Stark five-week warning issued to every Royal Mail customer

Royal Mail customers are being urged to act within five weeks or risk paying additional fees.

People have until July 31 to “use up or swap out” their non-barcoded definitive stamps. Customers could be hit with extra charges if they continue to use the stamps after that date.

Liverpool Echo reports Royal Mail will issue full details of the surcharge nearer the time. Users who cannot use any non-barcoded stamps before the deadline can swap them out for the new barcoded stamps.

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This is easily done through the free Swap Out scheme which opened on March 31 last year. Customers are being urged by Royal Mail to check their purses, wallets and drawers to find any unused non-barcoded stamps.

Matthew Parkes, Managing Director, Stamps and Collectibles, said: “As the 31 July deadline approaches, we are reminding customers to use-up any remaining non-barcoded stamps they may have at home or in the office. Customers can swap their non-barcoded stamps for the new barcoded version via our free and easy to use Swap Out scheme, so no customer should be out of pocket if they still have non-barcoded stamps they cannot use before 31 July.”

The company aims to process applications within seven working days. However, this is “an aim and not a guarantee”, as there may be times when, due to higher volumes of swap out requests, applications take longer to process.

Customers, the company said, should allow 15 working days before contacting Royal Mail Customer Experience on 03457 740740.