Post Office 'Hard Selling' passport special deliv.

kerri_gt

The Post Office is a business and struggling against competition so yes, they do upsell or try and sell other products - which whilst annoying, isn't the fault of the staff employed.

As far as sending off an important document - whilst I'm quite happy to slap a standard stamp on a card and if it goes astray so be it, I wouldn't take a chance with my passport.

zagfles

katejo wrote: »

I haven't renewed mine for some time so haven't tried the online renewal yet. However I think I would use recorded delivery to send the old passport in. I'd be a bit stuck if I had a trip booked and couldn't go because of the old passport going missing in the post. Does it eventually get sent back to you with the new one?

Yes they send it back cancelled.

zagfles

kerri_gt wrote: »

The Post Office is a business and struggling against competition so yes, they do upsell or try and sell other products - which whilst annoying, isn't the fault of the staff employed.

It is if they lie and say it's "mandatory" when it isn't.

As far as sending off an important document - whilst I'm quite happy to slap a standard stamp on a card and if it goes astray so be it, I wouldn't take a chance with my passport.

I wouldn't either normally, but if it's about to expire or has expired (as will normally be the case with renewals) I wouldn't be too worried. Unless I had a trip planned imminently!

happyandcontented

zagfles wrote: »

It is if they lie and say it's "mandatory" when it isn't. I wouldn't either normally, but if it's about to expire or has expired (as will normally be the case with renewals) I wouldn't be too worried. Unless I had a trip planned imminently!

Yes, that was the train of thought we had. Plus, they do say it is an acceptable method of return.

As you say, if we had an imminent trip planned then I might have thought differently, but I knew we had time to sort out any issues arising in the event it did go astray.

motorguy

skintpaul wrote: »

i would take a trackable delivery option, for something this important..

although, just 'recorded' delivery (v 'special') compo may not be enough, for cost of a new one?

But io post office lose it, up to THEM to replace..?

I did my renewal application online, however they do require you to return your old passport before they will send the new one.

I sent mine SD purely from the trackability aspect of it and, in theory, its less likely to go missing.

NoodleDoodleMan

Are we talking about returning expired passports, or ones that are still valid but nearing the end of their lifespan for renewal - the latter I suspect ?

When my father passed away the passport office instructions were to cut off a triangular corner off the first page and return it by mail, no mention of recorded or registered delivery.

If I were renewing I would send recorded - a passport going AWOL is a major drama scenario, especially if you need a new one for imminent travel.

photome

What difference does it make how you send your passport back?

if it goes missing it goes missing, the PO or royal mail wont be able to replace it

BorisThomson

NoodleDoodleMan wrote: »

Are we talking about returning expired passports, or ones that are still valid but nearing the end of their lifespan for renewal - the latter I suspect ?

When my father passed away the passport office instructions were to cut off a triangular corner off the first page and return it by mail, no mention of recorded or registered delivery.

If I were renewing I would send recorded - a passport going AWOL is a major drama scenario, especially if you need a new one for imminent travel.

Recorded (Signed for) only gets you a signature. It is not tracked through its journey nor does it offer sufficient insurance to replace the passport. It's not going to help you if the passport goes AWOL.

bazzyb

BorisThomson wrote: »

Recorded (Signed for) only gets you a signature. It is not tracked through its journey nor does it offer sufficient insurance to replace the passport. It's not going to help you if the passport goes AWOL.

Neither would any other service. Special delivery is tracked and offers higher level of compensation - but how will that help you if an expired passport gets lost? You can't get a replacement expired passport...

smudge56

Special delivery and recorded delivery is signed for in bulk so there is no guarantee that your passport actually gets delivered to the correct place. Just make sure you put it in a strong envelope like a jiffy envelope as they get mushed up and lost going through RM system