Royal Mail issues stamp warning with time running out before deadline

DEADLINE APPROACHING: Royal Mail customers have until July 31, 2023 to use old first and second-class stamps before they will no longer be valid for post (Photo by Getty)

Now is the time to start using up your stamps if you have a stash tucked away at home. Regular stamps without a barcode will no longer be valid after July 31, 2023, with the recipient having to pay additional charges.  

The traditional stamps, featuring a left-facing profile face of Her Late Majesty The Queen, on a coloured background, will not be used after July this year. Only barcoded stamps, non-barcoded Christmas stamps, or special collection stamps can be used.

Initially set to expire in January this year, Royal Mail extended the deadline by six months to use or exchange their old stamps. A swap-out scheme has been introduced for anyone who wants to exchange their old stamps for new ones, which you can do online or via post.

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You can swap your non-barcoded stamps in three easy steps:

1. Pick up or print out a swap-out form. If you’ve got less than £200 worth, print out this Swap Out form and fill it in. If you’ve got more than £200 worth of old stamps, print and fill out this Swap Out form.
2. Complete your form and include your unused stamps in an envelope.
3. Send free of charge to “Freepost SWAP OUT” (no stamps or additional details are required on the envelope)

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 it back to Royal Mail will depend on the form you request.

The postal company is advising those sending bulk forms to send via special delivery and the additional cost of doing this will be refunded by Royal Mail in the form of barcoded stamps worth the same amount. For more details, click on this link here.

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