BOOKS OF POSTAGE STAMPS.

[leigh47]

Why do books of stramps now have 2 perforated holes in them? When the stamp is removed this sometimes tears out of the stamp.

[redman41]

It is to prevent the Stamps from getting re-used !

[rov1200]

Stamping down on fraud

[leigh47]

Thank you both for you answers. I did rather assume that. However, the point is that the perforated hole often tears out of the stamp when peeling the stamp from the book. Therefore there is already a hole in the stamp when sticking it to the letter. Is the stamp then valid?

[ABerrant]

The missing panel(s) is taken by Royal Mail as evidence of tampering and as such will class the stamp as invalid. In order to take receipt of the mail the intended recipient will therefore need to pay RM the postage cost plus an additional £1 surcharge.

http://www.dailymail....eats-using-again.html

http://www.royalmail....0674&mediaId=37000678

[leigh47]

Thank you for your answer ABerrant. This is what I suspected to be the case. So what should one do when this small piece is left behind in the stamp book? It has happened several time and I have just used the stamp with this piece missing. Have not had any comments back from the mail receipients, Perhaps they never received the letter!

[Mamyalynne]

It happens to me all the time Ipeel off the stamp and the bits are still in the book, so now I am very careful and if it happens I get tweezers and reposition them LOL

[redman41]

Mine peel away from Stamp Book no problem. Don't know why it's happening with your Stamp Books !

[chakka35]

I'd like to hear a lawyer's opinion - or a legal explanation from Royal Mail.

The fact that a stamp has previously been peeled off a backing does not necessarily mean that it is now being re-used fraudulently. As well as the cases already quoted, I have in front of me an unused 1st-class stamp stuck to an envelope over which some coffee was spilled before it was posted. That envelope was scrapped, except for the part with the stamp on, which was clean. So the valid, unused stamp is there for me to steam off and use, even if the perforated panels come out.

If I did so, and the recipient, having taken the letter from the postman, then refused to pay the excess, the Royal Mail would have no case in court because they could not prove fraud.

I think this is a bluff.

[whitehill]

I recently read that the correct way to remove one of these unfranked stamps from the envelope is to lay it face down, then spread lighter fuel on the back of the envelope, wait until it has discoloured, the the stamp will peel off in one piece and no holes. I haven't tried this, so I can't vouch for it!

[Old_Geezer]

I find it difficult to credit that the loss to the Mail from their failure to frank stamps, and folk wanting to save a few pence by reusing them, was so large that it was worth bothering to put in a further safeguard. Mind you, judging from my past experiences of management and other authorities, maybe I wouldn't put it past them.

(By the way the book of stamps in my wallet doesn't have any perforations.)