Postage stamps: existing stamps invalid after 31 January 2023

[SmiteTheeWithThunderbolts]

Just seen this on Money Saving Expert:

Royal Mail is shaking up the rules on stamps, so if you've got a stash that say '1st' or '2nd' class on them then by 31 January 2023 you'll no longer be able to simply stick 'em on a letter and use them. This is because Royal Mail is moving to a new barcode system, which these stamps don't have.

If you try to use these stamps – which impacts all those with the Queen's head on them that say '1st' or '2nd' class, or any other price, or they're Christmas-themed – after this cut-off date they will not be valid and you will have to pay a surcharge. Though Royal Mail is yet to confirm what this surcharge is or how it will work in practice.

"Special" commemorative stamps, such as the Doctor Who collection, are the only exception, as these are not being phased out and can continue to be used after 31 January 2023.

Royal Mail will let you 'swap out' these stamps for free

You will, however, be able to exchange current stamps for barcoded ones for free under Royal Mail's new 'Swap Out' scheme, which opens on 31 March 2022 and will run until 31 March 2023.

To do this, you just need to fill in a 'Swap Out' form from its website (the page isn't live yet), or call it, or get one from a local delivery office (not a post office though). You'll then have to post back the stamps you want to swap to a Freepost address. We're waiting to find out if there are any limits on the numbers you can swap and if you're covered for non-delivery.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/02/anyone-with-stacks-of-stamps-at-home-has-less-than-one-year-to-u/

Thanks. Useful to know.

Bastards

Thieving scuzzers

Nationalize!

So what do I do with my collection of stamps that I've soaked off envelopes as they weren't franked with the intention of reusing them?
(Waiting for someone to tell me this is illegal).

A lot of stamp collectors are going to be pissed off.

I still have some unused stamps with prices on (ie predate the introduction of "1st" and "2nd"). I'm going to search the house and gather them all together. I suppose it's the postage stamp equivalent of using up loose change before it becomes obsolete.

who else is ferreting around to find their stamp stash now...

Why would stamp collectors be annoyed? They don't collect stamps to use them.

I think you'll have a year to use your soaked off stamps - and presumably the barcode type won't be able to be reused at all.

Irritatingly I bought 12 last week and have another 10 second class stamps, but I think I should be able to use them up on birthday and Christmas cards before next January.

The new ones should be available in the shops soon.

Thanks for highlighting this. I have a collection of little books of stamps that I thought would see me a good few years

Thank you so much for this information.

I have about 50 second class stamps that I bought in 2012. I'll make sure I use them this year.

I bought loads of the National Parks stamps last year, thinking they would last me for years. I take it I'll be ok using them post 2023?

Lists of commemorative stamps here (the ones that apparently won't expire) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_commemorative_stamps

[quote RustyBear]Lists of commemorative stamps here (the ones that apparently won't expire) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_commemorative_stamps[/quote]
National Parks is on your list - thanks again!

Oh bloody hell, I bought 100 first class stamps a month ago reasoning they'd last ages and stamps only ever go up in price. I thought it would save me hassle

One thing I can't find info on anywhere, is whether the new barcoded stamps will become invalid when the price goes up and we will have to buy new ones.