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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

passport hell

262 replies

tattyrose567 · 04/11/2017 00:13

Really really desperate and fusturated I have wanted to get a passport for so long my mum did every single other sibliing but mine grrrr and now i really need one but have literally no one to counter sign!! the doctors no longer do it and I've literally exhausted every option what can I do ?? Guessing I will just never ever be able to get one feel like I'm being denied something and will never be able to go abroad I'm 23 with a nearly 2 year old :////

OP posts:
MontytheSpookyMouse · 04/11/2017 08:39

I've just looked at that list and the only engineers, nurses and teachers I know are related to me.

My GP won't do it and I haven't known the dentist or optician for two years.

Person who used to sign it died. Not in contact with many friends as had to leave area I lived in with now exh

I am self employed so no one at work can do it.

Dc have not been in their new school two years. Old school wouldn't sign. I don't know the post office staff well enough.

My picture is recognisable so I'm fine but I can see how people would struggle.

LittleSweetpeaBell · 04/11/2017 08:41

The pharmacist at my local chemist did mine, didn't charge me either

Binglesplodge · 04/11/2017 08:43

If your little one is two, are you still in contact with the health visitor? They can do it!

HidingBehindTheWallpaper · 04/11/2017 08:45

Poppy,
The op might have not had a glittering school career so might not feel she can go back to ask favours. I certainly wouldn’t have felt I could.
Given that at 23 she has a 2 year old it is quite likely that she might not have gone to college or uni. (Not that I’m saying there is anything wrong with having a baby at that age but that she quite possibly didn’t go to uni because she was pregnant or having her baby.) Also, not everyone goes to college or uni.
She possibly doesn’t work.
If she doesn’t work then there is a good chance that her child hasn’t gone to nursery.
She has spent the last two years with her baby and has not had the chance to build up a bank of friends who could do something like this for her.

RueDeWakening · 04/11/2017 08:47

Were you ever in Guides? A Guide leader can do it, I run Rainbows and have done one or two.

TidyDancer · 04/11/2017 08:48

There will be very few people if any who genuinely don’t know anyone who could sign. The government list is not absolute and is just an example of the acceptable professions. I have signed several applications, both when I worked in local government and the NHS.

I’m really not sure of the relevance of the mother in OP’s case. Surely at 23 you sort your own passport out?

JustDanceAddict · 04/11/2017 08:49

Reading that I cold do it as I’m a director of a VAT reg company! Who knew - not me!

PoppyPopcorn · 04/11/2017 08:50

I think the Mum was brought into is as the OP's mum organised passports for the OP's siblings but not her.

LightastheBreeze · 04/11/2017 08:51

Agree with Wallpaper
DF, retired knew no-one suitable and did rock up at the bank, PO etc, none would sign and he was a regular customer.

Hulder · 04/11/2017 08:52

It's a hugely long list with a lot of options in it. And even if you absolutely don't know anyone on that list - then it still has the option of phoning the passport office to discuss what to do.

Also the person has to be either 'of good standing in the community' or 'from one of the recognised professions on the list' - opens it out further. Hopefully you do know someone of 'good standing', for example if you are self-employed you probably know a regular client or another self-employed person you regularly deal with. They would all count.

Etymology23 · 04/11/2017 08:52

I may have misinterpreted the site but it would appear that they adon't have to have a profession if they are of "good standing in the local community " so if you had been to cubs, brownies or a youth group you could likely ask one of the leaders, or if you have any old family friends that are on the parish council or maybe run neighbourhood watch, or who volunteer at the local church or charity or anything like that? That way they would count as a person of good standing I think.

www.gov.uk/countersigning-passport-applications

Or you might be able to ask someone from university/the last course you did?

(Scientists will likely be members of their professional body, I know I joined free at university, so I think they'd come under that category?)

Etymology23 · 04/11/2017 08:54

(Also any director of a ltd company or manager at a vat-registered co opens it out a bit more - shops etc will generally be vat registered so maybe anyone who manages there could work?)

HidingBehindTheWallpaper · 04/11/2017 08:56

Some people on here really do live in a middle class bubble.

Not everyone goes to uni.
Not everyone has friends who are doctors, dentists or solicitors.
Not everyone feels they can contact their old teachers again.
Not everyone works.

dementedpixie · 04/11/2017 09:01

What about your neighbours? My next door neighbour is a nurse, someone across the road is in the police, another runs her own business.

LightastheBreeze · 04/11/2017 09:04

I'm not sure that DH is a member of a professional body, I think if anyone asked him to sign he probably would as he is a professional, its just if it was chased up the PP office they may think he's not. DS (accountant) signs them for friends but I imagine it's quite a novelty at the moment as he is quite young. I think DH was just miffed that DS could and he didn't think he could.

Not sure if OP wants child passport as well which can be another problem as the person has to know you and the child, I am thinking HV would be the best bet for both. Child passport signatories are generally followed up it seems.

Original poster
tattyrose567 · 04/11/2017 09:08

Umm wow went to bed and woke up to some truly disgusting comments ive been actively trying to get someone to sign my passport since i was 16 years old ffs ( to the person who suggested i have a grudge because ive never been on a long holiday abroad , lol when you have been an abused child who fell into sex work because you had no other option to turn to in life see how easy it is then . ive asked every single person mentioned up thread and either no one is prepared to do it or is not allowed I did not attend school I did not go in to proper work . thanks for being cruel tho

OP posts:
sonjadog · 04/11/2017 09:10

Why wouldn´t someone do it? Is it not just signing that they are the person the application is for? I am teacher in a different country and I get asked regularly. It isn´t a big deal. I flick through the application and then sign. Is it a much bigger deal in the UK that people aren´t willing to do it?

Original poster
tattyrose567 · 04/11/2017 09:12

Oh and ps my sister did not have to get a counter signiture for her passport renewel .

OP posts:
LIZS · 04/11/2017 09:13

Iirc you need to have known the person signing for 2 years. Surely in last 7 years you have come into contact with professionals who may be able to sign , or who did your mum ask for your siblings? Try going to CAB and see who they might suggest.

engineersthumb · 04/11/2017 09:15

Almost anyone can sign a passport application now. I've signed several in the past for friends. Just have an ask around.

PerfectlyPosed · 04/11/2017 09:17

I thought you could just pay a little bit to get them to sign at the post office in the absence of a counter-signatory?

Penfold007 · 04/11/2017 09:17

Tattyrose did you have a social worker or support worker as they might be willing to help. Your DD might have a health visitor who would help.

HidingBehindTheWallpaper · 04/11/2017 09:17

I’m sorry people have made you feel like this op. Some people simply do no understand that not everyone lives a lovely middle class life where they can just post on their Facebook page and wait for all their teacher, lawyer and doctor friends to say they’ll do it.
Do you have a social or family support worker? Could they do it?

LIZS · 04/11/2017 09:17

Can publicans still sign?

PerfumeIsAMessage · 04/11/2017 09:18

If you haven't managed to find anyone in 7 years to sign for you, maybe it really is time to, you know, pick up the phone and ring the Passport Agency and ask them.

Any reason you can't do that? Or haven't, in the past 7 years?

No class bubble, my next door neighbour (a used car saleswoman) signed mine.