Adult Renewal Passport
Type of Application:
Adult Passport Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-07-22
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
I went to my local post office to renew my expired passport, where everything was done and checked for me, including the photo. All I had to do was sign the form and pay! The whole process took 15 – 20 minutes and when asked, I was told I should get it back within 2 – 3 weeks, which was great! Total cost was £91.50. Return time SIX DAYS!! Can’t fault it and have told absolutely everyone I meet, to use their local Post Office for their passports, if they offer that service. Most seem to0.
Lost or Stolen Passport Application
Type of Application:
Lost/Stolen Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-15
Date Received:
2022-07-29
Overall Experience:
2 Star – Stressful
Comments:
Buckle in… this one’s a doozy.
Timeline as follows:
14/06/2022 – Discover Passport for under 16yo Son is missing. We’d only had it 6 months.
15/06/2022 – Cancelled said passport – DIDN’T RECEIVE A LOST PASSPORT NUMBER, SHOULD’VE
15/06/2022 – Submitted new application for new passport to replace the lost one.
15/06/2022 – Identity confirmed
Then silence.
We started chasing on the 11th July as there had been no progress. Summary:
1. Calls to the 0300 number are fruitless unless you get someone who is genuinely engaged in your issue. Across nearly 20 calls, only 2 people listened and escalated our calls – one for a call back and one put us through to the Customer Support Management Team. Keep calling back, if you get a muppet, hang up and start again. Always opt for option 8… option 3 and then you get a human.
2. Using the online chat is useless. Don’t waste your time.
3. Escalation calls come to from a call handling organisation, and they will give you all of the same information that the 0300 team does, and then “put you through” to the Customer Support Management Team. Get comfy, don’t need to be anywhere, as you’ll hold for hours…
4. Don’t bother contacting your MP – they will literally not get anywhere.
5. If you get through to the Customer Support Management Team, ask them for the email address of the upgrade team at the office that your passport is being processed at. You can apply for an upgrade at 6 weeks from your original application date, and if you’re travelling within 14 days.
6. Email your date of travel, with proof, with your application number and a contact number that you have access to between 8am and 8pm to the upgrade team email address.
7. Now you wait. Don’t expect movement immediately. We waited 26 hours for the call back.
8. Now for some praise. When they called back, bloody hell did they get the earth moving.
27/07/2022 – Upgrade Application made
28/07/2022 – Upgrade call received, upgrade paid for – £102 for a lost childs passport in addition.
28/07/2022 – 10.03 – New Picture required.
28/07/2022 – 10.26 – New Picture Submitted
28/07/2022 – 12.42 – Application Approved
28/07/2022 – 14.52 – Passport Printed
29/07/2022 – 10.00 – Passport Collected from Peterborough Office.
While the whole process was massively stressful, its probably important to remember that these offices were stripped of staff during Covid, like a lot of industries. The problem is, our Government won’t spend on the important things, like roads, passport offices, schools, the NHS etc all the while Caviar and Champagne tastes so nice and hedge funds are so attractive.
One last thing – be persistent. Be belligerent and learn the process – shouting and screaming will get you kicked off of calls.
Good luck.
1st Child Passport
Type of Application:
First Child Passport
Submission Date:
2022-06-18
Date Received:
2022-07-28
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Started to stress as this passport was taking longer than other renewals (which we got back in around 3 weeks), but actually it was fine.
Did it online. Recommend this.
You will still need to post off documents such as your old passport or birth certificate. You will be told if your photos are acceptable. My boy is under two and he wasn’t quite looking at the camera but they did accept it. You could still see his eyes.
Holiday is end of August and realised that this fell slightly outside of the 10 weeks. The waiting is hard!
Submitted 18 June
Identity Confirmed 18 June
Application Received 18 June
Documents Received 24 June
Approved 20 July
Printed 21 July
Passport Received 28 July
(Birth Certificate Returned 30 July)
Child Renewal
Type of Application:
Child Renewal
Submission Date:
2022-04-24
Date Received:
2022-05-12
Overall Experience:
5 Star – Very Easy
Comments:
Applied online with a photo I took myself on an iPhone, the photo was pre-approved by the Gov website, sent the old passport by registered next day delivery and was lucky the whole process was dealt with amazingly quickly, just under 3 weeks from start to finish. The passport was processed at the Peterborough Office.
