Royal Mail customers have been given a one-month warning as a huge change will come into force on January 31, 2023.
Households across the UK received leaflets on New Year's Eve informing them they must use up stamps by the end of January or they will no longer be valid. The postal company is about to add barcoded stamps to replace the traditional ones.
Customers are asked to either use the stamps before the deadline, or swap them for the new barcoded ones using a "Stamp Swap Out" form.
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After January 31, 2023, postal customers will only be able to use barcoded stamps with the Queen’s profile on, or non-barcoded Christmas or special collection stamps. If you send a letter or parcel with the "old" stamps, you could be hit with an extra fee.
Sending a letter without postage currently incurs a £2 charge, according to the Royal Mail website.
An exchange system is now in place for those who don’t think they will be able to use the stamps before the cut off point. Royal Mail’s "Swap Out" scheme lets you exchange the stamps for free by completing a form.
You need to use a standard form for stamps worth up to £200, or a bulk stamp form for stamps worth more than £200. You cannot take the stamps to the Post Office to be swapped.
Stamp Swap Out forms can be downloaded here. Alternatively, if you don’t have access to a printer you can request a Stamp Swap Out form to be posted to you here.
Leaflets delivered to homes across the country also include the swap out form on their reverse side.
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