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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU not knowing what to do about holiday debacle (child passport renewal)...

168 replies

Flockameanie · 31/03/2022 10:44

I've been posting about our debacle of trying to renew DS's passport on the Holidays board.

In short, we're due to go on holiday in 8 days. DS's passport renewal may, or may not, arrive on time. We have no way of knowing. Flights are on EasyJet, accommodation is indepenently booked. Up to the end of today, I can change the date on the flights for no fee. From tomorrow onwards it will cost £350 to change them. I can change them up to 2hrs before the flight. We've paid a deposit on the accommodation (Abourt £300) that we'll lose if we change or cancel.

My AIBU is that I don't know what to do and I'm so bloody stressed. Mostly about potentially having to tell the DC, who are so excited about this holiday, that it's cancelled.

Options:

  1. Sit tight and hope passport arrives. Do nothing. If by the night before it hasn't arrived, change flights (for £350) for some random date in future. Lose deposit on villa
  2. Cut our losses now. Change flights to some random date in the future. Cancel villa. Only loss is villa deposit.

What do I do?? I'm so stressed about it all I can't think straight...

OP posts:
Flockameanie · 08/04/2022 23:06

Amazingly yes - we got the passport!

DH worked some sort of magic with the passport office. I'm not sure how it happened as he was dealing with it. But he called in a 'last ditch' attempt 2 days before we were due to leave and happened to get through to someone who actually knew what they were doing. They said there was a new 'system' in place for people like us (not sure what made us qualify - perhaps because they'd given incorrect advice to us previously? Or because our application was trapped in some sort of limbo? I don't know...).

To cut a long story short, they prioritised the application and he had to go up the following day and collect it in person. Extraordinary really, as really up until then it had all seemed completely hopeless...

OP posts:
PinkiOcelot · 08/04/2022 23:44

Fantastic OP! Have a great holiday.

bumbledeedum · 09/04/2022 07:55

Ah amazing news, have a lovely holiday

Mrshook · 09/04/2022 08:02

Really pleased for you. Have a wonderful time.

NETSRIK · 09/04/2022 08:21

I am so happy for you!! Enjoy your holiday!

Frazzled2207 · 09/04/2022 08:30

Ow wow so pleased for you
Have a fab holiday
I sympathise had my own decent passport dramas
Given the amount of money paid the system is just shocking especially as you correctly say the fact that some people’s come back fine and other get inexplicably stuck and getting any kind of response from them is totally impossible.
And we pay a small fortune for the privilege and for kids have to do it twice as often

Frazzled2207 · 09/04/2022 08:31

recent

Bytrgrewd · 09/04/2022 08:55

Brilliant news!

regularbutpanickingabit · 09/04/2022 09:34

Yes!! So glad you got it. Have a great trip.

LoveAGoodToddlerTantrum · 09/04/2022 12:24

Amazing news. Enjoy your holiday!

Flockameanie · 09/04/2022 23:07

Thanks guys!

OP posts:
Slatkater · 09/04/2022 23:13

So happy to read this. I applied for a renewal for my daughter the same time as you and know what you were going through! Luckily ours arrived in time but it spent 8 days with the courier, it was nerve wracking.

Slatkater · 09/04/2022 23:16

Should add, I was following your thread while waiting for our passport.

AllKnowingGerbil · 09/04/2022 23:24

Oooh hooray! Have fun!

Newhousesad · 10/04/2022 03:38

Sorry OP but I’d probably cancel it too or try and make amendments for the future. It’s shit and we recently had to do the same thing due to our sons passport

Oddbutnotodd · 10/04/2022 04:00

Read the update. They have the passport now.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 10/04/2022 04:34

Aww just read the full thread op - was better than Eastenders for drama.

Have a great holiday!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 10/04/2022 13:16

Well done OP and DH! Excellent news you're on holiday. Smile

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