We may not be going :( :(

[angel_nix]

I posted the other day about the problems that we are having obtaining a passport for dp. Anyway, had a letter today (dated 7th, today is the 11th) to say that the cheque wasn't enough to cover the fee. Checked and £72 cheque is what was needed and the incompetant fool at the PO had ticked the return supporting items by secure post and I didn't spot, so £3.00 was owed to them, therefore they didn't start to process the info! Bearing in mind, I didn't pay any extra for having Lotties documents returned by secure post!

So anyway, the people at the passport office are now saying it may be four weeks before Neil can have an interview, we leave in just over that and there is no way we can hurry things along. And to top it all off, his initial small birth cert was accepted without problem at the Passport Office, therefore, we could've sent it weeks ago if I had ignored the people who worked int he Post Office and had no idea what they were talking about.

As you can imagine, we're fuming, and a letter of complaint will be going into the POs that we used and luckily for us, one of our good friends is related to the head of the PO, so he will be hearing about it!

So please send us lots of luck this way, hopefully it will arrive in time, if not, I don't know what to do. I can't take Lottie on my own as the Eurostar is fully booked and I don't drive, so can't drive over like we were planning to do.

 

[torsie24]

Luck luck luck

:hug

 

[mommy2ash]

oh no that is just awful. i would be so mad if that happened to me. do you not have emergency passports over there?? like here you can get one in a couple of days

 

[angel_nix]

No emergency passports, the big problem is that apparently it is unusual to apply for a first ADULT passport as most people now have them from childhood!

It's a total farce and I am trying to stay calm, but am absolutly fuming. I am just hoping that it arrives in time. On a positive note, Lotties arrived today, only took six DAYS!! So that's somethign positive at least!

 

[mommy2ash]

thats just terrible. seeing as it was their mistake i really hope they hurry the passport along.

 

[DLPdaft]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you

 

[joolz1910]

How utterly frustrating! Isn't there any way that your partner could get a cancellation and have an interview? I can't see why it's taking 4 weeks to get an interview! Is that a definite time-scale or just worst case scenario? They tell you to allow for 3 weeks or so, to get your passport, but they usually turn it around within a week. Perhaps 4 weeks is the maximum wait - fingers crossed. I am sending you lots of crossed fingers and positive vibes. Good Luck!

 

[angel_nix]

Thanks everyone!

It turns out that they don't offer emergency cancellation appointments (even though he works about 15mins away from the interview office, and his employer has said he can go whenever!) and he can't book an interview until they give him his passport number So he has to phone back at the end of the week to see if they can give him a number yet, rather than wait for them to send it out in the post (bearing in mind they posted the letter on the 7th and we received it this afternoon!) They also said they would phone if there was any problem and they haven't!

It has been a total farce, the PO and Passport Office can't agree which paperwork/proof of ID is needed, Passport Office have since said not to bother using check and send for first adult passports (even though their literature says to!)

This from the government that thinks National ID cards are the way to go

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

I may be totally wrong.... but just trying to help! so ignore if its rubbish! haha. When i was worrid about my sons passport getting back in time someone told me there is a main office in london, where you can literally que up.. (may take all day) and get your passport done then and there..... interview etc....? is this right? maybe it worst comes to worse they can send you birth cert etc back and you can do that?

 

[angel_nix]

I may be totally wrong.... but just trying to help! so ignore if its rubbish! haha. When i was worrid about my sons passport getting back in time someone told me there is a main office in london, where you can literally que up.. (may take all day) and get your passport done then and there..... interview etc....? is this right? maybe it worst comes to worse they can send you birth cert etc back and you can do that?

We've looked at that option and you can do it for anything except a first adult passport which is what we need! It's new (ish) regulations that they have to be done on different days, totally ridiculous. Makes you wonder what they would do if someone needed to fly out to another country in an emergency with no passport!

 

[hollymattbenmilo]

oh no! thats just awful... well keep ringing and hasseling people! If worst came to worst is there anyone that can drive that could take your oh's place? oh... so sad... i am sure you will get it all sorted!! xx sending some disney magic!

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I really hope you manage to get it all sorted in time hun.

 

[ema74]

Hope you get it all sorted out very soon. Should only take 2 weeks so hopefully it will.

 

[angel_nix]

I hope it only takes two weeks, we're trying to put plans in place so that someone else can go if necessary!

Ema74, you arrive on the same day that we hopefully do aswell, except we're staying in the Cheyenne!

 

[giuly09]

and hope you can sort out everything soon!!!!!!

 

[sam_rogers]

oh no i hope everything works out ok

 

[gemmybear83]

Hope it all works out ok for you

 

[angel_nix]

Thanks again everyone, will be on the phone to the Passport Office tomorrow to harrass them again lol!

Quick Q - does anyone know if it has to be the Passport holder that signs for its delivery now??

 

[Ware Bears]

I had to renew all my DDs passports recently. I did them one month at a time to make it seem a little less painful on the pocket and when they were delivered I was out and each one had just been shoved through the letter box even though they are supposed to be signed for.

Keeping everything crossed for you

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Mine was just shoved through the letter box when i applied for DD's passport and had mine re-done.