(b) Stations, branches, annexes and airport mail facilities-(1) Stations, branches, annexes, and airport mail facilities of first-class offices. (i) With the exception of rural stations and branches or stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions, box rent rates at stations, branches, annexes and airport mail facilities affiliated with firstclass post offices, regardless of gross annual postal receipts, shall be based on the following:

(a) At classified stations, branches, and airport mail facilities, with or without city carrier service and with the position of the superintendent ranked in salary levels 10 or above, the rates are those prescribed in the box rent schedule for the first group below that of the main office.

(b) At classified stations, branches, and airport mail facilities, with or without city carrier service and with the position of the superintendent ranked in salary levels 9 or below, the rates are those prescribed in the box rent schedule for the second group below that of the main office.

(c) At designated classified stations and branches located very near the main office and at annexes, the rates will be the same as those charged at the main office.

(d) All contract stations will charge those rates prescribed in the box rent schedule for the second group below that of the main office.

(ii) All personnel rural stations and branches will charge the fees prescribed in the box rent schedule for group I post offices.

(iii) At nonpersonnel rural stations and branches, the box rent fee is 60 cents per fiscal year. If rented after the beginning of the fiscal year, the rate is 5 cents for each month, or portion of a month, remaining in the fiscal year.

(iv) Stations and branches with box equipment owned or supplied by an academic institution shall establish box rental charges in accordance with § 169.2(b) (3). Stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions with lockbox equipment "Not Owned or Supplied" by an academic institution shall charge regular applicable box rental rates.

(2) Stations and branches of secondand third-class offices. (i) With the exception of rural stations and branches or certain stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions, stations and branches of second- and third-class post offices will charge the same rental fees as those charged at the main office.

(ii) Rural stations and branches will charge the fees prescribed in § 169.2 (b) (i) (ii) or (ii).

(iii) Stations and branches with pox equipment owned or supplied by an academic institution will establish box rental charges in accordance with § 169.2 (b) (3). Stations and branches primarily servicing academic institutions with lockbox equipment "Not Owned or Supplied" by the academic institution will charge regular applicable box rental rates.

(3) Stations and branches servicing academic institutions. The following applies only to stations and branches pri

(d) When boxes of adequate size are not available. When a box large enough to accommodate the daily average mail of a customer is not available, a smaller available box may be assigned. In such cases, if the "olume warrants, a bag or other container may be used in lieu of placing the mail in the box. The fee for this service will be equivalent to the rental that would be collected for the size box necessary to accommodate the average daily mail volume. If the average daily mail volume exceeds the capacity of the largest box in the installation, the rental fee for the largest box will be collected. When there are no boxes of any size available, qualifying customers (firms regularly receiving 50 or more letters on the first delivery trip) may be provided firm holdout service or firm call service, until a box can be assigned.

(e) Payment of box rent. Box rent must be paid in advance. Form 1538, Box Rent Receipt, is given for each payment. A box, except those at nonpersonnel rural stations (see § 161.2(d) (5)), may be rented for the following periods: Quarterly; for the balance of the current quarter; for any number of consecutive quarters within the fiscal year; annually (July 1-June 30); or for the remaining portion of the fiscal year. Boxholders of record may during the last quarter of the fiscal year pay rent for the next

consecutive quarter or quarters in the ensuing fiscal year. The rent may be paid at the option of the boxholder, as follows:

(1) Quarterly. Quarters begin July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1. Rent may be paid anytime on or before June 30, September 30, December 31, and March 31. respectively, for any number of consecutive quarters within the fiscal year.

(2) For balance of current quarter. (i) First month of quarter: Entire quarterly rate.

(ii) Second month of quarter: Twothirds of quarterly rate. To determine the amount to be paid, multiply quarterly rate by two, and divide by three. Drop fractions of a cent.

(iii) Third month of quarter: If rented before 21st day, one-third quarterly rate. On or after the 21st day, no rent will be charged for the remaining days in the quarter, but full payment must be made for the following quarter.

(3) Annually. Rent may be paid annually any time on or before June 30. The fiscal year for box rents begins July 1 and ends June 30.

