In accordance with new EU regulations on Customer Service, premium rate numbers are no longer permitted for Business-to-Customer after-sales services. This affects the stamp booklets, on which the telephone number 08457 740 740 has changed to 03457 740 740, and the Textphone/Minocom number from 08456 000 606 to 03456 000 606.
The new regulations do not apply to Business-to-Business communications, so on the Business Sheets the telephone number is unchanged. However, the same Textphone number is used for all customers, so that number has changed on Business Sheets.
As mentioned on the original blogpost, the M14L 1st x 6 booklet with the old numbers appeared in June. We were told by Royal Mail that the Large Letter booklets and small stamp Business Sheets with 2014 codes (MA14/M14L) would make their first appearance with this printing.
In fact supplies of the M14L 2nd class Business Sheet were found in post offices last week, with printing dates of 18/02/14 and 19/02/14. Our FDCs for 31 July will therefore have only 3 stamps!
(Click on any image for a larger version.)
We don't have cylinders on all booklets yet:
12 x 1st - W5 (red) W2 (phos) W1 (security)
4 x 1st Large - W2 (red), W1 (phos and security)
4 x 2nd Large
12 x 2nd
6 x 1st - 31 July with previous M14L booklet for comparison. Used copies are known from mid-June.
Barcodes and packing details:
BUSINESS SHEETS (Click on any image for a larger version.)
Printing date 05/06/14 - sheet number 9403397
Printing date 11/06/14 - sheet number 2456883
The Large Letter Stamps are unchanged, so here are the sheet tops for the record:
Printing date 27/05/14 - sheet number 1749264
Printing date 21/05/14 - sheet number 1683411
Thanks to all readers who sent in comments on this subject, and apologies for the confusion on the changes. Royal Mail did not tell us the complete details, so there has been detective work involved!
Thanks to Robert, Brian and Machnimaniac and others.
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