The NPC has written to Royal Mail to attempt to clarify some of the questions left unanswered by the reports that the current issue of stamps will be changed with effect from January 2023 and those members of the public can ‘swap’ their stock of stamps for the new bar coded version.
The NPC letter to Royal Mail can be downloaded below.
If you are unaware of the changes to stamps, further information from Royal Mail announcement on stamps can be found below.
"Following a successful national trial, we are adding unique barcodes to all our Definitive stamps. These are the 'everyday' stamps used across the country featuring a profile of HM The Queen.
Barcoded stamps represent a new era in stamp technology which will bring benefits to operational efficiencies, enable the introduction of added security features and pave the way for innovative services for customers. Recipients of mail featuring a barcoded stamp will be able to watch an exclusive video, the first of which features Aardman character Shaun the Sheep, by scanning the stamps in the Royal Mail App.
Crucially, customers will still be able to use their Non-barcoded Definitive and Christmas stamps until 31 January 2023. We encourage customers to use their non-barcoded stamps before this date if at all possible. However, non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through Royal Mail’s ‘Swap Out’ scheme.
The ‘Swap Out’ scheme will open on 31 March 2022. Customers will be able to send unused stamps via a Freepost address. Forms will be available via a variety of channels, including: local Customer Service Points; the Royal Mail website and via our Customer Experience team. The price of these stamps remains the same as for existing stamps and there will be no charge for exchanging any unused stamps. Further details will be announced shortly."
Download the full Royal Mail release about the future of stamps below