Help - Passports renewal application stuck at Durham Passport Office and we are traveling this Friday

[wujo]

hi all,

I am desperate!!!

Passports sent via PO Check and Send on the 2nd July.
Called the IPS 0300 number over 60 times today - got through a dozen times.
Cant escalate - can't get transferred to Durham.
Cant talk to anyone.

I am crying and feeling sick as it will ruined the holidays for my twin girls, my son, my husband and my mum.

Can someone help or know someone from the Durham office help us!? We prepare to drive up from Bristol tomorrow to pick them up if need be :(

Help!!!

We submitted a passport form on the 3rd August 2012 and it was returned today - two weeks and four days for a renewal using 'check & send'.

Yoyo, sorry you haven't had the same luck and hope you manage to get this sorted today.

Try this number for Durham 0845 129 0044
I got through to them this morning on that number and are really nice! Ring your local MP too as apparently they have a direct number to the passport office! Mp's office rang me today to tell me that info :-)

Hello would it be possible to have the durham number please????. Having such a polava with my sons 1st passport really are a bunch of monkeys running the service, and as for the call backs..WHY offer if its not actually going to materialise.
Due to travel in just under 2 weeks sent all the stuff over 5weeks ago still nothing...The last person i spoke to (who then accidentally cut me off but then didn't bother to phone back) said that they waiting for the counter signer to return the documents....which were sent to her (according to there system) over 2 weeks ago by 2nd class post that she hasn't actually received! Any help would be greatly appreciated! xxx
[email protected]

Hi RoSandy the number on the above post is the direct number they are very helpful when you speak to them, Good Luck :) they can fax letter to the countersigner if it gets too late

Thankyouu! i only noticed it after i had had my rant! lol fingers crossed. So glad i stumbled upon this feed! x

RoSandy my countersignature had gone on holiday so spoke to the guy dealing with it and all he needed was my countersignature's driving instructor's number and he was able to ring it through today and then the guy frm durham rang me to advise the passport will be sent out today.
Also Contact your MP thats a good route to go down as my MP's office rang me this morning and told me that she had a direct line to the passport office only for MP's. ;-)

Update, they rang back and took payment, passport is being couriered on Thursday! Thanks so much for your help, hope everyone gets their passports sorted too!

Update x passport being delivered today!! Thank you to beyondstressed and kirstyboo for helping me! Hope everyone has an amazing
Holiday!!! X

We got ours today too!!!! Hope everyone else is sorted!

Danielle665 -yey I'm so pleased it came!! Happy holidays to u and b/f and everyone else that has received or about to passports x positive thinking xx have fun xx

Mines meant to be coming today but not here yet. Beginning to get that horrible feeling in my tummy again!

Mrsslickback u will get it soon!! Think they deliver up till 6pm and can just put thro door !! 

Confusing those random numbers etc were meant to be smilies!!! Won't try that again!! ;)

Blimey... glad most of you are sorted now, quite an emotional thread... eek!!

Does anyone know if this is just a Durham problem? My passport application went to the Newport office, not sure if I need to start badgering them?

danielle665 hope you have a fab holiday gload all worked out for you xx

My passports have finally arrived yippee!!! I was so relieved that I nearly hugged the man who delivered them. To anyone else out there who is still waiting I want to assure you that once you get to talk to the actual passport office they seem to pull out all the stops so that people get their passports in time to travel albeit at a cost mind you! Happy holidays and good luck to everyone else still waiting!

Fluffs76 I had the complaints team on today who advise me that apparently they have had a system error(likely story) and problem with the phone lines as I mentioned that you get told to speak to Durham and you can't get through to them via advice line and she said they were trying to sort the problem out. Think i was palmed off a bit to be honest!

Gemmay1, that certainly sounds like an excuse rather than the truth!!

I don't suppose anyone knows the number for the Newport office do they??

I don't have a number but they gave me an email address for Newport
[email protected]
That's where I could reply to them regarding my complaint!

I gave said this many a time but really MP's were good to speak to as they helped me out!

Thanks Gem... you're a star!!

HELP. i sent my renewal passport on the 3rd July and i have had nothing back. i am due to fly out on the 30th Aug :( have called thousands of times and been told that durham have it blah blah blah, i've seen in the threads that some of you had a number for the durham office and were able to get your passports sorted, can someone please share this number with me??

Hi sheraiRai the direct number is 08451290044, hope you get yours sorted, we are waiting for documents to arrive to counter signature, sent twice now, we go 1st September.

Hi, Durham received my passport two weeks ago yesterday. I am due to travel on the 6th September and haven't received anything back, been checking the status but doesn't give much information. durham rang me just now who have put me down for a upgrade but not guanteed as have to wait for upgrade office to give me a call to confirm if they can and the price.
Anyone know how long this takes ??

I AM SO Desperate!!

Desperatnanny. You can ring that number and ask to speak to the team dealing with it! My counter signature went on holiday and I spoke to the guy dealing with the passport and he asked me to ask the guy who counter signed to ring him at the passport office and as soon as he did the passport was issued! They can talk to the counter signature over the phone if you need the passport urgently!