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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I charge for countersigning my friends' passport photos?

MSE_Sarah
Posts: 330 MSE Staff



This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...
Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.
:idea: If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
:huh: Got a Money Moral Dilemma of your own? [URL="mailto: mmd@moneysavingexpert.com"]Suggest an MMD[/URL].
I recently became a police officer and was asked by a friend to countersign her passport photos, as I fall under their list of 'professionals' who can do this. Now other friends are asking the same, as their GPs charge up to £40 to do it. At first, I just thought of it as doing my friend a favour, but if it's something lots of people will ask, should I be paid for the time it takes to dig out my passport and fill out the form?
Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.
:idea: If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!
:huh: Got a Money Moral Dilemma of your own? [URL="mailto: mmd@moneysavingexpert.com"]Suggest an MMD[/URL].
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Comments
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If you don't mind being that useful friend, you can get on and help.
If you don't want to, agree but say up front you charge.0 -
How many 'friends' does this person have?0
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They say that these daft mse generated threads are sent in by people who would rather not post themselves.
With a ridiculous question like this I'm not surprised. Surely the clue is in the word friend.
Perhaps we should press Spam on all these mse pointless threads. There can be no discussion. Do you think Jack Cork works for mse?0 -
Good lord, some friend to even think about it!
Teachers sign loads of passports and never think of charging pupils, let alone friends!Member #14 of SKI-ers club
Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.
(Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)0 -
Oh dear, Hope you never need a favour!The opposite of what you know...is also true0
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No you shouldn’t
/thread0 -
Incidentally GPs can only sign for passports these days if they know the person outside of their work. Doubt they’ll charge £40 a pop to their friends
So there is your answer0 -
as I fall under their list of 'professionals' who can do this.
Anyone of "good standing in their community" can sign.
https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications0 -
You might want to check that your force allows you to do this. I’ve been in the force for a long time and it’s no longer allowed for police officers to sign these.0
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