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The Royal Mail will be adding barcodes to all regular stamps, enabling exciting new services by connecting physical stamps to the digital world through the Royal Mail app. But what will this mean for current stamps?
After 31st January 2023, regular stamps without a barcode will no longer be valid. You can either choose to use these stamps before this deadline (great for Christmas cards), or swap them for the new barcoded ones through the Stamp Swap Out scheme. If you try to use an old stamp, you may be subject to a surcharge.
Please note that 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 can you swap out old stamps?
To swap out your old stamps, simply download one of the Stamp Swap Out forms (see more information here) and send them back to the Royal Mail with your non-barcoded stamps. If you have a printer, print the form and send back, along with your stamps, free of charge by writing on the envelope Freepost SWAP OUT. No other address details or postcode are needed.
There is also the option to swap more than £200 worth of stamps, but you will need post them to a separate address. Don’t forget to download this PDF and fill in all the correct details.
Royal Mail
Swap Out
Tallents House
21 South Gyle Crescent
EDINBURGH
EH12 9PB
For those without 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 will depend on the form you request.
The Royal Mail explain: “The move is part of the Company’s extensive and ongoing modernisation drive and 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.”
Time to check those drawers at home for old stamps…
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