Royal Mail urges customers to ‘use up or swap out’ as deadline rapidly approaches

Royal Mail has issued a reminder to customers to “use up or swap out” their old stamps as they will become obsolete by the end of next month

From July 31, non-barcoded definitive stamps will no longer be accepted to send postage. Royal Mail is urging customers to either use up their old stamps or risk the person receiving mail to be surcharged – an issues which is yet to be completely detailed.

Customers with non-barcoded stamps will be able to swap them for barcoded ones via Royal Mail’s free Swap Out Scheme. The scheme currently has no deadline.

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Matthew Parkes, Managing Director, Stamps and Collectibles, said: “As the 31 July deadline approaches, we are reminding customers to use-up any remaining non-barcoded stamps they may have at home or in the office. Customers can swap their non-barcoded stamps for the new barcoded version via our free and easy to use Swap Out scheme, so no customer should be out of pocket if they still have non-barcoded stamps they cannot use before 31 July.”

Royal Mail stressed that while it aims to process applications within seven working days, this is not a guarantee and periods where there are high volumes of requests could lead to a longer wait. It adds that customers should allow up to 15 working days to process their application before contacting Royal Mail Customer Experience on 03457 740740.

The shift to barcoded stamps was first announced on February 1, 2022 and was given a long deadline so customers had plenty of time to either use up or swap their old stamps.