Britain’s Royal Mail issues barcoded stamp reminder

By Linn’s Staff

Great Britain’s Royal Mail has reminded its customers that the July 31 deadline to use definitive stamps without barcodes is fast approaching.

On its website, Royal Mail asks, “Know where your old stamps are?” and says that any Queen Elizabeth II definitives without barcodes will be subject to a surcharge if used after July 31. The new King Charles III definitives have the barcodes.

Royal Mail announced the introduction of barcodes on its definitives in a Feb. 1, 2022, press release. The original deadline of Jan. 31, 2023, later was extended by six months.

Royal Mail also established what it calls a “Swap Out” plan for stamps without barcodes to be exchanged for new stamps with them. No end date has been announced for the swap-out program.

Commemorative and Christmas stamps without barcodes remain valid.

For further details, visit the Royal Mail website.

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