Not using up old stamps could hit you in pocket

ROYAL MAIL is reminding customers to “use up or swap out” their non-barcoded definitive stamps.

Customers have until July 31 to act after Royal Mail introduced a six-month grace period to give customers even longer to use up their old, non-barcoded stamps.

This means that customers can use old-style stamps as normal until July 31 when non-barcoded stamps will no longer be valid and liable to a surcharge.

Even after the new July 31 deadline, customers will still be able to swap non-barcoded stamps for barcoded stamps through Royal Mail’s simple and free Swap Out scheme.

The Swap Out scheme opened on March 31, 2022, and there is currently no end date as to when customers should swap their non-barcoded stamps by.

Matthew Parkes, Managing Director, Stamps and Collectibles, said: “We don’t want any of our customers to be out of pocket.

“In order to give our customers even more time to use up any remaining non-barcoded stamps, we introduced six-month grace period starting from the original deadline of January 31, 2023, where non-barcoded definitive stamps will still be delivered as normal.

“We continue to encourage customers to check their purses, wallets and drawers to find and use their non-barcoded definitive stamps before the final deadline of July 31.

“But even if they miss this date, there is currently no time limit on customers swapping their non-barcoded stamps for barcoded stamps via our free Swap Out scheme.”

The move is part of the company’s extensive and ongoing modernisation drive and will allow the unique barcodes to facilitate operational efficiencies.

The move to barcoded stamps was first announced on February 1, 2022 - giving customers time to use up their old-style stamps.

Stamps eligible for the Swap Out scheme:

* Eligible stamps are the regular 1st and 2nd Class ‘everyday’ definitive stamps, and all other values, featuring the profile of Her Late Queen Elizabeth.

* Non-barcoded Christmas and other special stamps with pictures on continue to be valid for postage and should not be submitted for swap out. Customers only need to swap out the ‘everyday’ stamps featuring the profile of Queen Elizabeth II.

* Stamps that have already been used for postage will not be accepted on the Swap Out scheme.