Royal Mail is urging people to use up non-barcode stamps by January 31, when they will no longer be valid for posting.
It is said that the deadline in exactly 100 days will affect “everyday” stamps featuring the late Queen’s profile.
Barcode stamps were introduced in February to make deliveries more efficient and improve security.
Customers can continue to use themed, commemorative and non-barcoded Christmas stamps after the deadline.
Those who cannot use older everyday stamps by January 31 can exchange them for newer ones with a barcode free of charge.
Royal Mail’s advice is unrelated to the change of monarch. Further details on the introduction of King Charles stamps will be announced in due course after consultation with the Royal Household.
- Regular ‘everyday’ 1st and 2nd class stamps showing the profile of her late Queen Elizabeth but no unique barcode will no longer be valid from 31 January
- Non-barcoded Christmas and other special stamps with images are still valid for postage and should not be submitted for exchange
- Stamps that have already been used for postage will not be accepted in the exchange program.
Royal Mail introduced barcode postage stamps in February and said they would open up opportunities for “new innovative services”.
The long-term plan is for people to be able to watch videos, get information and send each other birthday messages via the barcodes, which can be scanned using the Royal Mail app.
Mintel analysts said this reflects how widespread smartphone ownership has become, as well as people’s familiarity with QR codes – particularly through the NHS Track and Trace app during the pandemic.
The Postal Service launched a national awareness earlier this month to remind people to use up their barcode-less stamps by the deadline.
Royal Mail, which hopes customers will use these stamps at Christmas, has sent leaflets to 31 million households and placed adverts in newspapers, radio and social media.
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