Royal Mail issues one-week deadline warning to anyone using 1st or 2nd class stamps

Royal Mail has issued a warning to remind its customers of a looming deadline that will affect anyone who uses its stamps. The UK postal service introduced new barcoded stamps back in 2022 with each barcode allowing the stamps to be traced through the postal system.

Since then, people have still been able to use their existing non-barcoded 1st and 2nd class stamps to post letters however this will soon change. From July 31, any old stamps that don't have a barcode will no longer be accepted to send post with.

Ahead of the one-week deadline, Royal Mail is now urging its customers to either use up their old stamps, swap them out, or risk the person receiving mail to be charged as its existing stamps become invalid.

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Those who send any mail with a non-barcoded stamp will see the recipient being surcharged £1.10 from July 31. Post sent using the old stamps will be treated in the same way as insufficient or 'no postage' on an item.

Recipients of mail sent using non-barcoded stamps will be left a grey ‘Fee to Pay’ card advising them that they have an item of mail that requires a surcharge to be paid before the item can be delivered.

Anyone wanting to get rid of their old stamps can continue to swamp them out for barcoded stamp through Royal Mail’s simple and free 'Swap Out scheme'. The scheme opened on March 31, 2022 and there is currently no deadline for exchanging your stamps this way.

Royal Mail is now encouraging all customers to check their purses, wallets and drawers to find any unused non-barcoded stamps.

Matthew Parkes, Managing Director, Stamps and Collectibles, said: “As we approach the 31 July deadline, we encourage