I thought it may be helpful for me to try to clear up the confusion over the new issue stamps which come into force next year. You may already be aware that Royal Mail is changing the current stamps to a new bar-coded version and the deadline for using the ‘old’ stamps is 31st January 2023.
Unfortunately, the old-style stamp cannot be used after this date and neither can they be swapped at the Post Office. To change them, you will need to download and fill in a rather lengthy form. To add to the challenge, this form is not available at the Post Office! It is estimated that 100million of the current stamps are lurking in drawers, wallets and elsewhere across the country.
The advice is to use any old stamps up before the end of January. Use them on your Christmas cards this year where possible.
We all know the power of the press and I see that The Daily Mail has launched a campaign to encourage (its non-sibling) The Royal Mail to extend the life of the existing stamps and/or to allow customers to ‘swap’ them at Post Office branches for the new bar-coded version. This may happen but, for now, try to use them up..
Whilst writing, you may be aware that paper bank notes were removed from service at the end of September and these are now no longer valid. Again, if you find you have some stuffed down the back of the sofa or sewn into the hems of curtains, seek them out as I believe they can still be exchanged at banks. If you have a small quantity and are unable to get to a bank, I can change them for you at the Post Office.
Andy
Wootton Courtenay 