Passport counter signatory rejected

wheldcj

Andy_L said:

wheldcj said:

I am resurrecting the thread as, just like the OP, I have the same issue.   A friend who I have signed for his children numerous times before asked me to countersign his daughters latest renewal. 

It has been rejected online.  We thought I may just made a typo or something so it was resubmitted and I have put through again with the same issue.  They wouldnt tell him the reason so I phoned the passport office and the lady who answered said that they don't have access to reasons either.

I fit the criteria, I am a chartered insurance broker.  I have known the applicant for 40 years. Naturally it concerns you that there is some background information on yourself that no only prevents you from signing passports but also will raise issues when using your passport next year.   Surely the passport office should be able, on request, to tell you the reason for the rejection??  

Is your own passport in date?

Yep until 2030

wheldcj

DullGreyGuy said:

wheldcj said:
Surely the passport office should be able, on request, to tell you the reason for the rejection??  

The problem with telling people why they failed is that you often start to expose how the checks work and therefore make it easier for people to start working out ways around the checks.

 Personally I sign passport photos as the Director/Manager of a limited company and/or Director/Manager of a VAT registered business. I've always been curious how they check because you're not even asked to state what route you are an apporioate person to sign. Ok for me its a quick call to HMRC or a check on Companies House but there are things like being a qualified Librarian on the list and I doubt there is a national registery of those!

I get where you are coming from but surely they can appreciate when it comes to passports (which feels like the gold standard of identity) if the check comes back as rejected it raises concerns.

Happy with a vague “your occupation was invalid” response even if i know it shouldn’t be but now i am going to be increasingly nervous that passport control are giving me extra scrutiny 😂 

Okell

wheldcj said:

Andy_L said:

wheldcj said:

I am resurrecting the thread as, just like the OP, I have the same issue.   A friend who I have signed for his children numerous times before asked me to countersign his daughters latest renewal. 

It has been rejected online.  We thought I may just made a typo or something so it was resubmitted and I have put through again with the same issue.  They wouldnt tell him the reason so I phoned the passport office and the lady who answered said that they don't have access to reasons either.

I fit the criteria, I am a chartered insurance broker.  I have known the applicant for 40 years. Naturally it concerns you that there is some background information on yourself that no only prevents you from signing passports but also will raise issues when using your passport next year.   Surely the passport office should be able, on request, to tell you the reason for the rejection??  

Is your own passport in date?

Yep until 2030

Sorry if these are stupid questions but (1) do you definitely satisfy these criteria Confirm someone’s identity online for a passport application: Who can confirm someone’s identity - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  and (2) you followed these instructions Confirm someone’s identity online for a passport application: How to confirm someone’s identity - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)?

I know that advice given in different subject areas of the .gov.uk website is often incomplete or mistaken - sometimes just plain wrong! - but if you are 100% certain that you satisfy those criteria it seems odd your confirmation should be rejected.

Is it possible that previous confirmations you've made for this family shaould not have been accepted either?

wheldcj

Okell said:

wheldcj said:

Andy_L said:

wheldcj said:

I am resurrecting the thread as, just like the OP, I have the same issue.   A friend who I have signed for his children numerous times before asked me to countersign his daughters latest renewal. 

It has been rejected online.  We thought I may just made a typo or something so it was resubmitted and I have put through again with the same issue.  They wouldnt tell him the reason so I phoned the passport office and the lady who answered said that they don't have access to reasons either.

I fit the criteria, I am a chartered insurance broker.  I have known the applicant for 40 years. Naturally it concerns you that there is some background information on yourself that no only prevents you from signing passports but also will raise issues when using your passport next year.   Surely the passport office should be able, on request, to tell you the reason for the rejection??  

Is your own passport in date?

Yep until 2030

Sorry if these are stupid questions but (1) do you definitely satisfy these criteria Confirm someone’s identity online for a passport application: Who can confirm someone’s identity - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  and (2) you followed these instructions Confirm someone’s identity online for a passport application: How to confirm someone’s identity - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)?

I know that advice given in different subject areas of the .gov.uk website is often incomplete or mistaken - sometimes just plain wrong! - but if you are 100% certain that you satisfy those criteria it seems odd your confirmation should be rejected.

