Posting non-barcoded stamps will soon land you an extra charge

SWAP OUT: Royal Mail said you can avoid the surcharge by swapping your stamps (Image: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Any mail posted with non-barcoded stamps after July 31 will see the recipient land an as yet unspecified surcharge, Royal Mail has announced this week. After this date, barcoded ones will become the norm, with any mail sent with the old stamps rendered invalid and treated the same way as mail with insufficient or no postage.

However, you can avoid the surcharge by swapping your old stamps for barcoded ones through Royal Mail’s free Swap Out scheme (which opened in 2022) after July 31, with no exchange deadline. Royal Mail said it would issue full surcharge details closer to the time but urged customers to check their purses, wallets and drawers to find any unused non-barcoded stamps.

The firm said it aims to process any application within seven working days, but this is not guaranteed, as it may take longer if it receives a high volume of requests. The move is part of Royal Mail’s ongoing modernisation drive, and it said it would allow the barcodes to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and offer innovative services.

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Matthew Parkes, the managing director of Stamps and Collectibles, said: “As the July 31 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 July 31.”

Stamps eligible for the Swap Out scheme:

• Regular 1st and 2nd class ‘everyday’ definitive stamps and all other values featuring the profile of Her Late Queen Elizabeth;
• Non-barcoded Christmas and other special stamps with pictures continue to be valid for postage and should not be submitted for swap out; customers only need to swap out the ‘everyday’ stamps featuring the profile of Her Late Queen Elizabeth;
• Stamps already used for postage will not be accepted on the Swap Out scheme.

Mail posted after July 31 without a barcoded stamp will be treated in the same way as if there is insufficient postage on an item. Any item that has incorrect postage may be subject to a surcharge.

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There are four ways customers can obtain a Swap Out scheme form:

• Via the Royal Mail website at www.royalmail.com/barcodedstamps where customers can download a form; customers who do not have access to a printer can complete a web form and request a form via post;
• By contacting Royal Mail’s Customer Experience team by telephone on 03457 740740 and requesting a form via post (customers should allow 15 working days before contacting Royal Mail Customer Experience);
• By visiting one of more than 1,200 local delivery offices (Customer Service Points) to pick up a form in person;
• From Post Office branches nationwide;
• Customers can complete a standard Swap Out scheme form for stamps worth up to £200.
• Customers wishing to swap stamps with a value of more than £200 will need to request and complete a Bulk Stamp Swap Out form. Bulk Stamp Swap Out forms are available via www.royalmail.com/barcodedstamps.

Returning the Swap Out scheme form:

Customers returning the form and non-barcoded stamps can do so free of charge. Those who pick up a Swap Out scheme form from a local delivery office (Customer Service Point) or Post Office or request one via post – will also receive a freepost envelope. Customers who print off a Swap Out scheme form can address an envelope to Freepost SWAP OUT. No other address details are needed.

Do you think the barcoded stamps are a good idea? Let us know in the comments below.

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