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

BiggaThanBen

olgadapolga said:

BiggaThanBen said:

I only found about this today by getting the swap out form in the post. Realised I have close to £200 worth of these, would it make sense to send it with recorded rather than freepost ?

Also some websites claim that Large Letter ones are included too, but RM website does not mention it and the form has no mention of them in the value section:

1st Class = £1.10p / 2nd Class = 75p

(from 3

rd April 2023) ?

 

The large letter stamps are included in the scheme. 

For £200 value, I'd be sending them via special delivery. You can use the stamps that you're going to swap out for (part of) the cost, as long as you do it before the deadline for using old stamps. Royal Mail will refund the cost of postage so you shouldn't lose out.

It is not over £200, think it may actually be closer to £150 - can I still use the bulk form and get special delivery cost back ? Not really comfortable sending £150 untracked with contents obvious from the address.

NBLondon

BiggaThanBen said:

It is not over £200, think it may actually be closer to £150 - can I still use the bulk form and get special delivery cost back ? Not really comfortable sending £150 untracked with contents obvious from the address.

The T&C https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2022-11/Stamp-Swap-Out-Terms-and-Conditions-Last-updated-7-November-2022.pdf don't specifically you can't use the "wrong" form but they may then decline to refund the postage. or if they are being awkward, decline the whole order.

I agree - sending £150 worth without insurance is high risk whatever RM say - so I'd use some of the stamps to pay for Special Delivery (as close to the price that you can get and then pay the last 10p or so in cash at the PO).  You may get lucky and get it refunded.

elsien

I used special delivery, paid with my old stamps, and got refunded with bar-coded stamps 

BiggaThanBen

elsien said:

I used special delivery, paid with my old stamps, and got refunded with bar-coded stamps 

Was it under £200, which form ? There is no field on under 200 form to request SD refund.

Also there is a thread on MSE where people claim post office may not accept old stamps for postage (only guaranteed to be accepted with RM mail box postage)

NBLondon

BiggaThanBen said:

Also there is a thread on MSE where people claim post office may not accept old stamps for postage (only guaranteed to be accepted with RM mail box postage)

The Post Office should accept them until 31st July.   However, some sub-post offices are sketchy on training their staff and you may get wrong information.   If unsure, use a Crown Post Office (i.e. not one at the back of another shop) in a major town  (assuming that's feasible for you).

Money_Grabber13579

NBLondon said:

BiggaThanBen said:

It is not over £200, think it may actually be closer to £150 - can I still use the bulk form and get special delivery cost back ? Not really comfortable sending £150 untracked with contents obvious from the address.

The T&C https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2022-11/Stamp-Swap-Out-Terms-and-Conditions-Last-updated-7-November-2022.pdf don't specifically you can't use the "wrong" form but they may then decline to refund the postage. or if they are being awkward, decline the whole order.

I agree - sending £150 worth without insurance is high risk whatever RM say - so I'd use some of the stamps to pay for Special Delivery (as close to the price that you can get and then pay the last 10p or so in cash at the PO).  You may get lucky and get it refunded.

Alternatively, go onto the Royal Mail website and request additional forms to be sent to you and send the stamps in, in smaller quantities, spread over a period of time (this is what I have been doing, send no more than £50’s worth at a time). There is still no end date by which stamps must be swapped (the only end date is the date by which they can no longer be used to send mail in the post).

catburn

Just received probably a generic letter saying the stamps we sent in are fraudulent. We are a family, we hardly buy stamps, so when we do, we get them from the post office when posting parcels (and no, we don't keep the receipt - we're normal people!!!).Only had about 6 stamps to swap, but for me it's the principle. RM send out these generic letters and destroy your stamps without providing a shred of evidence to support their claims. They then don't have to pay - it's all too easy for them. Bullying tactics. Everyone should submit complaints - not sure how fair/objective it is that you have to complain to RM about RM in the first instance, but that might be a starting point - just don't send your complaint in the post (wouldn't want to be involved in a fraudulent service!!!!!!!). 

Codger1947

Even if you had kept the receipt, how would that prove where those particular stamps had come from?

GDB2222

The RM page with the forms for returning stamps is here:
https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

The deadline is fast approaching!

HonestJohn

GDB2222 said:

The RM page with the forms for returning stamps is here:
https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps

The deadline is fast approaching!

The deadline is for using them not swapping them out.