(4) For balance of fiscal year. After June 30, box rent may be paid for the remaining portion of the fiscal year. Rent must be paid for the fractional quarter, if any, computed in accordance with $151.2(e) (2), and for the remaining full quarters.

(5) At Nonpersonnel rural stations and branches. Boxes at nonpersonnel rural stations and branches may be rented only on a fiscal year basis, or for the remaining portion of the fiscal year. For each payment collected, the rural carrier will issue Form 1096, Cash Receipt, pending issuance of Form 1538.

(6) Notice of rent due. A Notice 32 will be placed in boxes 10 days before rent is due. If a boxholder is temporarily out of town, and has filed a forwarding order, the notice will be sent to him. Notices to Government agencies paying rent on ɛn annual basis will be postmarked before released, and will show the box number and amount due for 1 year.

(7) Past due rent. A box will be closed and offered for rent to another person, if rent is not paid by the due date. Mail,

unless deliverable by carrier, will be held at the facility where the box is located for the required retention periods, or on request of the boxholder, sent to general delivery at the main office. In either case, mail not called for within 10 days shall be suitably endorsed and returned to sender. Payment of box rent by Government agencies may be made during the first quarter of the fiscal year.

(8) Surrendered. When a customer surrenders a box before the end of the period for which rented, the box may be rented to another person.

(f) Refund of box rent. When a box is surrendered, no portion of the rent will be refunded to a customer who has paid on a single quarterly basis. A customer renting a box for more than one quarter who surrenders the box before the end of the full period for which rent has been paid may apply for a refund of that portion of the box rent that is applicable to all remaining full quarters within the fiscal year. No refund will be made for the remaining portion of the quarter in which the box is surrendered. Application for refund should be made on Form 3533, Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage and Fees.

(39 U.S.C. 401, 404) [35 F.R. 19478, Dec. 23, 1970 as amended at 36 F.R. 12833, July 8, 1971; 36 F.R. 13143, July 15, 1971] § 169.3

Keys.

(a) Regular. A customer renting a keytype lockbox must be supplied with one or two keys, according to his needs. Renters of lockboxes are not permitted to obtain or use any keys except those issued through the post office.

(b) Additional. Keys in excess of two may be obtained from the post office on completion of Form 1094, Application for Additional Keys to Post Office Box, and payment of a 50-cent fee for each key. Under no circumstances may the boxholder or his agent obtain additional keys for the box assigned to his use from any other source or supplier.

(c) Duplicate. Duplicates of lost keys may be secured by payment of a 50-cent fee for each key.

(d) Fees not refundable. Fees for duplicate and additional keys are not refundable.

broken

(e) Replacement. Worn or keys shall be replaced without charge if the damaged keys are surrendered.

(f) Return. All keys must be returned when the box is surrendered. If the customer has lost a regular key, he must pay a fee of 50 cents for each missing key. § 169.4 Internal controls.

(a) Record of boxholders. Keep a record of boxholders on Form 1091, Box Rent Register for Keylocking and Keyless Equipment. File Form 1091 in numerical sequence according to box number in three sections as follows:

(1) Cards for vacant boxes.

(2) Cards covering boxes rented for one quarter. When boxes are rented for more than one quarter but less than the full or remainder of the fiscal year, separate cards for these boxes and file in rear of second section.

(3) Cards covering boxes rented for the full or remainder of the fiscal year.

(b) Broken locks. Do not rent boxes having broken locks. When the lock on a rented box is broken, assign a new one to the customer.

(c) Surrendered boxes-(1) Keyless boxes. When a keyless box is surrendered, change the combination before reassignment.

(2) With keys. When a customer surrenders his box and fails to return all keys, send Form 1099, Notice To Return Keys. If all the keys are not returned, the lock must be changed.

(d) Keys and fees-(1) Keys. At least three keys must be provided for each keylocking box. One or two keys will be supplied the boxholder. Keep at least one key on hand at all times for issuance upon submission by boxholder of Form 1094, Application for Additional Keys to Post Office Box. Upon issuance of spare key on hand, requisition replacement immediately. Do not keep a record of keys furnished a boxholder. Withdraw keys in excess of reserve requirements, tag to indicate the key (or lock) number, file numerically, and store in safe place.

