Stanley Gibbons announced as new independent arbitrator for final outcome on counterfeit stamps

Royal Mail is championing the fight against counterfeiters, working with retailers and online marketplaces to tackle the problem and raise awareness. Stanley Gibbons will be the new independent arbitrator who will determine final outcomes in the resolution process

Royal Mail has announced the addition of a new stamp scanner to its mobile phone app that will enable customers to check if a stamp is a known counterfeit.

The stamp scanner has been designed to provide extra reassurance to customers who may be unsure about whether a stamp is counterfeit or not. Customers can use the app to check whether it is a known counterfeit, preventing them from inadvertently becoming victims of fraud.
The counterfeit stamp scanner is available to customers who have downloaded the Royal Mail app. The free-to-use app has been downloaded onto more than 12 million phones and receives 4 million unique visitors each month.

Independent arbitrator

A further measure being announced is the introduction of an expert from stamp dealers, Stanley Gibbons, as an independent arbitrator in cases requiring resolution.

The arbitration process will be activated only in cases where a surcharge has been raised and disputed by the customer. If Royal Mail’s complaints procedure has been exhausted without resolution, arbitration will be the final stage of the process.

This will involve Stanley Gibbons conducting an examination of the physical stamp identified by Royal Mail as being counterfeit. Their decision will be fully independent of Royal Mail and the judgement binding.

Customers cannot send their stamps directly to Stanley Gibbons for assessment without going through the Royal Mail complaints process in the first instance.

Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail, said: “We continue to do all we can to protect our customers from the scourge of counterfeit stamps, and since introducing barcoded stamps we have reduced the number of counterfeit stamps in our network by around 90%. The new counterfeit stamp scanner on the Royal Mail app will help prevent customers inadvertently falling victim to stamp fraud.

We want our customers to buy stamps with confidence and always recommend that customers only purchase stamps from Post Offices and other reputable retailers or the official Royal Mail shop.”