Royal Mail postage stamps - not franked anymore?

[SWnewstart]

Noticed we've received at least half a dozen Christmas cards so far where the actual stamp (first or second class) hasn't been what I would call "franked" - in fact most envelopes had no markings at all to suggest having been through an electronic mail system. Anyone else noticed this? Is this how mail is commonly processed now? And can I remove said stamps to re-use

I used to do this with stamps in the nineties (went on to work in the post office for years ) so was bemused when I read this article the other day. But might explain things.
www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-9071105/Steaming-free-stamps-costly-says-Royal-Mail.html

Oh goodness, I wonder if there really is a way to detect that! I will try an experiment and use one peeled off stamp to send to DD, who I can reimburse if she has to pay extra!

I did in the past use to steam open the letters/cards rather than the stamps, to reuse the envelopes. I don't think that would ever be detected, but I haven't done it for ages.

Yep, used to do this in the 70s. Little bit of clouded after using the kettle steam ..

Copydex not clouded. 😪