Over 3 million last-minute passport applications have cost an extra £130 million - MSE News

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Former_MSE_Megan_F
Former_MSE_Megan_F Posts: 418 Forumite
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in Overseas holidays & travel planning
More than three million applications for pricier fast-track passport renewals have been made in the past five years, costing travellers an extra £130 million, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal...
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'Over 3 million last-minute passport applications have cost an extra £130 million'
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Comments

  • glider3560
    glider3560 Posts: 4,115 Forumite
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    There really isn't any excuse for not checking your passport when booking travel. Or even putting the expiry date into your phone's calendar.
  • mgdavid
    mgdavid Posts: 6,706 Forumite
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    edited 20 November 2018 at 2:00AM
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    glider3560 wrote: »
    There really isn't any excuse for not checking your passport when booking travel. Or even putting the expiry date into your phone's calendar.


    I don't think there's any evidence that the Fast track renewals are all due to people not realising the passport expiry was imminent.
    Fast track is just a 'de luxe' speedy service which many people will choose to use for a wide variety of reasons. Frequent travellers may have a short window of opportunity to renew, for instance.
    The MSE article states
    'the high number of premium applications suggest many consumers are ending up paying extra because they have left applications to the last minute.'
    Almost like the Daily Mail - they're just making it up!
    A shorter summary might be 'so what'?
    The questions that get the best answers are the questions that give most detail....
  • chattychappy
    chattychappy Posts: 7,302 Forumite
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    Many reasons why people can need a passport in a hurry.

    I used to spend long periods in Asia, making short trips back to the UK. I used the fast track service. It was still cheaper than trying to get a passport renewed whilst overseas.

    Sometimes at short notice somebody has to travel on business - perhaps because a colleague is ill or was refused a visa. I attended a conference where a last minute venue change meant that you needed 6 months left on your passport which wasn't the case with the previous venue.

    Some people flying business class or first class are spending £2K or even £10K on a ticket. The extra cost of fast track is immaterial compared with their flight ticket.

    All sorts of reasons why you might need or choose to use a fast track passport service.
  • FlowerAnne
    FlowerAnne Posts: 2 Newbie
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    Used the standard service on line, sent Monday, email notifications:
    Had been received please send old passport - Tuesday, sent signed for 1st class.
    Passport received - Wednesday
    Approved - Thursday morning
    Being Printed - Thursday afternoon
    Being despatched - Friday lunchtime
    Being delivered notification - Monday morning
    Arrived Tuesday!
    One week service for standard price! Win!
  • roddydogs
    roddydogs Posts: 7,478 Forumite
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    It hasnt cost 130million, only £100 to each person, who had a choice.
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