Royal Mail: 100 days left to use stamps without a barcode

Royal Mail is urging people to use up stamps that do not have a barcode by 31 January, when they will no longer be valid for postage.

It says the deadline in exactly 100 days affects "everyday" stamps featuring the late Queen's profile.

Barcoded stamps were introduced in February to make deliveries more efficient and improve security.

Customers will still be able to use themed, commemorative and non-barcoded Christmas stamps after the deadline.

Anyone unable to use older everyday stamps by 31 January will be able to exchange them for newer barcoded ones free of charge.

Royal Mail's advice is not connected to the change of monarch. It says further details on the launch of stamps featuring King Charles will be made at the appropriate time after consultation with the Royal Household.

Royal Mail introduced barcoded stamps in February, saying they would open up possibilities for "new innovative services."

The long-term plan is that people will be able to watch videos, find out information and send birthday messages to each other through the barcodes which can be scanned with the Royal Mail app.

Analysts Mintel said it reflected how widespread smartphone ownership had become as well as people's familiarity with QR codes - notably through the the NHS Track and Trace app during the pandemic.

The postal service launched a national awareness earlier this month reminding people to use up their non-barcoded stamps by the deadline.

Royal Mail, which hopes customers will use those stamps this Christmas, has sent leaflets to 31 million homes and placed adverts in newspapers, on the radio and on social media.