Using stamps from pre paid envelopes

AubreyMac

Not sure where else to put this but here goes.


I saw a short vid on instagram that a 'hack' was to use the stamp on a company pre paid envelope (usually comes with charity letters etc) to send your own post including parcels. These are not actual sticker stamps with the queens head on, but more like a printed thing with 1 or 2 on it to indicate postage paid.


Anyone knows whether this is true and will work?


I always thought those sort of stamps have a code and only goes to the company address.

euronorris

As I understand it, they do have a code and without it are useless. With it, they will go to the address registered to the freepost licence.

euronorris

Not to mention it's a cr*ppy thing to do. Effectively theft!

couriervanman

AubreyMac wrote: »

Not sure where else to put this but here goes.


I saw a short vid on instagram that a 'hack' was to use the stamp on a company pre paid envelope (usually comes with charity letters etc) to send your own post including parcels. These are not actual sticker stamps with the queens head on, but more like a printed thing with 1 or 2 on it to indicate postage paid.


Anyone knows whether this is true and will work?


I always thought those sort of stamps have a code and only goes to the company address.

And if your parcel or letter go missing.......

AubreyMac

euronorris wrote: »

Not to mention it's a cr*ppy thing to do. Effectively theft!

Money saving for the individual potentially


Honestly, I don't understand how it all works and I can't find the vid now. I just didn't believe you can use only the stamp part to post to wherever you want.


Guess the only way to confirm is to trial a non important letter/parcel with the next envelope I receive.

euronorris

AubreyMac wrote: »

Money saving for the individual potentially

Are you joking? It would still be theft! They aren't pre-paid in advance, they get charged as they are used. Potentially stealing from charities as well. How low do you wanna go?!

AubreyMac

Calm down dear. I was only asking a question and charity was an example only.


Ok, what if it was a private company's (one that you may not like that is worth billions) prepaid envelope.

Mistral001

This will not work. They are not stamps. Nor are they pre-paid. The charity or business issuing the self addressed envelopes pay the postage after they are delivered to their address. So if they issue say 1000 envelopes and they only get 50 returned, they just pay for the 50.

If you are using them for a different address to the one on gthe envelope and they are getting to that address you are probably committing fraud.

Mistral001

AubreyMac wrote: »

Calm down dear. I was only asking a question and charity was an example only.


Ok, what if it was a private company's (one that you may not like that is worth billions) prepaid envelope.

You would probably get a warning letter from Royal Mail informing you that it is a criminal offense etc. etc. with a demand for payment, or they might even refer the matter to the Police. The company would not be out of pocket.

euronorris

AubreyMac wrote: »

Calm down dear. I was only asking a question and charity was an example only.


Ok, what if it was a private company's (one that you may not like that is worth billions) prepaid envelope.

It is still theft! It doesn't suddenly become OK if you do not the company or person, or indeed if they are worth billions.


Theft is theft.

unrecordings

AubreyMac wrote: »

I saw a short vid on instagram that a 'hack' was to use the stamp on a company pre paid envelope (usually comes with charity letters etc) to send your own post including parcels. These are not actual sticker stamps with the queens head on, but more like a printed thing with 1 or 2 on it to indicate postage paid.

Anyone knows whether this is true and will work?

I always thought those sort of stamps have a code and only goes to the company address.

Depends on the exact nature of the pre-paid service you're referring to. Some can be 'freelanced', some are tied to a specific return address. 1 or 2 will be first or second class

Just to reinforce the consensus though. Nope it's not a hack, it is illegal (whether it's technically theft or mail fraud I don't really care).

Would you care to check your internet history and share the link with us ? That would be awfully sporting