Royal Mail barcoding stamps - existing stamps valid only until 31 Jan 2023

Codger1947

Decided to bite the bullet today so sent off my old stamps (£33.68 worth) to be swapped. I took scans of the form and the stamps and obtained a certificate of posting from the nice lady at my friendly local post office.  Fingers crossed! 

gt94sss2

So, I have received the stamps I sent to be swapped out before the end of last month today..

Mixed news

a) the 1st class large stamps and the 2nd class ones (to refund the postage) were in sheets as expected.

b) the normal 1st class stamps were books of 4 - which suits me better than sheets - so that is good news.

c) not so good is I am 16 1st stamps (4 books) short

Money_Grabber13579

gt94sss2 said:

So, I have received the stamps I sent to be swapped out before the end of last month today..

Mixed news

a) the 1st class large stamps and the 2nd class ones (to refund the postage) were in sheets as expected.

b) the normal 1st class stamps were books of 4 - which suits me better than sheets - so that is good news.

c) not so good is I am 16 1st stamps (4 books) short

b) is an interesting development. Might suggest that sheets of first class stamps have now run out and they are now using other remaining stocks so perhaps the KC stamps might need to be issued before April.

NBLondon

Money_Grabber13579 said:

gt94sss2 said:

So, I have received the stamps I sent to be swapped out before the end of last month today..

Mixed news

a) the 1st class large stamps and the 2nd class ones (to refund the postage) were in sheets as expected.

b) the normal 1st class stamps were books of 4 - which suits me better than sheets - so that is good news.

c) not so good is I am 16 1st stamps (4 books) short

b) is an interesting development. Might suggest that sheets of first class stamps have now run out and they are now using other remaining stocks so perhaps the KC stamps might need to be issued before April.

I doubt RM have run out completely - just not enough stocks physically at Tallents House.   I doubt they would send out KCIII before the issue date; more likely they will just delay all the pending Swap Out returns.

andyplymouth

I asked my other half to post a letter for me this morning whilst he was picking something up from the Post Office, the member of staff refused to accept it and also told him that it wouldn’t be delivered if he put in in a post box (as I’d stuck a non-barcoded stamp on it). He thought he’d be helpful and buy one; it’s made me wonder how many people are being made to waste money on unnecessary replacement stamps when these ones are perfectly acceptable until the end of July.

MobileSaver

andyplymouth said:

I asked my other half to post a letter for me this morning whilst he was picking something up from the Post Office, the member of staff refused to accept it and also told him that it wouldn’t be delivered if he put in in a post box (as I’d stuck a non-barcoded stamp on it). ...  these ones are perfectly acceptable until the end of July.

Obviously details of the 6 month "grace period" hadn't reached that member of staff yet...

Codger1947

Codger1947 said:

Decided to bite the bullet today so sent off my old stamps (£33.68 worth) to be swapped. I took scans of the form and the stamps and obtained a certificate of posting from the nice lady at my friendly local post office.  Fingers crossed! 

Replacement stamps arrived today, 13 days after sending in old ones.  Perfect!

trix-a-belle

I sent mine off on the 1st Feb & just got them back today

Oldangrumpy

I sent my 1st and 2nd class stamps off just after Easter.  Had replacement stamps to the value of £14.50 but 7 1st class stamps were deemed fraudulent.  I phoned the number given and was told they had failed the test applied!  Given that they were from the post office I was more than a little miffed. I was advised to appeal and filled in the online form.  Today I've had a reply turning down my appeal!
Has this happened to anyone else?

hermante

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80015233#Comment_80015233

RM has paid out on fake/used stamps so it wouldn't surprise me that they reject genuine stamps - there is a particular stamp from the 1990s that seems to get rejected a lot resulting in RM trying to surcharge recipients. Of course it's also possible the post office was selling fake stamps as they could have got them cheaper than the normal RM retailer discounted price.