Postage Stamps going out of date?

Teapot55

It turns out you can still use your ‘old’ non-barcoded postage stamps after 31st January 2023 because Royal Mail are allowing a six-month grace period. 

Here’s a link to all the relevant information: https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps?iid=HP_M2_3_BARCODEDSTAMPS
The FAQs (frequently asked questions) are very informative. 

Also, although you can’t actually swap your old stamps at your local post office you can at least pick up a form and a freepost envelope from them. 

soolin

I’ve asked the forum team to move this to one of the other threads . 

audrie57

I was just going to say the same info, you can now use them up until 30th June 2023 now, so pleased about that, as I still have a few, not sent xmas cards because of the strikes, and waiting for parcels, not going to come now with Royal Mail is it. I was so pleased that my great grandaughters parcel arrived took about 10 days

JReacher1

Royal Mail are finished now really. All these strikes are killing them and you can’t trust them for anything anymore. 

NBLondon

Teapot55 said:

It turns out you can still use your ‘old’ non-barcoded postage stamps after 31st January 2023 because Royal Mail are allowing a six-month grace period. 

To be pedantic - the grace period is before they start charging the recipients a fee.  The stamps will be technically invalid.

So find them; work out if you are likely to use them up early in 2023 or whether you should swap them.  I'd wait for the strikes to end before sending any off though....

jackieblack

They can be used until 31st July 2023 according to this article from last month
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/11/nonbarcoded-stamps-summer-2023-delay-royal-mail/

Abbafan1972

I am about to do mine now and send them off. Can we also swap the large letter ones as pictured. 

Thanks. 

olgadapolga

Abbafan1972 said:

I am about to do mine now and send them off. Can we also swap the large letter ones as pictured. 

Thanks. 

Yes, absolutely.

Abbafan1972

Thanks, I have 59 x 1st class & 27 large letter. 

Does anyone reckon I will have a problem with this many? 

I will ask my Mom if she has any and maybe do one under her address. 

I used to do the Kantar surveys, which is why I’ve got so many. 

Thanks. 

Money_Grabber13579

Abbafan1972 said:

Thanks, I have 59 x 1st class & 27 large letter. 

Does anyone reckon I will have a problem with this many? 

I will ask my Mom if she has any and maybe do one under her address. 

I used to do the Kantar surveys, which is why I’ve got so many. 

Thanks. 

No issues as far as being eligible to replace them goes. So far, I’ve sent off several hundred stamps for swapping (acclimated from the same source). I sent them in by way if two separate mailings and got them replaced both times. The only thing that concerns me slightly is if they happen to get mislaid in the postal system. The T’s & C’s suggest Royal Mail should reimburse (in stamps) anyway, so long as you have evidence of sending them but I wouldn’t want to have to test it. Sending them in smaller batches (I.e. less than £200’s worth allowed by the standard form) and taking pictures of what you send is recommended, along with getting proof of postage.

oldagetraveller1

I sent some 2nd Class and 1st Class Large stamps on the 3rd January to the Freepost address they give.

It's taken a couple of weeks but the barcoded replacements were received this morning.

No complaints here.