MSE News: Passport backlog: What are your rights?

balletshoes

fiona242 wrote: »

My sister works for a call centre company that has been sub-contracted to deal with calls.
I can tell you, they don't have a lot of sympathy for complainers.
What the newspapers don't tell you is that most of the delays are caused by the people applying. If folk took time to read the forms properly, complete them in full, sign them in the right place etc, then they wouldn't have such a problem.
And how about NOT BOOKING A HOLIDAY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A PASSPORT!
You wouldn't buy a car when you don't a license would you?

having read some of the threads on MSE about folk not getting their straightforward renewals back within 6 weeks, never mind the advertised 3-week turnaround on the official website, I don't think it is always, or even mostly, the case that they haven't completed them correctly.

The news last month wouldn't have been full of the delays in the passport process if it was all down to "user error". I don't buy it.

FWIW, I'm on the side of the staff at the passport office, I'm sure they are doing all they can, within the processes and guidelines they have, to get passports turned around as quickly as possible, but the sheer amount of applications, the added volume from overseas applications, and staff shortages, have stretched resources to the limit.

waynehayes

I'm slightly annoyed. I applied for my daughters renewal online 4 weeks ago, with myself as the signatory. Today I received a letter asking me to confirm that I have parental responsibility, as myself and partner are not married. I'm sure there was no mention of this when applying otherwise I would have put it in partners name.
More delays!

balletshoes

waynehayes wrote: »

I'm slightly annoyed. I applied for my daughters renewal online 4 weeks ago, with myself as the signatory. Today I received a letter asking me to confirm that I have parental responsibility, as myself and partner are not married. I'm sure there was no mention of this when applying otherwise I would have put it in partners name.
More delays!

theres definitely guidance notes about parental responsibility on the child's passport application bumpf - my brother had to go through it in depth when he was applying for his daughter's passport -

https://www.gov.uk/parental-rights-responsibilities

tomtontom

fiona242 wrote: »

My sister works for a call centre company that has been sub-contracted to deal with calls.
I can tell you, they don't have a lot of sympathy for complainers.
What the newspapers don't tell you is that most of the delays are caused by the people applying. If folk took time to read the forms properly, complete them in full, sign them in the right place etc, then they wouldn't have such a problem.
And how about NOT BOOKING A HOLIDAY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A PASSPORT!
You wouldn't buy a car when you don't a license would you?

Your assertion makes no sense - if the delays are mostly due to applicants making mistakes then there would always be delays - or are you suggesting summer applicants are more stupid than most?

waynehayes

I think these are the guidelines:

If the child’s parents are not married, the mother can give permission. The father can sometimes give permission but usually only if he:
has a parental responsibility order or agreement (which must be sent with the application)
has a residency order
is named on the birth certificate (which must be sent with the application), and the birth was jointly registered on or after:
– 5 April 2002 in Northern Ireland
– 1 December 2003 in England and Wales, or – 4 May 2006 in Scotland.


It does say to send the birth certificate too!

balletshoes

waynehayes wrote: »

I think these are the guidelines:

If the child’s parents are not married, the mother can give permission. The father can sometimes give permission but usually only if he:
has a parental responsibility order or agreement (which must be sent with the application)
has a residency order
is named on the birth certificate (which must be sent with the application),
and the birth was jointly registered on or after:
– 5 April 2002 in Northern Ireland
– 1 December 2003 in England and Wales, or – 4 May 2006 in Scotland.


I do have parental responsibility, but the guide should make it clear that proof may be sought, or to simply ask for a birth certificate to be sent with the supporting documents.

I'd take from that, that you need to send the birth certificate.

waynehayes

balletshoes wrote: »

I'd take from that, that you need to send the birth certificate.

I just read that too, and edited my above post. Clear as day!

Edit: I think the issue of PR was pretty much overlooked by myself when applying, I forget that I have occasionally have to prove that I am in fact DD's father just because I'm not married.

Edit 2: but of course, I can see why they would need to make these checks.

painterscastle

bylromarha wrote: »

Anyone any update as to how long they are taking?

Hubby sent his renewal off 1st class 13th June (not recorded or special...just DON'T go there, he's already had an earbashing from me about it...)

Passport office claim they didn't get it until 26th June. 4 weeks from then, which is what they're claiming in their email, is approx turnaround time. 24th July is when it should be here by...waiting with baited breath.

Anyone else having Royal Mail take an extrordinarily long time to deliver to the Passport office?

We posted ours on 23 June recorded 1st class, royal mail say it was received at peterborough passport office 24 June. However according to the passport office they didnt get it until 28 June!!

jasminebro2

I don't think it's stupid to decide to believe the information on the passport office website that says you need to allow THREE weeks for your passport to arrive, and that if you are travelling in more than three weeks time it is NOT URGENT and you don't need to pay for a fast track application. Which information is still there on their website.
I am not stupid - I plan well and don't make stupid mistakes. I also like to stay calm and follow the rules, and don't take up an appointment for an urgent passport that I don't need because I like to believe that if everyone does everything properly and follows the instructions then things will work out fine in the end. I hate to be late or to leave things to the last minute, and I am suffering from sleepless nights now because my daughter is looking forward to our first family holiday this summer and is talking about it constantly, and I can't stop thinking how a five year old just won't understand what has happened if her passport doesn't arrive and we can't go.

I have lived in UK all my life, and I have never myself or anyone I know experienced a situation where someone who follows the advice given has been left without a passport for when they needed it, although the disclaimers have always been there. Sure we have all heard of people who leave it to the last minute, book flights and then kick up a fuss because they can't renew their passport in three days. But the current situation is extreme, and what's more was not made public until it was too late for many people to do anything about it.

You can be all smug and call people stupid, but do you know what, what goes around comes around, and maybe one day you'll be caught out on something and we can all stand around pointing at you and calling you an idiot. Except some of us only get involved when we've got something useful or constructive to say.

jaylee3 wrote: »

I have got not one single scrap of sympathy for ANYone regarding this. ANYbody who booked their holiday BEFORE getting their passport deserves all they get IMO. It's a well documented fact that you should always wait for your passport to arrive before making holiday plans. It says it in big letters on the passport application!

I don't think the passport office should owe anybody ANYthing. Yes, they have a backlog. Sh-t happens. if you lost your holiday because of it; bad luck. Lesson learned. Get your passport FIRST next time.

May sound harsh, but I just have no time for stupidity.

There was this bloke on the news a week or so ago with a chubby red-eyed little daughter on his lap for effect and he was whining 'we go on holiday tomorrow and Shannon's passport is not here yet, so we can't go.' It was about 15th June: he sent for 'Shannon's' passport on 25th MAY!

You gotta be some special kinda stupid to send for a passport THREE WEEKS before your very expensive family holiday overseas.

Like I said: I have not a jot of sympathy.

jasminebro2

It's not the Royal Mail, cos I sent mine Special Delivery on 12th and it was delivered and signed for on 13th, but the date the passport office officially state it arrived was 20th.

bylromarha wrote: »

Anyone any update as to how long they are taking?

Hubby sent his renewal off 1st class 13th June (not recorded or special...just DON'T go there, he's already had an earbashing from me about it...)

Passport office claim they didn't get it until 26th June. 4 weeks from then, which is what they're claiming in their email, is approx turnaround time. 24th July is when it should be here by...waiting with baited breath.

Anyone else having Royal Mail take an extrordinarily long time to deliver to the Passport office?