Rejected Mail

Getting Started

This article explains why a letter may be rejected by a presort facility and how to prevent common address-related issues. It also outlines what happens to undeliverable mail and how LetterStream helps identify potential problems before approval.

In This Article

• What Is Rejected Mail?
• Common Reasons for Mail Rejection
• How to Prevent Rejections

What Is Rejected Mail?

Presort facilities help streamline the delivery process by organizing mail for faster and more accurate handling by the USPS.

Even if LetterStream prints and processes your letter correctly, it may still be rejected by a presort facility due to address issues. Rejected mail will not be delivered or returned.

In some cases, the facility may still forward the letter to the USPS. If the USPS deems it undeliverable, it may be returned to the sender—provided a valid return address is included.

Common Reasons for Mail Rejection

Mail may be rejected for the following reasons:

1. Incomplete or Invalid Recipient Address

   Missing or mismatched city, state, or zip code.

2. Unreadable Address

   Text overlaps or prints over other content, making it hard to read.

3. Missing or Incomplete Return Address

   May lead to rejection, especially if the recipient address is also unclear.

4. Garbled Address Text

   Unembedded fonts or formatting issues prevent the system from reading the address correctly.

How to Prevent Rejections

1. Carefully review all recipient and return addresses before approving your mail.
2. Use LetterStream’s built-in checks that highlight potential address issues.
3. Consider using our Address Cleanup Services for additional support. Click here for more.