Delay as never cancelled old passport

I had the exact same and have been sat in the "processing" stage since 22nd March. Meant to be going on Holiday 16th May so it's not looking too good for either of us i'm afraid.

I have been trying to get a call back from progress team to tell them my lost reference number? Any idea how long there taking to do call backs was told 48hours but noting since

You could try emailing hmpo with details. They reply within 48 hours

Do you have the email address please.

How long did it take to get the lost reference number? I just completed the form on line this morning.

I’ve just got off the phone from the processing team & actually don’t bother with the email as the cancellation reference number wasn’t put onto my application hence why mines been on processing for so long. I called the Newport office & got put through to 2 different departments & the lady said the reference number was what was holding mine up. I’d give them a ring, I was on phone for over an hour between taking to diff departments & being put on hold but worth the wait

I cancelled online 6th March & received a text with ref number on 23rd March

01633 285419 Newport number

Thank you Max, I will try them when I finish work at 5. Dont think they will be able to do much as I dont have a lost passport ref number.

@max1978, I emailed them my lost reference number and had a reply to say it had been passed onto the processing team. I'm wondering now if that is BS?! Were you also told that by email?

Thank you for your email about the progress of your application. I am happy to confirm we received your passport application at our Durham office on 17 March 2022 and it is currently waiting to be checked. You do not need to do anything and if we need anything else from you, we will contact you. All correctly completed applications are being processed within the timescales of the service you applied for, which is approximately 10 weeks for a replacement application. This is the reply so I just assumed really

Thank you for providing the required information. I have now made the processing office aware of the Lost reference number. The application is now being looked at. We do not need anything further at this stage, but if the Passport Officer needs additional information, they will contact you. I had this, but still got no faith in them haha!

When did you receive that?

14th April so it clearly wasn't being and hasn't yet been "looked at"!

I would give them a call just incase as it will just keep you on processing until they have that info

I called last night and gave the processing team my lost reference number, its just a waiting game now. I go away 3rd June so I am feeling a bit more hopeful the passport will be here now. I will chase up again next week.

At least you managed to get through to them, did they give you an expected time for passport?

no, just said they are still having delays and if I havent heard anything 2 weeks before my holiday to phone and I can pay for upgrade fast track, £142 each for me and my daughter! why the hell did i leave it so late to apply for it.. :-(

I applied 12 weeks in advance, others on here have applied even earlier & still having issues with it. Think they need to make the timelines a bit clearer. Good luck

Thanks Max, Hope you get yours sorted soon! keep me posted on here if and when you get any form of update! :-)

Of course

My passport application was submitted online on the 11th of March. I cancelled my lost passport at the same time and received confirmation that my old passport had been cancelled on the 25th of March. I was not told I needed to provide the reference number to the Passport Office. My application has been showing as ‘Processing’ since 21 March! I have tried ringing the passport office several times but just keep being told that there is nobody available to answer my call and then get cut off 😖 Does anyone have any advice? I’m flying on 28 May, and am beginning to get worried.

Can anyone help on timescale. I applied for my passport 22nd March, old passport was lost years ago

Same here - I did a bit of research before applying and was told to cancel the old one, even though it was issued in the mid 80's! After about 5 days I got a call from HMPO asking me to describe the passport and few other questions only to be told that because of when this was issued, before their systems were computerised they had no record of it and I had to apply as if it was a first passport, putting a covering letter in when I sent in my docs, which I did and this didn't seem to cause any delays - passport applied for 21st Feb, in my hand 22nd March. So if your passport is from a similar era they may not have a record of it and if they are taking time getting back to you this may be the reason why.

My passport was still valid, just lost.

I got through to the live chat this morning, my passport isn't even with an examiner yet. Been processing since 16th March! He couldn't tell me anything, just wait and 2 weeks before holiday to phone and ask for upgrade. This is a disgrace!