Another passport one - this time it's urgent

[RaelImperialAerosolKid]

Ok so I hope you are sitting comfortably.

Does anyone have a fast track or secret code to get through to people at the passport office? Has anything worked for you ?

We applied in March for a renewal- didn't hear anything but gave them the 10 weeks - chased then and was told they can't do anything until 2 weeks before we go on holiday.

We are now 1 week away ! We spend every afternoon repeating the same story and get told they will call us back in 24/48 hours. We wait and then the cycle starts again.

Issue seems to be that between March and now DD turned 16. We paid the extra for the 10 year passport last week but have been stuck since then.

Spoke to my MPs office this morning but they said they could only intervene if it was for a bereavement- not a holiday.

Is there a secret code that gets the staff to transfer you ? I know they're undertrained and busy but I just need someone to look at the documents and press print !

Anyone else been in similar and had it sorted ? Currently on a 45 minute call - third one of today !

Still no responses from the emails on this thread, bar one who said as it's been dealt with in Durham, there is nothing that they can do...

It's ridiculous. I signed a friends child's renewal passport on 2nd July. They have it back.

We are now 12 weeks, and still nothing

Have you tried your MPs office ? It is horrible and frustrating - good luck .

Yup... I was just on the phone for 2 hours... utterly useless and a waste of time

Mines been printed - hurrah! I got a phone call on Thursday from the Liverpool office.

Today we received an email saying we have to pay extra for my son's passport and return the declaration (same as others on this thread we applied end of April and he has since turned 16 in June). My husband is trying to get through to them now to pay. On the letter it says he will have to attend an interview. Did others who had this issue need to attend an interview or do they just say this on the letter but sometimes the declaration is enough? We're meant to be flying on 13th August. Major panic and stress

Unfortunately yes as he's an adult applying for his first ever passport. If he'd had one as a child you'd have been fine.

He did have a child one, that we were trying to renew, but because of the time it has taken to process he now requires an adult one instead. The website seems to indicate they'll arrange the interview or be in touch anyway...we will have to wait and see.

The age is weird coincidence. We renewed for the whole family, only the 15 year olds didn’t come back in the first few weeks. 🤷🏻‍♀️😲😵‍💫

Oh how strange. They don't normally need an interview then!

I'm hoping that it is just standard letter wording that they say to everyone and he won't really need one. Now we just need to pay te difference but can't get through to the payments team. It is just infuriating!

This morning my DD's passport was approved and this afternoon, printed!

I am rather shocked!!! Can't wait to have it in my hands