Disgusting - Childrens Passport Prices!!!

mrt_2

My girfriend got a passport 2 years ago ( 8 years left on it ), and we got married 6 months ago. Cant believe it cost £51 to change surname

Nile

Hello dfarry


I don't work for the government.

The passport fee includes an amount to cover the cost of providing consular support to British nationals abroad. It covers things like:

Help contacting relatives and friends in emergencies, issuing emergency passports, visiting British nationals in hospital and those kept in police stations and prisons, providing details of local lawyers, interpreters and doctors.

I hope your family never need their services.

Kind Regards

Nile

cundall

Nile wrote:

Hello dfarry


I don't work for the government.

The passport fee includes an amount to cover the cost of providing consular support to British nationals abroad. It covers things like:

Help contacting relatives and friends in emergencies, issuing emergency passports, visiting British nationals in hospital and those kept in police stations and prisons, providing details of local lawyers, interpreters and doctors.

I hope your family never need their services.

Kind Regards

Nile

I did not know that it includes all that well when you think about it they are ready to help all the time... So it's not that bad but still it is alot of money.

blindman

If you contact this company you can 'Mystery shop' the passport application process and get the cost reduced by about 50%.

They are a bit dissorganised but pay up for your efforts.

Enjoy.

davidlizard

The other big hassle with kids having passports is the trouble and expense involved in getting a photo. We took ours abroad last year, aged six months - how on earth are you supposed to get a photo of a baby that meets the strict passport agency rules that even they don't fully document on the forms (eg mouth shut, no parent hands, looking at the camera, head level and so on). We had two lots rejected (first one because her head was not straight, second because her mouth was slightly open) despite the post office saying they were OK, so we ended up taking 20 sets and sent the lot off with a very terse letter.

(I was all for finding a picture of a similar looking baby on the web and sending that off - no-one could really tell the difference.)

lellie

Another thing to note.. if you have an old paper driving license and need to do a theory test or driving test - you must have a VALID passport as counter ID. So you might not have been out the country for 20 years and not have a valid passport - so will have to pay £51 for the passport plus £20.50 for the test..

waster_2

lellie wrote:

Another thing to note.. if you have an old paper driving license and need to do a theory test or driving test - you must have a VALID passport as counter ID. So you might not have been out the country for 20 years and not have a valid passport - so will have to pay £51 for the passport plus £20.50 for the test..

Why not just “swap” the paper licence for a new Photo Card Driving Licence at £19? Why do you need to get a Passport at £51?

photome

I am an avid moneysaver and hate paying over the odds for anything.


BUT I feel a passport is good value ..

1/ You dont have to have one.
2/ If you can afford foreign holidays you can surely afford a passport.
3/ At just over £7 a year for a child and just over £5 a year for an adult, IMO I dont think that is to much

small

blindman wrote:

If you contact this company you can 'Mystery shop' the passport application process and get the cost reduced by about 50%.

I have phoned them and they have sent me a pack of info and some questionnaires - it looks like a good deal.

I will let you know how I get on. They were keen for more mystery applications and they are going to have a look at this site as they didn't know about it. The MSE word spreads further......

blindman

I have phoned them and they have sent me a pack of info and some questionnaires - it looks like a good deal.

I will let you know how I get on. They were keen for more mystery applications and they are going to have a look at this site as they didn't know about it. The MSE word spreads further......

I don't understand

I told you this info because I have successfully done this so there is no problem.