilitate this, the customers are asked to “fan” the flaps. “Fanning” is overlapping unsealed flaps.
- Mail must also be faced so that all pieces are readable within a bundle without turning the envelopes.
All parcels must be packed securely. The recipient’s addressing information must be clearly printed in the centre of the parcel and the originating department in the top left hand corner.
It is advisable to show the address of the sender and of the addressee inside the parcel and identified on the items as much as possible.
Items classified as dangerous goods can be handled or mailed by Mail Services.
Please contact Mail Services, 519-824-4120 x52264 for assistance on additional rates and classifications.
Additional charges may incur for departments mailing large volumes of printed matter. Contact Mail Services, 519-824-4120 x 52264 for details.
All mail forwarded outside Canada falls under international rates and regulations which vary widely from country to country. Rates and types of services available are too numerous and complex to list. Please contact Mail Services, (519)824-4120 x52264 to determine the proper rates, classification, and obtain the documents which may be required for customs declaration.
Failure to comply with the regulations can result in additional expenses and delays.
Parcels going out of the country via courier services require appropriate Custom Documents completed by the sender. Exceptions are letters containing correspondence and Printed Papers that are known not to be dutiable. Mail Services will provide you with the forms, and clarification of the regulations if required. They can be contacted by phone at 519-824-4210 x 52264 or by email at ucmailrm@uguelph.ca.
A Department wishing to have mail returned, i.e. surveys, invitations, etc. in a postage paid envelope should use Business Reply Mail.
Business Reply mail is a contractual agreement with Canada Post and requires a permit number and business reply indicia issued by Canada Post. The permit is available for use by the department through Mail Services. As Canada Post is very strict on the enforcement of the format, do not design Business Reply mail pieces without contacting Mail Services, (519)824-4120 x 52264.
About Our Services
Reference Websites:
Postal Code Look Up at: Canada Post
Yellow Pages Address Search at: canada411
Mail Services provides the following Canada Post services:
10.1 Registered
Registered Mail is an optional service to Lettermail items. The mailer upon request to Mail Services will be provided with a proof of mailing and a signature is obtained from the addressee, or the addressee ’s representative, before delivery is completed. Registered items are processed through the regular Lettermail stream.
10.2 XPRESSPOST
XPRESSPOST is time sensitive service with a built in confirmation option which allows the customer to verify the delivery status of the item by calling a toll free number. This service provides a guaranteed speed (1 business day local, 2-3 business days between Canadian urban centres). Available for documents and packages, XPRESSPOST replaces domestic Special Delivery/Special Letter, Counter Expedited parcels and Commercial Air parcels service.
10.3 Priority Couriers
This is a guaranteed delivery service for urgent time sensitive items. In most cases items deposited at a postal outlet in any of the following 3 regions (Quebec/Ontario, Western provinces, Atlantic provinces) in Canada will be delivered to the address on the next business day. Across Canada service is generally next business day between most major centres. The Priority Courier Guarantee applies to all Priority Courier Shipments.
10.4 Insurance
Insurance is a service where Canada Post provides compensation for the loss, rifling or damage of mailable items if the requirements of the Indemnity subject are met.
Canada Post provides numerous other special services but are too lengthy to detail in this document. Please contact Mail Services, (519)824-4120 x52264 for details.
Mail Services does not co-ordinate private couriers, with the exception of Canada Post Priority Courier.
For additional information, contact Mail Services by phone at 519-824-4120 x 52264 or by email at ucmailrm@uoguelph.ca, regarding Purolator, Federal Express, etc.
Helpful Hints
Taking a moment to prepare mail correctly helps Mail Services process items quickly and keeps costs down for your department. When in doubt, contact Mail Services for guidance before sending.
- Keep your mail lists up-to-date
- Canada Post applies a minimum surcharge of $0.15 on letter mail which does not include a postal code
- Non-standard envelopes cost a premium
- Letters should be folded in three and put in a standard envelope to get the best first class rate
- Departments wanting mail processed the same day may bring their mail to the mailroom before 1:00pm
- It is strongly recommended that persons expecting a courier item provide the sender with their correct name and proper University address (building, department, and very important – room number)
- Undeliverable (dead letters) are destroyed after 10 days
- First class Canadian lettermail does not require air mail identifiers under 500 Grams (3/16” thick)
- Separate bundles: Inter Department, Canada, USA, International
- fan all envelopes to be sealed
- Seal thick envelopes because the metering machine cannot perform this function
- Give advance notice to Mail Services for large mailouts of 500 pieces or more so mail tubs can be provided. Please note: an additional fee may apply, inquire within.
- Where possible, use electronic mail