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Trade in old stamps for the latest barcoded versions so you don’t have to be locked out
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People are being urged to exchange old stamps for the latest barcoded versions to avoid being left out of their pockets.
Royal Mail has started rolling out the new stamps, which will allow customers to track letters and parcels through the company’s app.
These are already on sale, although bar-coded stamps will still be sold until supplies are exhausted.
Digital Stamp: Royal Mail has started rolling out the new stamps, which allow customers to track letters and parcels through the company’s app
But from January 31st, stamps without a barcode will no longer be usable. This year stamps were hit by a sharp price increase of 12 percent.
The cost of a premium stamp increased by 10 cents and currently set you back 95 cents.
Given the upcoming changes, Royal Mail is encouraging customers to use up their stamps before the January deadline.
But customers can also swap them for barcoded stamps under the Stamp Swap Out scheme. Stamps are exchanged in the same way regardless of what you originally paid.
There is no rush to send in your stamps as they can be exchanged indefinitely.
To redeem your stamps, complete the form at royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps and send it to Royal Mail along with your stamps free of charge. Write Freepost Swap Out on the envelope.
No other address details are required. If you have stamps worth more than £2500 to exchange, you should contact the Royal Mail offices in Edinburgh.
Used stamps and stamps that are not on the original backing paper cannot be exchanged.
Christmas stamps are not covered by the scheme and can still be used after January 31.
l.purkess@dailymail.co.uk