SO feel beyond lucky to have collected my passport today from tnt.
Timeline (adult renewal)
7/3 applied
16/3 receive old passport on system
17/3 approved
21/3 printed
24/3 showed on tnt tracking
26/3 out for delivery (only knew this from checking tnt) – didn’t deliver
28/3 drove to collect from depot with success
Things I learnt – it seemed each time I called HMPO my application moved on – coincidence maybe? Check tnt tracking directly as no message came. Maybe helped I had a code for my photo? I was told of a Thursday collection of passport from tnt (coincidence mine showed up on a thursday?) – tnt will leave outlying postcode (like mine) for up to 4 days so call and book a collection to stop the anxiety! Don’t panic and cancel your app as I was advised two weeks ago as they won’t guarantee a return of old passport and you can’t do a fast track with out it. Call more than once – you certainly get good and bad advisers – some seem to delight in your desperation others have incredible empathy – it takes time to get through but worth it for me – I got my old passport back the day after new was printed….. so I feel blessed to be able to look forward to our first holiday in two Years or more! And my husband is talking to me again! 3 weeks start to finish is a brilliant turnaround but I did push so good luck all.
Make sure you update this wonderful forum when it arrives. Its been invaluable for me!