Farce of 148 tick-boxes on exchange form
SWAPPING old stamps for new ones is a time-consuming and laborious process – and involves a very complicated form.
You have to download and print a form, then send off the unused stamps in the post and wait for replacement barcode versions to be returned.
Under the Stamp Swap Out scheme, there are two different types of application form – one for stamps whose total value is less than £200, and another for those whose value is more.
For the smaller amount, the form has to be downloaded, printed and filled with details. Postage is free. If you don’t have access to a printer, you can request a form to be posted to you by completing an online form – or they are available from Royal Mail delivery offices.
There is a helpline, but our reporter was on hold for more than 30 minutes, only to be urged to complete the process online.
It is more complicated for amounts valued at more than £200. The Royal Mail requests exact details of the returning stock – with 148 tick-box options. Stamps must be batched in clear plastic bags, sorted by both value and colour, and have to be attached to their original backing or paper.
You are then encouraged to post everything using the Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed service, with costs starting from £6.85, to an address in Edinburgh.
These postage costs will be refunded – but only to an equivalent value in barcoded stamps.
There are fears forms are getting lost. Margaret Deans, 55, from Renfrewshire in Scotland, has been waiting three weeks after sending her form off.
She said: ‘l’ll just resign myself to the fact l’ve lost them.’
The system is much more complicated than a similar scheme employed when paper £20 and £50 banknotes no longer became legal tender for retail use.
The notes were withdrawn from service on September 30. Not only could the old notes be exchanged on the spot at post offices, with the equivalent amount deposited straight into people’s bank accounts, but high street banks offered the same service.