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Original poster

No passport, holiday cancelled, what can we do instead?

19 replies

2Happy · 02/03/2006 16:07

There's been a postal strike and ds's birth certificate is lost somewhere in it so his passport has never arrived. We were supposed to be going on holiday on saturday for a week (I know, I know, my fault for booking a holiday before I had the passport), and I feel awful for letting the friends we were supposed to be going with down, and for dh who's booked the time off work, and just generally for missing the holiday we were really looking forward to Sad
Any good suggestions for what else we can do with our weeks holiday (and what I should do for the friends we've let down, apart from grovel)?

OP posts:
DaddyCool · 02/03/2006 16:32
  1. that's awful. sorry to hear
  1. postal strike? in the UK? because I've got some important stuff going back and forth with the passport folks and some banking stuff and some citizenship stuff.
countessdracula · 02/03/2006 16:33

smuggle him in your hand baggage?

call the home office and moan?

Waswondering · 02/03/2006 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 16:37

For some reason the application, despite being posted in Scotland, ended up in the Belfast office, and that's where the strike is. Sad
We've been on the phone lots to them, and to be fair they've all been really really decent (none of them pointing out the blooming obvious that it's my ruddy fault), but there's nothing they can do. I could try and get the passport in person, but would have to cancel the original application in writing - which, presumably, would only get lost in the post itself. Plus, because it's a first passport not a renewal they're apparently not so keen to fast track?
Smuggle him out, lol! My mother suggested just leaving him behind for the week so she could babysit! Unless she starts lactating, I don't think so! Grin

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Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 16:38

Oops x-post WW! We've been on the phone non-stop, poor them! But them being in Belfast, and me not, makes things a little difficult Sad

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Blu · 02/03/2006 16:41

Could you fax the cancellation of the original application?

Really sorry 2Happy - it doesn't sound as if it is all your fault, and surely your friends will be sympathetic to you and upset for you?

What part of the country do you live in? I would just try to have a lovely time together and do things that you would do in your area if you were tourists, iyswim.

Waswondering · 02/03/2006 16:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 16:47

Spoke to the dh and he told me we're sacked as friends Sad I think he was joking. Maybe.
I thought about faxing the cancellation too, but the people at the office said that you can't get a first passport "on the day" anyway.
We live in North Northumberland, so within reach of Edinburgh/Newcastle, or even York, for day trips.

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Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 16:48

Heck x-posted again! Not a million miles from Stranraer, no. But they still told us you can't get a first issue in one day. It seems daft to me. Surely it should be possible?

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Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 16:49

(and it hasn't helped dh at all who'd given up swearing for Lent Grin)

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LIZS · 02/03/2006 17:40

hasn't Tweeni been told she can just go to a Passport office to get one same day ?

Blu · 02/03/2006 17:46

But if Happy2 hasn't got the birth certificate, it's bound to be wholly more problematic. Going to Belfast where they have all the photos and documentation might be the better option - but hardly practical when the hol is on Saturday.

LIZS · 02/03/2006 17:49

true unless she can get a duplicate brith certificate.

Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 17:49

Thanks Lizs - I've searched and found her thread. She says on it that she's been told she can get a sameday passport from London - though everyone else on the thread who'd travelled with LOs must have sent away for theirs, as they all mention getting theirs in a week or two, so I'm not sure. But I could travel to London if that's what it took, since we were flying from there anyway. All the people we've spoken to in Belfast say it's not possible, though. I'll be proper miffed if they're wrong!

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Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 17:53

I'd have to go to Galashiels to get a duplicate birth certificate, then get to London (or Durham is nearer if they'd do it) to get the passprt, and leave dh at home to pack as I'd kind of abandoned all efforts there. Oh, and get them to accept a faxed withdrawal of application for a passport... And get more passport photos of ds. Nuts. Really don't think this is going to work. Sad

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Blu · 02/03/2006 18:06

I feel very sorry for you, Happy2 - it's not your fault that there was a strike...and plenty of other MN-ers have forgotten to get passports etc etc...

LIZS · 02/03/2006 18:07
Sad
SenoraPostrophe · 02/03/2006 18:09

you could get the birth cert couriered, and I'm sure there's a closer office than london that do same day passports (peterborough do it for eg). you could presumably cancel the original app at the same office?

Original poster
2Happy · 02/03/2006 18:12

Oh thank you - I really appreciate your kind words. Am looking on the bright side: I hate flying anyway!!

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