Ban on old stamps delayed 6 months

A BAN on old stamps which don’t feature new barcodes has been delayed until next summer after complaints by MPs, charities and customers.

Royal Mail is rolling out the new stamps to tackle fraud and improve tracking. It had put a deadline of January 31 for the use of old versions.

Refunds were offered on unused stamps by printing out an online form to send them back, but there were fears many older people would find this difficult.

The deadline has now been extended by six months, and post offices will supply freepost envelopes to return them. Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: ‘Hopefully this will give older people extra time.’