Has anyone managed to get a fast track passport. HELP NEEDED *title edited by MNHQ*

[HalleLouja]

Please no comments about how I should have applied earlier.

To cut a long story short I applied for a replacement for my lost passport 5.5 weeks ago when the waiting times were 5 weeks on the website. We would have gone with a fast track but thought there was no need at that time. We did get one for my daughter as we realised what a mess it was all in by then.

We are trying to get it fast tracked but no response from the email address at the moment.

If you have managed to get them to fast track it, any top tips. We are trying the director general and our MP with no luck.

We are trying the director general and our MP with no luck.

wtf? Is this for a holiday?
or getting out to a relative about to die any minute??

@notagamer

yeah - fabulous use of an MPs time 🙄

Tbh they shouldn't be. Plenty of other useful things they could be doing. It was your fault.

I said if people aren’t going to say anything nice then to leave it. The complaints process on the passport office website said to go to your MP, who can complain on your behalf. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-passport-office/about/complaints-procedure

Actually its not my fault when it said 5 weeks to process and I sent it 8 weeks before my holiday.

Also this isn’t AIBU. So may be go off to there.

Plus my MP has time for other paid work, so maybe he should be doing his MP job too.

fuckin hell, imagine getting your MP involved for something YOU left to the last minute and then turning on him for having 2 jobs. mind blowing entitlement

@HalleLouja

No one is saying anything about the length of time you left to get a passport.

We’re saying perhaps it’s not the best use of your MPs time.

I hope you get your holiday.

You’re nicer than me
on the basis of the OP’s responses to posters legitimately pointing out that the MP being involved in getting a child’s passport for a holiday is pretty appalling - I’m not exactly sad at the thought of there being a few empty flight seats in the imminent future

I was told above I left it to the last minute. 8 weeks before a holiday when processing times were 5 weeks.

My MP is also a member of the Conservative party who are in charge of running this country and the Passport Office and Brexit (which has meant that people’s passports aren’t valid for as long so there are more renewals.).

Bur anyway you all can think what you like when I have followed the process.

It is actually. Its not a guaranteed service and the passport office have always advised not to book travel until you have a valid passport. Not their fault you gambled on it.

I don’t think they allow you to go ahead with the fast track appointment if there’s already an application in the system, the original one has to be cancelled first (in writing then they must acknowledge it). There’s a Facebook group called Passport Appointment Help which has a lot of idiots in it but also has people sharing their experience and what has/hasn’t worked. Might be worth a look.

I will try to join the group. Thanks. Will also write a letter. Thank you.

I hope you never lose a passport after booking a passport. As you seem so perfect, I bet that’s something you would never do.

Join the facebook group passport chaos 2022. There are lots in similar situations. Some have had some luck at turning at the passport office and just queuing.

Good luck OP.

Well, as it stands, I wouldn't book a holiday then lose my passport. I would have my passport in its usual safe place until I depart actually. Certainly wouldn't expect an mp to try and get me special treatment because I wouldn't just pay to fast track in the first place instead of using a non guaranteed turnaround service then moaning when it funnily enough, is non guaranteed.

Fast track is for new/renewal etc.

You can't get an appointment if you have a live passport on the system and you have to withdraw that in writing first.

I’ve just asked my MP if they can pick up my Asda shop on Tuesday cos there’s no slots left for delivery. Awaiting reply.

😂😂
Hopefully karma bites.

We've had to have a fast track passport from durham (once the day before we travelled and a passport went missing). They are really helpful and we left the office with the new passport. Try not to worry yet!

@Shaambaalaa I’m willing you on!!

@HalleLouja It's a perfect storm
Of lots of people not renewing their passports /applying for new passports when they ran out over the last 2 years and working from home. I had to apply for a first British passport and there was a problem which meant they weren't going to issue despite me having all the paperwork. Once I managed to speak to someone senior it was sorted out straight away but the majority of call centre staff didn't even have the right screens on their computer to point me in the right direction. Shambles.

I had ridiculous delays waiting for a straightforward probate. I contacted my MP for that in the end. Particularly if you have a backbench MP that is actually their job. Representing their constituents. It won't be the MP putting in the calls to the passport office anyhow as they have assistants that do this and in any event it's demonstrative of bigger issues and you give them the opportunity to stand up in parliament with evidence that their constituent x has been waiting y time. If enough of them do it that might actually improve timelines for everyone.

@HalleLouja

How do you get into speak to them when you can’t get an appointment ? When my husband went to get my daughter’s passport in London they were turning people away without appointments.

I stood in the queue and told the guy on the door that I had an enquiry and could I please speak to someone at the enquiry desk? That got me past the gatekeepers and inside the building.

At the enquiry desk I told them the rest of the story and, luckily, the woman was kind and gave me a ticket to queue to see an upgrade advisor. (Largely due to the length of because the length of time we'd been bouncing around inside the system and the fact we were flying within 14 days.)

Queued for 2 hours to see an upgrade advisor. Again, they were sympathetic.

Due to the HMPO shite systems and the fact that my application got bounced to another office with no warning, it took two days. I didn't trust finished passport to go out via TNT delivery so stayed over in Peterborough so I could get it in person.

The second day I just explained to security that advisors were midway through my application and he let me straight in. (Remember the advisors names and name drop ruthlessly on the door.)

Got my passport by 3am second day.

Apparently new appointment slots are released overnight - like 2am. So if anyone is going to try and get a legit appointment, check in the early hours.

If you are desperate and you are going to try your luck without an appointment, wait until you are at least 14 days before departure. They won't let you in otherwise. Don't ask for an appointment on the door - try and just get as far as the enquiry desk initially and go from there.

Turn up early. Offices open at 8am. Be in the queue by 8am at the latest. People arriving later in the day were getting turned away.

Don't go on Saturday. Fewer staff are working, they can't process as many appointments or claims.

Have every thing you might need for the day - additional photos, documentation, drinks, snacks, tampax etc. Note there were no vending machines on the ground floor and no water coolers. So if you don't bring water, you'll have to leave if you need a drink - and you might not get back inside.

Also, people who got arsey with the staff generally didn't fare as well as people who were polite and courteous....