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Personal Finance Expert from CashLady.com, Dan Whittaker, has released comments to advise the public on the incoming change, encouraging those with the stamps in question to use them before the deadline, and how to swap stamps for updated versions to avoid losing money.
Explaining the upcoming change, Mr Whittaker said: “According to the Royal Mail website, non-barcoded stamps (in other words, stamps containing the Queen’s profile) will no longer be accepted after July 31.
“These stamps will likely be the stamps which you are most familiar with, containing the Queen’s profile on a plain coloured background.
“There are some stamps which this rule does not apply to; ‘Special Stamps with pictures on and Christmas Stamps’ as confirmed on the Royal Mail website.”
Explaining how to avoid losing the value of the stamp, Mr Whittaker added: “To avoid losing the value of the stamps, the first option is to use the non-barcoded stamps ahead of the deadline.
“This is likely a slightly simpler solution, however, with the deadline looming, you may not have the use for them in the next week.
“Alternatively, you can swap your non-barcoded stamps in for the new, barcoded versions, using Royal Mail’s Stamp Swap Out scheme. To do this, you must first obtain a ‘Stamp Swap Out form’.
“You can print this form out at home, request that one is sent to you or pick one up in person.
“If you have a printer, you can print the form out at home. There are two forms available – one for if you need to swap up to £200 of stamps, and one for if you need to swap more than £200 worth of stamps.
“If you have less than £200 worth of stamps, select the relevant PDF from the Royal Mail website, fill out the form, and you can send it back for free by writing “Freepost SWAP OUT” on your envelope.
“Ensure that the stamps you would like to swap are also included in the envelope. “If you have more than £200 worth of stamps, select the relevant PDF from the Royal Mail website which is called the Bulk Stamp Swap Out form.
“Due to the higher value of the stamps you will send back alongside the form, Royal Mail advise to send them both using a secure service with suitable cover to:
Royal Mail
Swap Out
Tallents House
21 South Gyle Crescent
EDINBURGH
EH12 9PB
“Finally, if you don’t have a printer, you can request that the form is sent to you by completing a form on the Royal Mail website.
“Alternatively, you can pick one up from your local Delivery Offices at the Customer Service Point or call the Royal Mail Customer Experience Team. You can also pick up the form from your local post office with a free post envelope.”
This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.
Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1
