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

Coconutt

As a serving Police Officer if you charge "friends" for Signing their Passport applications, and charge them a Fee for doing so, you would need to declare this to your Police Force, and seek their approval to do so ( which they are unliekly to agree to ), otherwise you could be in breach of Police Regulations for an undeclared Business Interest.


p.s. That will be £50 please my friend for this this advice to keep you out of trouble with your employer ! :rotfl:

Tammykitty

I have never charged anyone for signing a passport form etc.


I think everyone I have done it for has bought me some sort of small token of thanks - bottle of wine, chocolate etc.


If you start charging your friends for your signature - expect to lose a few friends.


Friends do each other favours - I sign things for them, give them some accountancy advice etc, they do thing for me -, they will give me advice if something in the house fails (electrics, plumbing etc)


I would never expect anyone to do work for me for free, so its just very basic things I would ask, and if any actual work is involved I would pay them.

Flatdog

This has already been said but just to press it home. If you charge for countersigning photo's, documents etc you will have to apply to your Force to do so first, declare any monies made on a self-assessment tax form (pain in the derriere to fill out) and your Force will consider you to have 'secondary' employment, this may be ok if you are on uniform patrol but if you wish to specialise then certain career avenues may well be 'closed' to you.

I spent all my working life in the Police and never once charged for doing something like this for anyone and never had any problems getting suitably qualified people or colleagues to do the same for me.

You sound like you are just starting out ..... Don't drop yourself in it for the thought of a few quid.

jiggyquincy

As a police officer I think you will find that professional standards department would have a field day with you if you started charging for signing a few passports for “friends”.
The idea is that you know the person and for long enough to say they are who they say they are. I have signed for numerous people who are friends and would never dream of charging.

Klair1234

I have been a police officer for over 11 years. Signed plenty of passport photos. 'Never' even thought about charging!

I read this question thinking why would anyone charge ?! Then very disappointed to see youre a police officer!

Read your forces policy around this. If you want to start charging your friends for a little signature, then its a shame they have a friend like you.

If youre more interested in making money, perhaps a change of career may be more suitable for you!

thespudman

Definitely not. And you will probably find you are breaching force policy by doing so. If you were to charge you would need to declare it as you are using your professional status for financial gain.

RRitchieC

I was a headteacher for 23 years and have lost count of the number of passport and other applications I signed (and still do in retirement). I never considered charging for doing it despite doctors doing so. I considered it part of my duty as a public servant.

pippinpuss

Of course you shouldn’t charge friends for signing passport. It should be an honour that they’ve chosen you. My husband is a Chartered Accountant & has been asked to sign for people. Your passport is usually easy to locate & it takes a few minutes to countersign.
You charge & they might not be there for you if you need things

jbryce

Only if you want to get rid of your friends.

I am an accountant, so also on the list of people who can sign these things. I don't charge.
Home office income certificates for visa applications are a different matter. It takes about two days to do all the work required for one of them, so I do charge for those.

pimento

Lorian wrote: »

Anyone of "good standing in their community" can sign.

https://www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications

I'm a 50 something woman born in England who lives in England. I looked at the list of acceptable professions and I would struggle to find someone who has known me for 2 years and is on the list who isn't related to me.

It's a good job they don't require it for a renewal or I'd be in trouble.

Mind you, my son is a New Zealand citizen and he has to find someone who not only is on a (much shorter) list but who is also a New Zealand citizen to countersign his passport photo.