Passport Office.

Gastines3

I can understand why the Passport Office has such a backlog, it seems normal practice for many of the staff to be "Out of Office" on Fridays and Mondays. How nice for them to have a long weekend off. An example of the system.Applied for a passport renewal for my grand-daughter. Cheque cleared just under 4 weeks ago, letter on Friday last,"Phone M Rs--- ref query.Out of Office today, I will ensure she phones you on Monday. Needless to say no phone call. Obviously no one knows what anyone else is dealing with despite reference numbers etc. It just makes me weep that we have to put up with such crap service from virtually every public service, plus no-one is ever put to task,usually the opposite,in the form of a bonus!!!

wealdroam

Gastines3 wrote: »

I can understand why the Passport Office has such a backlog, it seems normal practice for many of the staff to be "Out of Office" on Fridays and Mondays. How nice for them to have a long weekend off. An example of the system.Applied for a passport renewal for my grand-daughter. Cheque cleared just under 4 weeks ago, letter on Friday last,"Phone M Rs--- ref query.Out of Office today, I will ensure she phones you on Monday. Needless to say no phone call. Obviously no one knows what anyone else is dealing with despite reference numbers etc. It just makes me weep that we have to put up with such crap service from virtually every public service, plus no-one is ever put to task,usually the opposite,in the form of a bonus!!!

Many of the staff?

Are you telling us about more than one person?

Are you allowed any holiday with your job?

tomtontom

Perhaps they work part time, or have flexi hours so they work three very long days? Not sure how you can say this is 'normal practice' given your experience of one worker.

Regarding bonuses, the organisation I worked in had no bonuses. You seem to be making lots of assumptions without any facts?

gunsandbanjos

tomtontom wrote: »

Regarding bonuses, the organisation I worked in had no bonuses. You seem to be making lots of assumptions without any facts?

Since when have we let facts get in the way of a good rant on here?

God forbid maybe the person who was meant to phone was ill? It could be anything, stop being such a drama llama.

mgdavid

Did you use the PO check-and-send service? Also one has to question the wisdom of renewing a passport at the very busiest time of the year.

Gastines3

I take note of the above replies and apologise for venting my frustration. However!!! Why do these "Out of Office" always occur on Fridays and Mondays?What's the point of having reference numbers if no one can,or appear to be able to, refer to them?If the payment is taken for a service I would expect the service. Perhaps I have a different point of view to todays! I live in hope that Mrs---will return fit, well and suntanned, to her desk today and return our calls.I will say sorry for only allowing10 weeks for the application but the holiday was an impromptu gift to a grand-daughter after passing tests with distinction after having a fairly traumatic time at home.
I will leave you now and I may be gone for some time.

pmduk

I suspect the govt is preparing to privatise the service and is encouraging these scare stories to pave the way.