Any way to get around passport renewal fees?

Equaliser123

Inactive wrote: »

But most of us on here are not running a big business, with our own vested interest at heart, are we?

I seem to recall that this all started in the US of A, by " Big Business ".. getting it all so dramatically wrong.

Getting hopelessly off topic.

Going to agree to differ. The last lot of idiots caused the mess. The current lot haven't had time to do anything about it yet. History will tell.

Chester85

Heliflyguy wrote: »

No profit for the IPS but not all goes to them and their costs.
So it helps pay for those in trouble abroad, the unlucky ones and the muppets that break the countries laws, but how much is the consular premium part of the fee?
Still we would have to pay for that in some way or another.
I dont think its a ripoff either...

What the fee covers

IPS does not make a profit. Passport fees cover the costs of providing passport services in the UK. Part of the fee is called 'the consular premium'. This covers the costs or providing consular help to British nationals who find themselves in difficulty while overseas.

IPS certainly does make a profit, it's just not officially allowed to. The same production goes into a 5 year child at £49.00 as a 10 year adult at £77.50, there is profit there no doubt about it, it just goes straight into Government coffers and the rest into IPS's development unit so they can think of pretty pictures to stick in your passport

redpete

Chester85 wrote: »

IPS certainly does make a profit, it's just not officially allowed to. The same production goes into a 5 year child at £49.00 as a 10 year adult at £77.50, there is profit there no doubt about it, it just goes straight into Government coffers and the rest into IPS's development unit so they can think of pretty pictures to stick in your passport

The cost does not just pay for the production of the passport, it pays for passport services and the consular fee.

Maybe the cost of the adult passport is the economically justifiable one and the government subsidises the cost of children's passports.

NEH

babyfruitella wrote: »

I dont think a standard renewal is a rip off when you've had your 10 years, but what I do find a rip off is having to pay the full renewal fee to change your name when you marry. I had 7 years left on my passport! I'd have carried on travelling on my maiden name, but apparently thats illegal, & my travel insurance is through my bank which is obviously in my married name, & I assume the 2 should probably match.

But to the OP, if you wanna go abroad then you dont really have an option but to pay the money. What exactly are you hoping they'll do?!?!

I hate it too, i still had some years left on my passport. The only compensation you get is an extra 9 months on your passport...

lucylucky wrote: »

No - not illegal. If you still use your maiden name then there is no requirement to change your passport.

It's not illegal but some countries are more strict than others and if all your other ID etc is in your married name they get iffy. Can't remember the article as i read over a year ago.....

So to save the hassle i eventually got mine done when i could afford to....

lucylucky

NEH wrote: »

I hate it too, i still had some years left on my passport. The only compensation you get is an extra 9 months on your passport...




It's not illegal but some countries are more strict than others and if all your other ID etc is in your married name they get iffy. Can't remember the article as i read over a year ago.....

So to save the hassle i eventually got mine done when i could afford to....

I have not been to any countries where it has been an issue. As long as your travel documents match your passport then all should (!) be well.

Louisdf

Sorry but the fee IS a rip off. And to all those that say, you accepted the price well it's not as if you can go to a competitor down the road who will give you a faster/cheaper service. We are effectively being held ransom unless we pay their unreasonable £77 fee for sheets of paper. Secondly, to the people that say if you can afford a holiday you can afford a passport this is an unreasonable assumption. You need a passport for everything nowadays- starting work, opening a bank account, getting a credit card, getting alcohol/ asprin if you're under 25, getting a library card, enrolling at University... So it's very difficult for most working people to go long without a passport even if they stay in Britain.

Louisdf

peachyprice wrote: »

No, the extra charges are for the security measure put in place in biometric passports, or did you think all that came for free?

Well that's useful isn't it? We have to pay extra for a biometric passport, but IPS/UK border agency are completely useless at stopping illegal immigrants coming in lorries/ trucks full of cannabis through Calais and Dover. I'm not being racist, but if this passport fee supposedly covers 'security expenses', then they should use that money to patrol the borders properly. But that's too much of an expectation for these unaccountable and over-paid 'officials.'

lucylucky

Louisdf wrote: »

Sorry but the fee IS a rip off. And to all those that say, you accepted the price well it's not as if you can go to a competitor down the road who will give you a faster/cheaper service. We are effectively being held ransom unless we pay their unreasonable £77 fee for sheets of paper. Secondly, to the people that say if you can afford a holiday you can afford a passport this is an unreasonable assumption. You need a passport for everything nowadays- starting work, opening a bank account, getting a credit card, getting alcohol/ asprin if you're under 25, getting a library card, enrolling at University... So it's very difficult for most working people to go long without a passport even if they stay in Britain.

Fortunately you don't.

And if you think then £77 is for some sheets of paper then you need to do a little more research.

whatmichaelsays

Louisdf wrote: »

I'm not being racist, but if this passport fee supposedly covers 'security expenses', then they should use that money to patrol the borders properly. But that's too much of an expectation for these unaccountable and over-paid 'officials.'

Have you actually seen the size of the UKBA operations in Dover, Folkstone and Calais?

Louisdf

lucylucky wrote: »

Fortunately you don't.

And if you think then £77 is for some sheets of paper then you need to do a little more research.

If you know any bank or building society that will let you open an account without seeing an in-date passport let me know!
But I guess you are right, you don't need a UK passport, as clearly these people didn't:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1102497/Airport-security-branded-total-failure-man-flies-Pakistan-using-SISTERS-passport.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-420336/Border-alarm-BBC-reporters-fake-passport-scam.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1311887/Ryanair-passengers-enter-UK-passport-checks-Border-Agency-blunder.html


The UK Border Agency is a FARCE. Put them on the dole.