Royal Mail issues urgent warning as thousands of stamps will become unusable in 100 days

Royal Mail has issued a warning to all Brits that they only have 100 days left to use stamps without barcodes. By January 31, all stamps that feature just the Queen’s image will become unusable.

People are being urged to use up all of their first and second class stamps by the end of 100 days as they will be no longer valid to post. After January 31 2023, letters sent with the old stamp will be treated as if they carry no stamp at all, and will risk incurring payment or being returned to the sender.

The traditional stamp featuring just the image Queen Elizabeth II is being replaced with a new barcode system. This system, aimed at “reinventing” the stamp for the next generation, will connect the physical stamp to the Royal Mail app.

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Special stamps the have a commemorative picture on them and Christmas stamps without a barcode will still be valid after the end of January.

For those who do not think they will be able to use all of their stamps by the expiry date, Royal Mail is offering a swap out scheme. This cannot be done at a post office. Instead, Swap Out forms can be printed out or filled in on the Royal Mail website, or you can request the forms be sent to you via customer services.

You can then mail over your old stamps via free post and receive a new set of barcoded stamps within seven working days, although the Royal Mail has warned that high demand may make this take longer. If you think you have more than £200 worth of old stamps you will need to fill out a Bulk Stamp Swap Out form and send it off.

Nick Landon, Royal Mail chief commercial officer, said earlier this year: “Please check your kitchen drawers, wallets and purses for older non-barcoded stamps and make sure you use them up by 31 January 2023.” For more information on swapping your stamps you can head to the Royal Mail website.

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