Royal Mail issues one-week deadline warning to anyone using 1st or 2nd class stamps

Royal Mail has issued a warning to remind its customers of a looming deadline that will affect anyone who uses its stamps. The UK postal service introduced new barcoded stamps back in 2022 with each barcode allowing the stamps to be traced through the postal system.

Since then, people have still been able to use their existing non-barcoded 1st and 2nd class stamps to post letters however this will soon change. From July 31, any old stamps that don’t have a barcode will no longer be accepted to send post with.

Ahead of the one-week deadline, Royal Mail is now urging its customers to either use up their old stamps, swap them out, or risk the person receiving mail to be charged as its existing stamps become invalid.

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Those who send any mail with a non-barcoded stamp will see the recipient being surcharged £1.10 from July 31. Post sent using the old stamps will be treated in the same way as insufficient or ‘no postage’ on an item.

Recipients of mail sent using non-barcoded stamps will be left a grey ‘Fee to Pay’ card advising them that they have an item of mail that requires a surcharge to be paid before the item can be delivered.

Anyone wanting to get rid of their old stamps can continue to swamp them out for barcoded stamp through Royal Mail’s simple and free ‘Swap Out scheme’. The scheme opened on March 31, 2022 and there is currently no deadline for exchanging your stamps this way.

Royal Mail is now encouraging all customers to check their purses, wallets and drawers to find any unused non-barcoded stamps.

Matthew Parkes, Managing Director, Stamps and Collectibles, said: “As we approach the 31 July deadline, we encourage our customers to use-up any non-barcoded stamps before it is too late.

“Customers who cannot use their non-barcoded stamps before 31 July will still be able to swap them for new barcoded stamps through Royal Mail’s simple and free Swap Out scheme. Nobody should be out of pocket as a result of this change.

“A leaflet with a form was delivered to every household recently, but customers can also print out a form from our website; call our Customer Experience team to order one; or pick one up at a local Royal Mail delivery office or Post Office.”

The company aims to process applications within seven working days. However, this is an aim and not a guarantee – as there may be times when, due to higher volumes of swap out requests, applications take longer to process.

The move is part of the company’s extensive and ongoing modernisation drive and will enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers in the future.

Eligible stamps that can be used in the Swap Out scheme are the regular 1^st and 2^nd 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 on 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 Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Stamps that have already been used for postage will not be accepted on the Swap Out scheme.

You can use the Swap Out Scheme via the Royal Mail website where they can download a form, by contacting Royal Mail’s Customer Experience team by telephone on 03457 740740, by visiting one of more than 1,200 local delivery office Customer Service Points or Post Office branches nationwide.

Customers can complete a standard Swap Out scheme form for stamps worth up to the value of £200. Those wishing to swap stamps with a value of more than £200 will need to request and complete a Bulk Stamp Swap Out form here.

Those returning the form and non-barcoded stamps can do so free of charge.