Barcoded stamps with Queen’s head are no longer valid?

[randalbond]

We posted a card to a relative. Today he got back to us and said that he had to pay £5 to get the card because the new, barcoded stamp with Elizabeth II on it is no longer valid. It has to be a King’s head from now on.

I can’t find this announcement anywhere on RM website. Can somebody point me in the right direction? Or was it a dodgy postal worker who got a free fiver from unsuspecting person? 

Thank you.

[four_mid_able]

More likely is that stamp was fake.

See other recent posts.

[papso22]

Where did you buy your stamp from?

[susapric-68]

Did they get a txt saying that? Normally the postie will leave a card. There's a scam txt going around saying you have to pay £5

[tommystrezures]

The only stamps that are not valid are the non barcoded definitives with the queens head. These were withdrawn last July.

A £5 grey card  with you have a fee to pay is for either the fact that the stamp was a fake or the stamp had fallen off and that there was no postage on the item. On the cover of the envelope there would have been a yellow sticker stating what was wrong.

It would also not be a dodgy postal worker either. The grey cards are issued by the sorting office/post office and payment is only accepted online or over the counter at post office. These cards are then stamped up and sent back to the revenue teams.