(2) Fees. Account for all fees collected for additional and duplicate keys as provided in Handbook F-1. Do not keep any other record.

§ 169.5 Delivery.

(a) Placing in boxes. Place mail addressed to post office boxes in proper boxes immediately after distribution.

(b) Withdrawal from boxes. Mail may be delivered to authorized persons who have forgotten their key or cannot open their box. However, mail should not be handed out to persons properly supplied with keys who can open their boxes but who make a practice of requesting that their mail be given to them. Do not remove mail from boxes of address for delivery by carrier.

§ 169.6 Forwarding box mail.

(a) Order books and index. When the number of Forms 3575, Change of Address Order, average five or more per month, maintain a change of address order book (supply item O-391-M) in the box section. Use a separate address change sheet, Form 1564, for each letter of the alphabet separated by Item O-89 (b), Index. As Forms 3575 are received, post pertinent information chronologically on appropriate sheet. Make appropriate entries on Forms 1564 whenever a former boxholder fails to furnish a forwarding order at the time he surrenders a lock box or when it is closed for nonpayment of rent. Maintain only one set of Forms 1564 at the main office and at each station or branch. After entry to Forms 1564, file Forms 3575 chronologically by months or alphabetically, in a manner that will permit withdrawal at the end of the month after requests are 2 years old. Do Not Maintain a Separate File of Forms 3575 Covering Temporary Changes of Address.

(b) Flag boxes. (1) Use a distinctive colored box label to flag all lock boxes for which there are entries on Forms 1564. Colored labels identify all lock boxes to which mail may be addressed for other than current boxholders.

(2) If desired, the dates on which colored labels should be replaced with conventional white labels may be shown on the colored labels. Except for These Dates Only Information Relating to the Name of the Current Boxholder Shall Be Shown

on Colored Labels. No data pertaining to the forwarding address of the former boxholder shall be placed on labels either before or after further rental of the box.

(3) Case all mail addressed to boxes having a colored label, other than that addressed to or in care of the current boxholder, to a single separation for determination of forwarding address from Forms 1564. If no forwarding address is on record, distribute the mail to the boxes as addressed unless the boxholder of record advises mail for the addressee shall not be placed in his box. Mail rejected

by the boxholder shall be forwarded, returned to sender, or disposed of as waste.

(4) Replace Colored Box Labels With White Labels Immediately Following Termination of a Forward or Change of Address Order or as Soon as It Is Apparent Than a Need for a Colored Label No Longer Exists.

(5) If the number of requests on Form 3575 average less than five per month, follow the same procedures except that Forms 3575 may be filed in alphabetical order and used for reference purposes in lieu of a register.

(a) Where sold. Domestic money orders may be purchased at all post offices, branches, and stations in the United States and its possessions, except for certain offices in Alaska. Money order facilities are also provided for members of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(b) Amounts, fees, payments—(1) Money order amounts. The maximum amount for a single money order is $100.* There is no limitation on the number of orders that may be purchased at one time, except when the Department may impose temporary restrictions.

(2) Money order fees. (i) No fee is

*NOTE: See 38 FR 10335, Apr. 26, 1973 for a $300 maximum amount in some parts of the country.

charged for a postal money order issued to military personnel and/or their dependents by a U.S. Armed Forces Postal Clerk at a Military Post Office (APO or NPO) located in Vietnam, or on board a ship in contiguous waters, as defined by regulations of the Department of Defense, Postal Money Orders issued to others shall be charged at the fees indicated below.

(ii) The fee for a postal money order issued to authorized civilian or military personnel or their dependents by an Armed Forces Postal Clerk on board any ship or at any other Military Post Office (APO or NPO) located outside the 50 States, Puerto Rico, and Guam is 15 cents, regardless of the amount of the money order. Postal money orders issued to others shall be charged at the fees indicated below.

(iii) Fees for dcmestic money orders issued at other post offices including those with branches or stations on military installations and international money orders issued at any post office are as follows: