Apparently each stamp has an individual code number which will be read and 'digitally' franked. Second time around will be ejected and charge levied for extra processing and delivery. Ran a few through a bar code reader they do appear to have different numbers.

John

Is the bit with the monarch's head on now purely decorative then?

They havent started to print the forth class stamps yet for the service you will now get Baz ! Noel.

Anonymous communication is hated by authoritarian governments – sounds as tho the UK is applying for membership of this club – maybe the PRC can supply some expertise.

Lets hope that the software validating these stamps is more reliable than the accounting system which resulted in hundreds of perfectly innocent Sub-Postmasters being prosecuted for theft.

What happens if the stamp gets marked on it's travels before it gets scanned?

'Royal Mail' is just an operating name for a private company. I predict in the not too distant future, mail will have to be collected rather than delivered, whatever the class of stamp! This has been the case in Spain, and no doubt other countries for many years.

Too late to edit ^^^ but I am intrigued to see that the Grauniad saw fit to ‘re-correct’ its previous description of the code used on the stamps.

If it looks like a QR code, and reads like a QR code ….

MichaelG.

.

[quote]
This article was amended on 21 February 2022 to restore the article’s original description of the new stamp feature as a barcode, and remove “corrections” (to text, and in a 3 February footnote) that erroneously renamed the feature a QR code. A line has also been inserted defining the type of barcode used.

[/quote]

Edit: __ One lives and learns :

https://www.neodynamic.com/barcodes/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 07/12/2022 09:30:24

Thanks for the link. My understanding from the rather unsatisfactory PO website is that Christmas stamps will remain valid and are not "swapoutable".

I have posted my swapouts today at the "local" sub-postoffice; they were unable to provide a certificate of posting – not clear to me from the website – but they were happy for me to take a photo (to go with the photo I took previously of the contents of the envelope).

To my regret, the PO seem to be committing economic and reputational suicide and inviting a socially damaging split up and takeover. The opportunity to provide tracking via the new stamps seems unlikely to bear fruit.

Bought some online postage last night. It used to be very straightforward, but now it is impossible to avoid the option of having it collected. I walk past the postbox most days as I'm emptying the dog, so I don't find this at all helpful.

Post box option still appears to be an option, just as before, Duncan Webster. Nothing changed that I can see other than the yellow labels saying that collection is free?

Whole set of cards just arrived with the new stamps. ALL franked.