Passport Application delay cost me my holiday

ModelTenant

Hi all,

I am sure you have heard on the news but I am an actual victim. Been calling the office all week and had to completely cancel holiday to avoid risking the entire lot being lost. I have lost £1300 as a result of the incompetence of the passport office.

Is there anything I can do about this? Go to the press? Take them to court? I am willing to do whatever it takes to get justice against them.

littlereddevil

I wouldn't think so.

nearlyrich

When did you apply?

ModelTenant

nearlyrich wrote: »

When did you apply?

5 weeks ago. Said 99% are done within 3 weeks - yeah right. Liars

atolaas

On the gov.uk website they do advise not to book a holiday without a valid passport. You can renew your passport if you have less than 9 months to go until its expiry date. Unfortunately I think that they have covered their ar*e...this time!!

bluenoseam

What does your travel insurance say about cancelations?

andygb

ModelTenant wrote: »

5 weeks ago. Said 99% are done within 3 weeks - yeah right. Liars

When I was booking a day trip to France, I made sure that my passport was renewed a couple of months before.
Do you really want to risk a holiday by failing to renew by two weeks?

Caz3121

Did you use Fast Track, Premium oir the standard service?
Did you attempt to upgrade your application at any point?

I don't there is much you can do regards compensation from the passport office as, as had been said, they cover themselves on their website by telling people not to book travel

peachyprice

ModelTenant wrote: »

5 weeks ago. Said 99% are done within 3 weeks - yeah right. Liars

That is a guideline, not a guarantee. They also say to not book travel until you have a valid passport, advice you chose to Ignore.

It's nobody's fault but your own.

Enterprise_1701C

I'm sorry, but I would NEVER book a holiday without a valid passport. Best thing to do next time would be to get your passport renewed then book the holiday. You don't have to wait till it runs out, you can renew about 6 months in advance without any loss (they add the 6 months on to the validity term of the passport).

To be honest, it is not down to incompetence, it is down to the improvement of the economy meaning more people can afford to go away.

You may not want to hear it, but if anyone has been incompetent it has been you.

photome

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

I'm sorry, but I would NEVER book a holiday without a valid passport. Best thing to do next time would be to get your passport renewed then book the holiday. You don't have to wait till it runs out, you can renew 9 months in advance without any loss (they add the 9 months on to the validity term of the passport).

To be honest, it is not down to incompetence, it is down to the improvement of the economy meaning more people can afford to go away.

You may not want to hear it, but if anyone has been incompetent it has been you.

there you go