Have just received my daughter’s renewed passport. Not sure what I did that broke the system.
Application submitted 8/5 and PO confirmed passport received 16/5. Then absolutely nothing. 10 week deadline expired 25/7. Sent email 0n 26/7 to Expedited Service@hmpo.gov.uk with proof of travel 3+ weeks later. Heard absolutely nothing (auto reply).
Rang useless advice line a couple of times. They seemed happy to mis-inform me just to get rid of me. They didn’t seem to have access to any real info about my application. Despite being told on the tracking service that I qualified to apply to have application expedited, the advice line consistently said that application wouldn’t be expedited until less than 2 weeks before travel. So I think that maybe true although why the applicants can’t be told this I don’t know.
I wrote to Thomas Grieg, Director of Passports at the PO, by old fashioned post because I think it’s too easy for PO to ignore emails. I also emailed my MP who contacted the HO using the standard procedure; Kevin Foster, Home Office minister responsible for PO (auto response so quite sure he did nothing) and Diana Johnson, Chair of Home Affairs Select Committee who interviewed Grieg recently (also auto response).
I hand wrote the envelope to Grieg marking it urgent in red and for his personal attention. The PO would have received it yesterday (Southport address as per website). I didn’t hold back in my letter (!). I got a call from them yesterday telling me they were dealing with it and there it was on the doormat first thing this morning. So still more than 2 weeks before travel.
I really think it was my letter to Grieg that worked for me.