Passport Rip off

finc

sleepy wrote:

If the photos are so easy, why has mine been returned 3 times? Not because I'm smiling, or not looking straight, but because I'm too white! I have very pale skin (even in summer, as I have to wear sunblock or I burn), people are always commenting on how pale I am. Well the passport agency won't accept my photo as it says I'm too pale so I don't stand out enough from the background. I've tried sending 3 different sets of photos from 3 different photo booths, and every one has been rejected :mad:

Best book yourself in for a St Tropez then and see if that makes 'em happy!

I agree the forms are a nightmare. My friend paid for the checking service at the P.O and it was still rejected. :mad:

hollydays

Shame you couldnt be photographed standing in front of Judith Chalmers-well just slightly to the side.

mah_jong

hollydays wrote:

lol
Take it you work for the post office then?
Would you be one of the same po assistants who trimmed my photo to size thereby cutting through the declaration on the back.
Or one of the two assistants, first one told me my photo was ok,then second one told me I was smiling, so it might not be accepted!

If it so easy why didnt anyone know for sure if my legal change of name document could be accepted-they are not listed as necessary documentation.

Thats the trouble with us consumers-we just dont understand easy things.

It does say in the instructions the size of photos including size of head! I trimmed mine BEFORE getting countersignature! Also says mouth should be closed and a neutral expression (or somethingsimilar.... but I can remember thinking a smile would be rejected!) Got mine through first time. Might have got a passport official on a good day!

However...... can anyone remember hearing that there will be anotherincrease in charges ??? I seem to think when it went up last it was just the first in row until it was over £100....... but perhaps it was just a dream. (nightmare), or maybe thats the new biometric ones. Anyone any idea?

hollydays

Sorry,mah jong could you just explain what you mean about photo again-think you missed a word out-I am intersted in this photo thing.The website guidance says do not trim to size,doesnt it? This was just a headshot,actually i wasnt smiling eg cheesy grin,just ever-so-slight hint of a smile,just like the one shown on the website,mouth ,closed (i am the Mona Lisas twin),next time i will try to have miserable thoughts when posing for a photo.

fudgem

isayoldchap wrote:

Flashnazia
I took the kids and my UK Passport to the Italian Consulate.Only £4.50 for a
10 year adult passport.Of course you need to book an appointment and usually takes around two hours.Link it with a family ticket and enjoy the museums and London same day.

Am I reading this right? You got a British passport at the Italian Consulate? or are you Italian

Baileys_Babe

mah_jong wrote:

Also says mouth should be closed and a neutral expression (or somethingsimilar.... but I can remember thinking a smile would be rejected!)

A friend of mine had her photo rejected because her teeth were showing. Her teeth are proud of her mouth and her lips don't cover them:(

dixxi30

my kids passports ran out so i went to the passport office to renew them.(as when we had passports sent through the post before they got lost) renewal £51 each.£26.50 each. for appointment + postage
total =£155.. what really annoyed me was the fact i had to pay the £26.50 =£53 .twice for the one appointment.

Silent_Bob_3

We're upto out 5th set of photos for our daughter - ongoing for 2 months now. Background too light everytime - considering all the photobooths we've tried seem the same its blinking ridiculous - and at £4 a set of photos its becoming way too expensive. So much for check and send too.

iwanttosave_2

Silent_Bob wrote:

We're upto out 5th set of photos for our daughter - ongoing for 2 months now. Background too light everytime - considering all the photobooths we've tried seem the same its blinking ridiculous - and at £4 a set of photos its becoming way too expensive. So much for check and send too.

Go to a photo shop like max speilmans (SP) I went there yeaterday to get the kids passport pics done and its £3.99 for 8 pics done with a digital camera until you are satsfied and if the pics are refused for any reason they will do them again for free.

grade15

I think this is the beginning of a series of price rises..anyway..if you think ur mad now..think of 10 months time ...
how can they be such cowboys and its us that have to pay for their mistakes..
I've read in Hong Kong, they have ID cards which counts as your ID and passport with all the bio stuff as well....all in one and guess what its free!!!!!
now, have to send a note to the HK government, how about adding ur driving license to it ?