Royal Mail issues stamp warning ahead of January 31 deadline as millions set to be come worthless

Royal Mail has warned customers of a huge upcoming change to its stamps.

New barcodes will be added to standard “definitive” first and second-class stamps which feature the profile of the late Queen on a plain coloured background. From January 31, regular stamps without a barcode will no longer be valid but mail posted with non-barcoded everyday stamps will still be delivered as normal for six months.

After this grace period, an item with a non-barcoded stamp would be treated as if there is insufficient postage. Any item that has insufficient postage is subject to a surcharge.

Read more: Unknown passport rule which could stop Brits travelling to Europe

The good news is, you can swap your stamps before the deadline for new barcoded ones. The bad news is, you unfortunately can’t just take them to your nearest post office to swap.

Instead, you will need to fill out a form and send them back to Royal Mail. The postal service said the change was part of the company’s “extensive and ongoing modernisation drive”.

It will allow the unique barcodes to facilitate operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and “pave the way for innovative services for customers”.

Special stamps with pictures on and Christmas stamps without a barcode will continue to be valid and don’t need to be swapped out.

How to swap stamps

• If you have a printer, you can swap out up to £200 worth of non-barcoded stamps by printing out and completing this Stamp Swap Out PDF. You can send this back to Royal Mail free of charge, along with your stamps, by writing on the envelope Freepost SWAP OUT. No other address details or postcode are needed.
• If you have a printer, and more than £200 worth of stamps to swap out then use the Bulk Stamp Swap Out form. Royal Mail recommends sending this and your non-barcoded stamps back to them via a secure service with suitable cover. The address to send to is: Royal Mail, Swap Out, Tallents House, 21 South Gyle Crescent, EDINBURGH, EH12 9PB
  
• If you don’t have access to a printer you can request a Stamp Swap Out form to be posted to you by completing this form online. The instructions for sending back to us will depend on the form you request. ‘Stamp Swap Out’ forms are also available from the Customer Service Point at your local Delivery Offices (but please note they will only have the forms for the up to £200 option). Or you can call the Customer Experience Team on 03457 740740.