Is it possible that previous confirmations you've made for this family shaould not have been accepted either?

No problem, stupid questions are more than helpful!

• are 18 or over

Yes

• live in the UK

Yes

• have a current UK passport

Yep - doesn't expire until 2030

• have known the person applying for at least 2 years (this is the adult making the application if the passport is for a child under 16)

Yes - it asks how long you have know the person and I answered 40 years.

• know the person applying as a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)

Yes - it asks if you know them as a friend and I ticked yes.

In terms of professional I answered that I was an Chartered Insurance Broker, I also put in Insurance Intermediary when it was rejected the first time.   There is a character limit so you cannot copy this exactly.   

There is no criteria I have failed.  It is weird but also disconcerting! 

Andy_L

wheldcj said:

Andy_L said:

wheldcj said:

I am resurrecting the thread as, just like the OP, I have the same issue.   A friend who I have signed for his children numerous times before asked me to countersign his daughters latest renewal. 

It has been rejected online.  We thought I may just made a typo or something so it was resubmitted and I have put through again with the same issue.  They wouldnt tell him the reason so I phoned the passport office and the lady who answered said that they don't have access to reasons either.

I fit the criteria, I am a chartered insurance broker.  I have known the applicant for 40 years. Naturally it concerns you that there is some background information on yourself that no only prevents you from signing passports but also will raise issues when using your passport next year.   Surely the passport office should be able, on request, to tell you the reason for the rejection??  

Is your own passport in date?

Yep until 2030

Then I reckon that you're just a well dodgy geezer then ;-)

DullGreyGuy

2childmum2 said:

You might be surprised!

https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/ProfessionalRegistration

barbarawright said:

DullGreyGuy said:

wheldcj said:
Surely the passport office should be able, on request, to tell you the reason for the rejection??  

 Ok for me its a quick call to HMRC or a check on Companies House but there are things like being a qualified Librarian on the list and I doubt there is a national registery of those!

Of course there's a register of qualified librarians. There are professional qualifications just as there are for accountants or surveyors. I am one and frequently sign passport forms

Firstly, is there a legal requirement for a librarian to be a member of the chartered institute? 

I know several actuaries that got their fellowship and then ceased being a member to save the £900 fees and CPD requirements (or face punishment for breaching standards - like the chap with a £3,000 fine and 2 year ban for saying to his Finance Director that he had no personal debts when he did). They no longer appear on the IFoA website but still are able to act in the capacity of an actuary. 

Secondly, when signing a declaration you dont say on what grounds you qualify and it doesn't seem realistic that HMPO is trawling through every professional institute to see if someone happens to be a member. 

sheramber

Probaly no requirement but you cannot claim to be registered if you aren't.

A computer will only take minutes to check a register.

The PO  may only do random searches.

Okell

Andy_L said:

wheldcj said:

Andy_L said:

wheldcj said:

I am resurrecting the thread as, just like the OP, I have the same issue.   A friend who I have signed for his children numerous times before asked me to countersign his daughters latest renewal. 

It has been rejected online.  We thought I may just made a typo or something so it was resubmitted and I have put through again with the same issue.  They wouldnt tell him the reason so I phoned the passport office and the lady who answered said that they don't have access to reasons either.

I fit the criteria, I am a chartered insurance broker.  I have known the applicant for 40 years. Naturally it concerns you that there is some background information on yourself that no only prevents you from signing passports but also will raise issues when using your passport next year.   Surely the passport office should be able, on request, to tell you the reason for the rejection??  

Is your own passport in date?

Yep until 2030

Then I reckon that you're just a well dodgy geezer then ;-)

                   

DullGreyGuy

sheramber said:

A computer will only take minutes to check a register.

But let's assume they check the Institute of Actuaries, there are two "John Smith"s that come up if you search for that name. How would the computer know if either of these are the John Smith that signed the photo (remembering you dont declare your mechanism for being eligible) or if neither are this John Smith that signed because he is an accountant not an actuary?

sheramber

Maybe that is why it is rejected. They cannot verify who is who.