Royal Mail lost passport renewal application

diesel_dog

Early last week I filled in the passport renewal form online, paid the fee printed the form, signed it, enclosed 2 pictures and my current valid passport.

I sent it from the PO "signed for" 1st class delivery. I also sent a couple of other letters elsewhere and they have been signed for and delivered while my passport application letter is still showing "being progressed". RM aren't interested until 10 days after expected due delivery date and the passport office are simply saying we don't have your form. Looks like it's been lost.

Anyone had this happen before? I'm due to fly out in about 5 weeks time and really don't want the last minute hassle of having to get it sorted and need to know what to do next. In case anyone suggests I should of sent it off earlier, I've been away and needed to use my passport and last week was the first clear chance to send it off. Surely 7 weeks would suffice as well at this time of year.

Keep_pedalling

The guidance is that it should take 3 weeks, but personally I would not rely on that and would have either used the fast track option, or gone to a PO and used the check and send service, which as well as checking your application for errors, then sends it by Special Delivery. Check and send also offers the chance to upgrade to fast track if things go wrong.

Not sure there is much you can do for the moment except keep your fingers crossed as signed for is not tracked, and even when stuff is delivered it may still show as being processed if the right manual inputs have not been made.

Give it till early next week and check again, and if your passport office confirm they still don't have it ask them what the procedure is (I suspect you will have to go down the fast track route, and you will have to pay for that in full on top of your original application)

soolin

diesel_dog wrote: »

Early last week I filled in the passport renewal form online, paid the fee printed the form, signed it, enclosed 2 pictures and my current valid passport.

I sent it from the PO "signed for" 1st class delivery. I also sent a couple of other letters elsewhere and they have been signed for and delivered while my passport application letter is still showing "being progressed". RM aren't interested until 10 days after expected due delivery date and the passport office are simply saying we don't have your form. Looks like it's been lost.

Anyone had this happen before? I'm due to fly out in about 5 weeks time and really don't want the last minute hassle of having to get it sorted and need to know what to do next. In case anyone suggests I should of sent it off earlier, I've been away and needed to use my passport and last week was the first clear chance to send it off. Surely 7 weeks would suffice as well at this time of year.

Firstly check if the passport office actually have it, signed for often fails to update online so it could actually be there.

As for claiming from RM, there is so consequential loss I surance on signed for, you can only claim the cost of the item in the envelope, so at best 2 photos, a claim can't be started for 15 working days anyway.

Personally I'd check with passport office first and if they don't have it then send a duplicate immediately but use special delivery.

smudge56

It can sometimes take a few day for the application form to be scanned onto the system. Once it's on it won't take long to be processed. Check the advice line in a few days - 03002220000

gettingtheresometime

If it's any consolation we sent off the renewal form for my OH's passport which was received on the saturday and we received the new passport on the wednesday.

The process took a week from application to receiving the new passport.

diesel_dog

Quick update. I've spoken to the Passport Office and it's not with them.
The RM tracking number is now showing "number isn't recognised"! I called RM yesterday and they said there's an online problem tracking mail and that mine was delivered yesterday at 9.30 - fingers crossed it actually was. I'll post again once I know for sure.

diesel_dog

I thought'd I'd update this once again as I hate not knowing the outcome on some of these threads posted!

RM delivered my passport application back to me Monday 2/11:eek: I sent it off again - signed for, again. The Passport Office received it the next day. I could track it on there system the day after that, then a day later it showed it was printed and out for delivery! I received the text the day I got it - 7.30am. Great turnaround from the PO but disappointing service from RM!

Very glad I didn't opt for the check and send service as I can't see the value of that at all ....

martindow

diesel_dog wrote: »

I thought'd I'd update this once again as I hate not knowing the outcome on some of these threads posted!

RM delivered my passport application back to me Monday 2/11:eek: I sent it off again - signed for, again. The Passport Office received it the next day. I could track it on there system the day after that, then a day later it showed it was printed and out for delivery! I received the text the day I got it - 7.30am. Great turnaround from the PO but disappointing service from RM!

Very glad I didn't opt for the check and send service as I can't see the value of that at all ....

I'm quite surprised you used signed for again. As Soolin said there is no value in paying the extra Pound or so over normal first class as your loss is minimal. Check and send is a bit pointless, but I would always send using Special Delivery which issuper reliable for next day delivery.