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Royal Mail have issued a changed to the stamp deadline leaving its customers with questions.
Classic stamps are set to become worthless as they are being replaced by ones with barcodes. Recipients can scan the code to watch videos and greeting messages from senders.
Customers were originally told to use up their classic stamps by January 31, 2023 – but the Royal Mail has now introduced a six month “grace period”. The ‘extended’ deadline mean there is technically opportunity to et rid of your stamps by July 31, 2023 before they become worthless.
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However, customers are still questioning what to do as Royal Mail still says you have to use your old stamps by January 31. “Royal Mail website still saying old stamps are expiring end of Jan even tho [sic] they supposedly pushed back the deadline,” wrote one person on Twitter.
Below is what you need to know about the situation.
When can I use my old stamps by?
July 31, 2023- covered by the six-month “grace period” from the January 31 deadline.
As the Royal Mail is not calling it an official extension, this is why its website still says the deadline as January 31 – despite this confusing people.
In the FAQs section on the Royal Mail website, it states: “Mail posted with non-barcoded Definitive stamps after 31 January 2023, will for the first six month be delivered as normal, no surcharge will be raised.”
Royal Mail moved the deadline back to give people more time to adjust to the change.
What happens if I use an old stamp after July 31?
After this date, Royal Mail will treat any post sent with non-barcoded stamps as having insufficient postage. This means you may need to pay a fee.
For example, sending a letter or large letter currently incurs a £2.50 fee where no postage has been paid at all on a regular sized or large letter.
What exceptions are there?
Yes, you can still use commemorative and non-barcoded Christmas stamps even after July 31.
I’m worried I won’t use my old stamps by July 31 – what can I do?
You can exchange your old stamps for free through the Royal Mail ‘Swap Out’ scheme.
To do this, download a ‘Swap Out’ form on the Royal Mail website, call up Royal Mail on 03457 740740, or pick up a form from a local delivery office or Post Office or instead complete a web form and request for it to be posted to you.
Once you’ve filled it out, post back the stamps you want to swap using the Freepost address. Your new barcode stamps should then arrive in seven days.
You will need to complete a standard form for stamps worth up to £200, or a Bulk Stamp form for stamps worth more than £200. There is also currently no deadline for swapping old stamps, although it’s best to do it sooner rather than later in case an end date does get announced.
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