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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask someone to lie on my passport form?

74 replies

VigourMortis · 15/02/2010 12:53

I'm a bit embarrassed to ask someone I don't know very well to say they've known me for 2 years on my passport form.

I have to get a passport for DS, we need it in 3 weeks so I'm just in time to do the post office check and send.

We've lived here for 4 months so the only people I know are NCT friends who do not have a professional occupation they can put down or other evidence of being 'of good standing in the community' (although they are perfectly placed to certify that DS (4 months) is not a tiny dribbling terrorist).

I can only think of the property management agent for our let, or perhaps my doctor? What do people DO in these situations?

OP posts:

Iklboo · 15/02/2010 12:54

Your doctor will do it but may charge you.

Fluffyone · 15/02/2010 12:54

YABU you shouldn't ask someone to lie for you.
Your doctor, bank or solicitor should be able to do this for you. There may be a small fee.

Gluggy · 15/02/2010 12:56

I think you need to get advice from the Post Office or ring the Passport people directly. I am sorry but you must abide by the guidelines that are put down. In this day and age we can't take it for granted.

I am sure the passport office can help - afterall - you can't be the only person in this position.

Original poster

VigourMortis · 15/02/2010 12:57

Fluffy, I read the notes and it says they must have known you for 2 years minimum. I don't remotely mind paying the small fee, but I can't ask them to say they've known me for 2 years when they haven't.

OP posts:

oricella · 15/02/2010 13:00

Can you ask anyone you know better from where you used to live? Is it far away? Courier the application there and ask them to complete and submit the application at the post office?

It's a pain, but you cannot ask people to lie

StillCrazyAfterAllTheseYears · 15/02/2010 13:01

YABU. They phone referees to check, and you'd be putting your acquaintance in a very difficult position. The list of acceptable occupations is huge - surely you know someone?

Ponymum · 15/02/2010 13:04

But there must be somebody somewhere who has known you for 2 years and can sign this. Otherwise you don't actually meet the criteria for a passport, so unfortunately you can't apply for one. Is there really nobody even where you used to live?

Original poster

VigourMortis · 15/02/2010 13:09

Of course I know people, but obviously since we've only been here for 4 months, I haven't known anyone for longer than that.

I've just called the passport office and they have no sensible suggestion (such as getting my GP to do it) and told me I would have to travel to a place where I did know someone.

Actually the acceptable occupations are ones that require professional qualifications.

Oricella, I do accept that is a solution, but it's not one I like very much and also it's quite a big ask for people with busy lives especially since you can lose the will to live in a post office these days.

OP posts:

MrsVidic · 15/02/2010 13:12

YABU- do not ask someone to lie for you- it is morally wrong and you could end up in a LOT of trouble

MadreInglese · 15/02/2010 13:13

Can't you just ask someone who has known you that long, post it to them if they live far away and then get them to fill in/sign and post it back to you? Should only take 2-3 days.

Goblinchild · 15/02/2010 13:13

You can ask them to lie, but they'd be fools to say yes.
I'd also look askance at anyone who asked me to do it, and rethink my opinion of them.
Pay the Doctor if they fit the requirements.
Why the 3 weeks short notice? Holiday or emergency?

momofnearly2 · 15/02/2010 13:14

We got a police officer that had only met us twice in 1 week to sign our Ds's form.

I phoned the passport agency beforehand who said that this was perfectly acceptable and got Ds's passport delivered without any problems.

oricella · 15/02/2010 13:14

You will have to ask something of someone in this case; I'd prefer asking someone I know well to go to the post office, rather than ask someone I hardly know to lie..

EssenceOfJack · 15/02/2010 13:18

YABU, sorry. I had to get a friend who lives 200 miles away to sign mine, I sent her the stuff and she sent it onto the passport people for me, she is a teacher and could do it for free.
There must be someone who has known you for 2 years, responsible jobs are civil servant, council worker, teacher to name a few, DH and I can both sign as we are on that list.

Original poster

VigourMortis · 15/02/2010 13:19

Goblinchild, I must be a fool then as I did one last week for someone else. I didn't think any less of them at all as they are splendid people who just want a passport for their baby.

I would happily pay the doctor if the passport office accepted it but they say they don't.

Mom, was this recently? What did you put on the form where it asks how long they have known you?

OP posts:

momofnearly2 · 15/02/2010 13:27

Ds is 10 months so it was only about 6-8 months ago.

I don't know what he put. We dropped it off to him at the station and he posted it for us.

I just know that when I phoned the passport agency and explained the situation they said it was fine to get a police officer to sign it.

Original poster

VigourMortis · 15/02/2010 13:37

Hm, interesting, I might pop into the police station and ask them.

OP posts:

Skegness · 15/02/2010 13:44

Ring them up and ask. I've done this before (am social worker and clients who I haven't known for long enough often ask me) and they had some good suggestions about people who might be able to do it who you might not have thought of (can't remember who they were or would tell you!). I think they told me that it was ok for me to do it for one person as there really was no one he'd known longer to do it and I had to write a letter of explanation. Definitely don't ask someone to lie though.

Skegness · 15/02/2010 13:46

Oh sorry- see you've already rung. I'm surprised they were so unhelpful. Police station sounds like a good idea, then.

suitejudyblue · 15/02/2010 13:56

Vigour - are you saying that you have lied on someone else's application ? If so why don't you ask them to lie for you and then they can share the risk that you will both be found out ?

Original poster

VigourMortis · 15/02/2010 14:07

Suite, they do not fulfil the passport office requirements, I am in a profession which is why they asked me.

When the passport office call me to check I'll confirm I know them and signed the form etc. I'm quite sure it won't be a problem as I have only limited morals and they are apportioned elsewhere.

OP posts:

ClaireDeLoon · 15/02/2010 14:18

I have done this when DP's mother wanted me to sign her form & photo, and I had only known her about a year. I just asked DP how long he'd known her and then averaged it out to be much more than the two year minimum. I have limited morals also

ChippingIn · 15/02/2010 14:26

VigourMortis 'I only have limited morals and they are apportioned elsewhere' PMSL

ClaireDeLoon - has the sky fallen in yet? Nope, thought not!!

zippyzapper · 15/02/2010 14:32

Totally insane to ask someone to lie - also so stupid - the person who vouched for my baby was asked trick questions about me - you are so so so so silly to even contemplate it and I hope you don't find someone silly enough to lie for you.

expatinscotland · 15/02/2010 14:34

I think that whole countersignatory crap is beyond stupid. I think it's a holdback from the past when we didn't have all these means of verifying one's identity.

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