Use Up Your Old Stamps or Swap Them Fast – Deadline Looms!
Heads up, stamp fans! The Royal Mail is ditching paper stamps without barcodes by January 31, 2023. If you’ve still got the old-fashioned ones lying around, use them or swap them for shiny new barcoded stamps before the cut-off date.
Why the Change? Barcoded Stamps Are the Future
The Royal Mail is going digital, claiming the new barcodes will speed up operations and beef up security. Plus, there’s a festive touch: the new stamps celebrate British pantomime, keeping Christmas traditions alive. Scan your barcoded stamp with the Royal Mail app and you can watch and share pantomime videos!
Which Stamps Are Affected?
- Non-barcoded first and second class “everyday” stamps
- Non-barcoded Machin and Country definitive stamps (including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland)
- Non-barcoded stamps with international tariffs
Important: After January 31, non-barcoded definitive stamps are no longer valid postage. However, non-barcoded Christmas stamps remain valid, as the festive stamps won’t get barcodes.
Special issue stamps – the limited runs commemorating events or famous folks – won’t get barcodes either and stay valid as is.
How To Swap Your Old Stamps
No, you can’t just pop into the Post Office and swap. You need to:
- Grab a ‘Swap Out’ form – print it online, call 03457 740740 for a postal copy, or pick one up from your local delivery office
- Return your non-barcoded stamps with the form to Royal Mail
Got less than £200 in stamps? Swap is free! Over £200? Use the bulk stamp swap service and send via a secure delivery method.
Miss the Deadline? Your Mail Could Be Stuck
After January 31, using old non-barcoded definitive stamps is like postage failure. Your mail won’t go unless you pay the difference. Royal Mail aims to process ‘swap out’ requests within seven working days, but it’s not a guaranteed turnaround time.
“As we move to this exciting new era of barcoded stamps, please check your kitchen drawers, wallets, and purses for older non-barcoded stamps and make sure you use them up by January 31 2023,” said Nick Landon, Royal Mail’s chief commercial officer.
Get sorting and don’t get caught out by this postal shake-up!
