Page 5 | Post Office Stamps Expiring!!! Read if you have any

Le4nne · 2023-01-16T13:46:18+00:00

I just found out today that the Post Office are expiring stamps that do not have barcodes. Was supposed to be end of this month but has been extended to July. If you have any you intend to use after this time make sure you exchange them. I think it’s an absolute scam, especially since I don’t feel they’ve made it well know to people, hence this post

britneybitch23 · 18/01/2023 16:12

Ginmonkeyagain · 16/01/2023 13:48

A flier was sent to every address late last year.

I didn't get one either. Are you the head of Royal Mail or something to say that with such confidence

Dotjones · 18/01/2023 16:24

WindUpPenguin · 18/01/2023 11:51

It has been publicised but I think the window is way too short - even if extended to July. You can change old notes indefinitely as long as you go to the Bank of England. I think stamps should be the same. Fair enough if you have to send them off and pay for postage after a certain time, but stamps should be like cash in my opinion! I'm sure there are stamps squirrelled away in drawers I have forgotten about that I will come across in five years' time!

The deadline is 31st Jan for using the old stamps with a 6 month period where they won't be treated as insufficient postage, so effectively you can use them until the end of July.

You can still swap them for new ones after 31st Jan, there isn't a deadline for doing this at the moment. Given that the swap scheme started last March and has no end I don't think the window can be called "too short".

Plus you might get lucky like me, I sent in a mix of 1st and 2nd class stamps and got the same number back, but all 1st class. So I was up by a couple of quid or so.

Zingy123 · 19/01/2023 08:02

@Grawlix You can get the swap out forms from the Post Office. Alternatively you can get them from Royal Mail delivery offices, by calling Royal Mail or printing one at home.

Grawlix · 20/01/2023 09:56

Zingy123 · 19/01/2023 08:02

@Grawlix You can get the swap out forms from the Post Office. Alternatively you can get them from Royal Mail delivery offices, by calling Royal Mail or printing one at home.

@Zingy123 I know - I swapped my stamps last year.

mum2jakie · 08/02/2023 12:43

Bumping - just a reminder that the deadline for using old stamps or swapping has been extended until July 2023. My husband's stamps came through the post today which reminded me about this process.

www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps#:~:text=old%20stamps%20are%3F-,You%20now%20have%20until%2031%20July%202023%20to%20use%20them,valid%20after%2031%20July%202023.

baroqueandblue · 30/07/2023 16:44

I've got 2 non barcoded stamps I want to use to post a birthday card tomorrow. Royal Mail says they expire on 31st July. Does anyone know, if I use them to put this card in the post tomorrow, will they be deemed valid?!

Realise this is a bit random, but asking on the offchance someone else has had the same question and might've looked into it 😬

Rummikub · 30/07/2023 16:50

Thinking why can I post a card to tomorrow!

Rummikub · 30/07/2023 16:51

Who

baroqueandblue · 30/07/2023 16:54

@Rummikub , hope you think of someone! I'm kicking myself for not getting it in the post a bit sooner, but also wondering, with it being the weekend and last collection 12.30 on a Saturday, technically I could've posted it on Saturday afternoon and how would Royal Mail know I didn't? 🤷‍♂️

Rummikub · 30/07/2023 17:00

I reckon if it’s in the post box by tomorrow you’ll be ok.

I have a friend with a mud August birthday.. do not open till the 17th. They’ll think I’ve become super organised!

Digimoor · 30/07/2023 17:07

There is currently no deadline for swapping the stamps
Know where your old stamps are? | Royal Mail Group Ltd

baroqueandblue · 30/07/2023 17:08

Haha, that'll look very impressive!

And you're right, RM are bound to be expecting to see some old stamps in the postboxes tomorrow. I'll take my chances!🙏 I mean, I wouldn't mind, but stamps are hardly inexpensive these days

baroqueandblue · 30/07/2023 17:10

Thanks @Digimoor but since I only have two left it would be much simpler if I could use them. People with lots still left over though will be glad of your link 😃

Rummikub · 30/07/2023 17:39

Thanks for the link.

I imagine there’ll be a bit of grace period/ crossover depending on how much form post boxes are emptied.

Ohmylovejune · 30/07/2023 17:41

My Dad had a flyer recently so used that to swap out.

I waited and didn't get one so, today, I've printed the form off the Internet and done it that way. I had quite a few.

UsingChangeofName · 30/07/2023 17:59

I put one in the box on Saturday, so presumably will be collected tomorrow. It was 2nd class, so I expect it will be swirling around the system for about 3 weeks a week or so.

caringcarer · 30/07/2023 18:14

I did the swap out because I had £35 worth.

RoseAndRose · 30/07/2023 18:14

Rummikub · 30/07/2023 17:39

Thanks for the link.

I imagine there’ll be a bit of grace period/ crossover depending on how much form post boxes are emptied.

I'm not sure there will be that much as they've already extended the deadline once (originally was January)

But I think there's a good chance they'll honour everything that's in a pillar box by last collection time tomorrow.

We did most stamps a couple of months ago (keeping a few back in case I needed to post anything), then did those (and 2x books of 6 I'd overlooked in my purse) - I sent them off mid June and it took about 4 weeks for the replacements to arrive.

Rummikub · 30/07/2023 18:19

I might post something to
myself on Tuesday as an expt.

I can’t see RM thinking with certainty that that letter was posted after the deadline

Frankley · 30/07/2023 19:00

About a fortnight ago l bought two first class stamps at a postoffice. I wasn't going to use both of them straight away. They had a picture of a bird, not the standard head ones, and were larger..

Outside,I realised they did not have a bar code at the side and thought they would soon be out of date. I thought l had been sold old stamps that the post office wanted to get rid of. So l went back and asked why l had been sold stamps with no bar code.

The man explained that they were not old stamps but the latest he'd had in. And as they were picture ones, special edition or something, they didn't need a bar code! He exchanged them for the head ones anyway.

I googled about it later but couldn't find that new picture ones in future would not have bar codes at the side. All very confusing!

RoseAndRose · 30/07/2023 19:06

Frankley · 30/07/2023 19:00

About a fortnight ago l bought two first class stamps at a postoffice. I wasn't going to use both of them straight away. They had a picture of a bird, not the standard head ones, and were larger..

Outside,I realised they did not have a bar code at the side and thought they would soon be out of date. I thought l had been sold old stamps that the post office wanted to get rid of. So l went back and asked why l had been sold stamps with no bar code.

The man explained that they were not old stamps but the latest he'd had in. And as they were picture ones, special edition or something, they didn't need a bar code! He exchanged them for the head ones anyway.

I googled about it later but couldn't find that new picture ones in future would not have bar codes at the side. All very confusing!

Yes, Christmas stamps and all other commemorative stamps are exempt (ie can be used even with no barcode)

baroqueandblue · 30/07/2023 19:51

@Frankley commemorative stamps will also be produced with barcodes in future. Apparently, the extra costs are justified because we'll get 'exciting' videos to watch if we can be bothered to scan the barcode with the Royal Mail app.

Personally, I'd much prefer them to keep prices lower instead. Why do these big companies assume we're all gagging for inanity, and happy to pay through the nose for it?

Frankley · 30/07/2023 20:12

Thank you both. That explains it then. I was confused ( think others may be too)