Ban on non-barcoded stamps delayed until next summer

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/16960 ... -ban-delay

Ban on non-barcoded stamps delayed until next summer
Royal Mail has delayed a ban on non-barcoded stamps until next summer.

The postal service is rolling out new versions featuring machine-readable codes in a bid to tackle fraud and make it easier to track post. But there are fears some Britons, particularly pensioners who are more likely to send letters, would be left with stacks of useless stamps due to the looming January 31 cut-off date. Royal Mail has now introduced a six-month extension period for using leftover non-barcoded stamps, taking the deadline to July 31, 2023.

It is also providing forms to swap old stamps for their new barcoded replacements in Post Office branches.

Customers previously faced having to download and print a form from the internet, in what was a headache for some elderly people who do not use computers.

Tory MP Alexander Stafford, vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Philately Group, said: “The January deadline would have inevitably left many people with stamps that they had bought with their hard-earned cash and which would suddenly become completely useless.”


Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Hopefully this extension will give older people extra time to ensure they don’t find themselves with stamps they can’t use.

“With so many older people now conscious of their spending, we know that every penny really does count.”

[parforthewalk]

Jeasus H. C. Some common sense has prevailed at last

ST surely was oblivious of this decision :shock

He'd have only fcuked it up anyway

[Lounge Lizard]

"The postal service is rolling out new versions featuring machine-readable codes in a bid to tackle fraud"
I don't believe that the move to barcoded stamps is doing anything "to tackle fraud".
Firstly within a few months forged barcoded stamps were flooding in from China and are being bought, just like the non-barcoded ones before them, in substantial numbers. The forgeries DON'T have unique barcodes but those buying them don't know that and are using them as normal.
Secondly IF an unfranked barcoded stamp that is reused is detected in a Mail Centre, rejected and the item surcharged for payment by the recipient the sender won't know this and will continue reusing unfranked stamps in the absence of any warnings from Royal Mail of an increased risk of reusing unfranked stamps.