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A warning has been issued to everyone in the UK with unused first and second class stamps.
Royal Mail introduced a new barcode on the back of stamps in 2022. These allow the stamps to be traced.
But, since the introduction, customers have still been able to use non-barcoded first and second class stamps. From next week, you will no longer be able to use these to post mail.
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Ahead of the deadline, Royal Mail is urging people to use up the stamp or swap them to avoid them becoming invalid. Anyone who sends post with a non-barcoded stamp will see the recipient charged £1.10 from July 31.
Anyone who wants to get rid of their old scamps can swap them through Royal Mail’s simple and free ‘Swap Out scheme’. The scheme opened on March 31, 2022, and there is currently no deadline for exchanging your stamps this way, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Matthew Parkes, Managing Director, Stamps and Collectibles, said: “As we approach the 31 July deadline, we encourage our customers to use-up any non-barcoded stamps before it is too late.
“Customers who cannot use their non-barcoded stamps before 31 July will still be able to swap them for new barcoded stamps through Royal Mail’s simple and free Swap Out scheme. Nobody should be out of pocket as a result of this change.
“A leaflet with a form was delivered to every household recently, but customers can also print out a form from our website; call our Customer Experience team to order one; or pick one up at a local Royal Mail delivery office or Post Office.”
Customers can complete a standard Swap Out scheme form for stamps worth up to the value of £200. Those wishing to swap stamps with a value of more than £200 will need to request and complete a Bulk Stamp Swap Out form here.
Those returning the form and non-barcoded stamps can do so free of charge.
