Hi Charlie,
My database includes the alumni from the WVU School of Forestry.
Alumni and school newsletters are mailed several times a year. I
never delete an alumni's record, even after they pass away.
So I came up with a child panel to record mail returns. When you
enter the child panel to create a new record, the current address is
pulled into the child panel. I also note the reason (excuse) for the
return. Much of the time, the new address is on the return label.
Since I am only dealing with about 9200 total people, the NACS
services are not cost effective, so I use the returns to maintain
accuracy. I typically have about 5% maximum returns, depending on how
long since the last mailing.
I have the child panel indexed with a reverse date so the newest
record shows up first. I have had several instances where the address
that the USPS thought was correct changed back and forth.
Other problems, returned marked "Temporarily Away"; and snowbirds. I
have had up to 5 "TA's" before the original address started working
again. I have no idea why. The the advent of military action in Iraq,
some could be due to military assignments, but the others?
The snowbirds have two addresses, and switch back and forth. With
limited number, I found it easiest to just create a duplicate record
and send to both addresses. I did add two date fields, Activate date,
and Inactivate date, to use a formula to toggle the "good address"
exclusion field, but never successfully implemented that trick.
Another problem is the national trend away from rural route (RR) and
Highway Contract (HC) box addresses to actual street addresses. Since
the Post Office does not consider this an address change, I never get
any return until they send one with No Such Number.
Rich
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