Urgent warning NOT to bin old first and second class stamps – check 4-step method to claim back money now

MARTIN Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert has warned Brits not to bin old stamps to avoid losing money.

All 1st or 2nd class stamps with the Queen’s profile on them became invalid last year in August.

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However, the finance gurus at MSE have asked people not to throw their old stamps away as they could be swapped out for new ones for free.

Royal Mail has been replacing all old stamps with new style designs featuring King Charles.

And instead of binning old stamps and burying new ones, you can just swap them for free.

The scheme was started last year but is still going on.

Royal Mail said every barcode on new stamps will be unique and will enable the introduction of added security features – including information about relevant postal services.

Although not every stamp will become invalid, some limited edition versions will still be valid, according to MSE.

It said: “You don’t need to use or exchange Christmas stamps or ‘special’ stamps with pictures on, as they will continue to be valid after the deadline.

“Royal Mail has also confirmed that all King Charles III stamps in circulation have barcodes on them, so it’s only the non-barcoded ones with the Queen’s profile on that you need to swap.”

What can I do with my old stamps?

Stamps can be traded in before the cut-off deadline – and Royal Mail will let you do it for free.

Customers will have to fill out a “Swap-Out” form on the Royal Mail website or call the postal giant directly to request a form.

Alternatively, you can get one in person from a local delivery office – but not a Post Office.

You can find your local delivery office by using the online locator tool on the Royal Mail website.

You’ll then have to post back the stamps you want to swap to a Freepost address.

But if you have more than £200 worth of stamps, Royal Mail recommends these are sent by recorded delivery.

And you’ll need a Bulk Stamp Swap Out form for stamps worth more than £200.

There’s currently no deadline on when you need to complete the swap, but it might be best to do so sooner rather than later in case the scheme closes.

Royal Mail says it will try to make sure all stamps are swapped in seven working days.

How much do stamps cost?

First-class stamps currently cost £1.25, but they’ll be rising by 8 per cent on April 2, 2024.

This means punters will pay an extra 10p per stamp whenever they want to send off a first-class letter – and it’s not the only increase.

Large first-class stamps will be 15p more expensive and second-class stamp buyers will have to pay an extra 10p per item, a 13 per cent increase.

Money guru Martin has advised Brits to buy them in bulk before the new prices begin to save a decent chunk of change for all their posting needs.

He said: “For years, every time stamps go up in price I’ve suggested people stock up and bulk-buy in advance, as provided the stamp doesn’t have a price on it and instead just says the postage class, it’s still valid after the hike.

“This has been an effective tactic, as a first-class letter stamp is now £1.25, soon to be rising to £1.35 – in 2012 it was just 60p. So you may as well stock up now.”

According to his Money Saving Expert (MSE) site, It’s the third time first-class stamp prices have jumped in the last year.

Brits only had to part with 95p just over a year ago, in March, but that quickly jumped up to £1.10 only a month later, in April.

Then, in October of the same year, they shot up again to £1.25.