Non barcode stamps cut off date confusion

2 Posts

I would appreciate a clear date on when I have to use my Royal Mail non barcode stamps by. The Post Office say 31st Jan, they are advertising on the likes of LBC and their franking on mail BUT Martin Lewis has suggested that they have done a U-turn on this: moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/11/nonbarcoded-stamps-summer-2023-delay-royal-mail/ Many media outlets have also reported this like the Guardian, Independent and many, many more. I have also read that the 31 Jan deadline is correct but there is a six month grace period for old stamps - how confusing is that?
So what is the truth and how long do I have?
BTW, I did send £200 worth of stamps back on the Swapout scheme but both times they came back the very next day! I decided to use them rather than lose them!
So what is the truth and how long do I have?
BTW, I did send £200 worth of stamps back on the Swapout scheme but both times they came back the very next day! I decided to use them rather than lose them!
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Post Office just operate counters selling Royal Mail and other services.
Mail posted with non-barcoded Definitive stamps after 31 January 2023, will for the first 6 month be delivered as normal, no surcharge will be raised. After this 6 month grace period, an item with a non-barcoded stamp would be treated as if there is insufficient postage. Any item that has insufficient postage is subject to a surcharge. Surcharge fees can be found on our website.
https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps?iid=HP_M2_3_BARCODEDSTAMPS
It’s fine to keep using non-barcoded stamps as postage up until 31 January 2023. You can swap out your stamps any time from 31 March 2022 onwards — there is currently no end date as to when you need to swap out your non-barcoded stamps by.