Campaigners stamp out Royal Mail’s deadline for barcode postage

ROYAL MAIL has extended the deadline to use “non-barcoded” stamps by until next summer.

A phasing out of the old stamp in favour of “digital-friendly” payment stickers with barcodes began this year and was due to end on Jan 31. However, the postal company has now granted a six-month “grace period” where traditional stamps can still be used.

Silver Voices, a campaign group for the over-60s, had said the move would hit the elderly who bulk-buy stamps to protect against price inflation.

The company is also introducing ways to help customers exchange old stamps for new. Matthew Parkes, its managing director of stamps, said: “We have also agreed with the Post Office to stock the forms to enable customers to swap stamps alongside freepost envelopes in its branches.

“Customers will be able to fill out a form, insert it in a freepost envelope with any remaining non-barcoded stamps and hand it over for posting in a Post Office.”

Royal Mail has said that anyone wishing to swap up to £200 worth of stamps can print out a form and send it to them, free of charge, along with their stamps, using the address “Freepost, Swap Out”.

Barcoded stamps were introduced in February to streamline delivery and improve security. The new stamps allow senders to choose a video greeting that recipients can view when they receive mail.

Royal Mail said earlier this year that it had allowed them to “connect the physical letter with the digital world”.

“We want people to continue to experience the pleasure of receiving letters and cards, and will continue to work to ensure that stamps remain relevant to future generations,” it said.

Alexander Stafford, Conservative MP and vice chairman of Westminster’s allparty philately group, told The Mail on Sunday: “The system for swapping over old stamps for new ones could be made easier.”