Dear LPG, 

Every now and then I flick back through the LPG messages and it was while doing that recently that I came across your article written by CO (►►►) who reminded us to get our old postage stamps posted or returned by the end of last month.  The problem is that I read the reminder well into February and have many old stamps.

If I am honest, I knew all about this ages ago, but it is one of those things that I so meant to do but didn’t, and a chat with a few of my friends has resulted in my finding out that the final date for posting letters with old stamps has technically now passed.  

There is good news, however. 

The Royal Mail has now extended the last date so that we have another six months before the sticking of an old-fashioned stamp becomes a problem.

I suspect that we oldies are still the most likely people to indulge in old-fashioned letter posting. We are also the age group most likely to have amassed a more extensive collection of old postage stamps over the years. The other thing that will be a near certainty is that we are also the age group most likely not to be able to know where to start when it comes to getting an online copy of the Swap Out form that is mentioned on their website a long time before the fact that you can telephone to obtain one.  

But our old stamps have been given a stay of execution. The last date for posting them has been extended until July 31st, so we have some extra time to check all those boxes and drawers where they might still be hiding. I am also pleased to say that all those special edition stamps that have come out at Christmas or to celebrate those special events and people of note remain unaffected by the change.

There is a telephone number: 03457 740740 where those with no printer, no computer skills and no person they can ask can get more information, and I took the opportunity to make a call.  

After about 20 minutes of wait, with some reasonably pleasant music, I realised that I was through to their general enquiry number where they will also help you to track a parcel or letter if you can’t do it online. Still, they will send you a form if it is needed.   

I asked them to get technical, and they told me that we could post letters with old stamps on until the last post on July 31st with confidence. Still, if your mail misses that collection, the person receiving it will have to be prepared to pay the postage, and when I asked, they told me that they could not be sure how long after that the public would be able to use a Swap Out form. 

I have a friend or two who thought it was now too late for those old stamps, and I suspect that there are a few more readers who forgot, so I hope that LPG will post this as another reminder…

PF, Forest Hill

PF shares some of the information she found…

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