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

Jamesw3335

As a police officer myself I have done this several times for friends and neighbours without charging. You would very quickly come under the scrutiny of your professional standards department and very quickly out of a job if you were start charging money. I strongly suggest that you re read our code of ethics.

danant

Are you also considering charging criminals for giving them a lift to the police station in your police car when you arrest them? ��

Cathharrison

“I'd be surprised if people didn't know at least a few people of those professions” - I don’t. I’m 36 and have never had a passport (or drivers license).. because of absolutely stupid laws now, I am in desperate need one for ID purposes. I haven’t seen my GP for years and years and it wouldn’t make any difference if I had because GP’s at my local surgery have all changed a few times since I last went and no one knows me anymore. I haven’t seen any doctor or nurse in years and I don’t seem to know anyone else on the list who can counter sign. Its a real real problem for me at the moment. I don’t get out much - certainly not in the last few years. I’m self employed/freelance which means I don’t know anyone through work..Not really in touch with anyone personally from when I was at school either who is now an ‘upstanding member of society’ - yes they are on my Facebook but I don’t know who they are now. Even my dentist, I haven’t seen in a few years. Like I say, a real problem.

Mrs_Ryan

I countersigned my friend’s passport application (I’m a civil servant) but she didn’t ask me to do it, she expected it so I got very cross with her and told her to ask her husband’s friend from drama group who is a nurse to do it! She had said no, apparently! The first thing she said when she found out I got the job was ‘oh good you can sign my passport form now!’ I don’t mind but I mind if people take the mickey.
I signed a colleague’s daughter’s passport photo in my previous job which I didn’t mind at all- OH countersigned my mum’s passport form and he is only a postie- it went through fine so it’s quite surprising who can actually sign. I wouldn’t dream of charging though!

Fluff79

Simple answer - No

Long Answer - No because if you joined as a police officer to help people then charging your friends seem unfair and charging others because GP’s are then maybe you’ll have to declare it.
I suspect that friends of GP’s don’t get charged, only those having to book one of those limited GP appointments.

gaving7095

Fluff79 wrote: »

Simple answer - No

Long Answer - No because if you joined as a police officer to help people then charging your friends seem unfair and charging others because GP’s are then maybe you’ll have to declare it.
I suspect that friends of GP’s don’t get charged, only those having to book one of those limited GP appointments.

I agree. You'd REALLY hope that anybody who becomes police would do so from a desire to help people but I think the OP's question shows that's not the case :-(

Staffybullterrier

No you should not charge especially as it is a friend you are talking about.
This is one of the most stupid antiquated systems in use in Britain today and needs scrapping forthwith. Are the authorities trying to say that the person counter signing your passport is a fine upstanding character and the rest of your friends are not.?. How many police officers have been jailed for corruption in the past ? Was Harold Shipman a fine upstanding character ?
About 40 years ago I needed to have my passport countersigned and had just moved house. I had not got a new doctor , did not know any policemen or solicitors so my best friend who worked in a carpet shop countersigned for me . It was sent back . So I sent it back asking them why they thought that some virtual stranger would know my character better than a lifelong friend and it was either my friend or nothing . I would then be a prisoner in my own country.
They then relented and I got my passport

JReacher1

Let’s be honest the passport service never check who has countersigned a passport photo. They don’t have the resource and have more important things to worry about.

Spangled

My wife and I recently had to get copies of our passports witnessed and countersigned in person by a solicitor and a copy of a utility bill countersigned by him.


We had to make an appointment and the solicitor made the copies of the documents. He usually charged £5 per document although in this instance he just charged us a tenner for the three documents.


In this case we had to go to a solicitor for this - a civil servant/GP/copper etc wouldn't do.


I'd be surprised if any local solicitor charged much more than we paid.

John_Gray

It is a Sign of the Times that this question got asked.

Charge the friend(s) the amount of time, effort and ink that it cost you - say 5p.