But some clients have discovered their previous stamps are counterfeit or fraudulent, The Telegraph discovered.
If an invalid stamp is used, or the stamp is detected to be fraudulent or defective, then the recipient should pay a charge as a way to obtain their put up.
Affected clients informed the newspaper the stamps had been purchased from respected and official locations, together with the Post Office or at counters at retailers like WH Smith, and even straight from the Royal Mail web site.
The Telegraph mentioned it had seen 40 situations of shoppers claiming the stamps that they had purchased had been flagged as invalid – each previous ones, and the newer barcoded variations.
Royal Mail mentioned it wants enough proof to have the ability to examine circumstances of stamps being marked as counterfeit or not real.
A Royal Mail spokesman mentioned: “It is vital we can investigate any instance where a person believes their stamps have been incorrectly identified as counterfeit or pre-used.
“To do this, we require any customer who believes they have been incorrectly surcharged to send the envelope with the barcoded stamp attached to us, along with the exact location of where the stamp was purchased.”
It mentioned it could actually then assess each barcoded and non-barcoded stamps with a “thorough examination using specialist equipment”, in addition to a human inspection after which extra safety checks.
“We are confident our processes are robust,” the spokesman added. “We will always happily review individual cases and if an error has been made then we will of course correct it.”
The Post Office, which sells stamps, mentioned it takes allegations of faux stamps critically and likewise mentioned it could actually solely examine a case if a buyer has their receipt as proof of buy.
Possible faux stamps would then should be checked by the Royal Mail, it mentioned.
A Post Office spokesman mentioned: “Stamps are available to buy from a number of different sources. Post Office Ltd receives its stamps direct from Royal Mail’s secure printers and are shared with our experienced postmasters and operators to sell in their Post Offices.”
Consumer champion Which? mentioned Royal Mail ought to take into consideration investigating any attainable points with its new stamp barcode system.
Lisa Webb, Which? client regulation knowledgeable, mentioned: “It’s unacceptable for recipients to be wrongly charged for stamps that have been bought legitimately from reputable retailers.
“It’s in Royal Mail’s interests to investigate as a priority any issues reported with its new stamp barcode system.
“Anyone who believes they have been wrongly charged for stamps marked as counterfeit should raise it with Royal Mail and the company must ensure that any customers who encounter problems with the new system are not left out of pocket.”
All retailers had been informed to cease promoting non-barcoded stamps from October final yr.
The new barcoded stamps, which nonetheless function a picture of the late Queen, had been launched final yr as a part of a transfer to modernise the service, and to permit enhanced security measures.
