Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

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

999 replies

wujo · 18/07/2012 22:22

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!!!

OP posts:
desperatenanny · 24/08/2012 15:50

Thanks gemmay1, fortunately there is no need!

I sent an email to an MP last night and lo and behold, the passport office called my counter signatory at 830 this morning and they have accepted the fax from her works headed paper, they have promised it will be with us next week. Feel much calmer now.

gemmay1 · 24/08/2012 16:23

MP's are great helps!!
Pleased that you have it sorted!

Victoria299 · 26/08/2012 18:00

hey, does anyone know if the Durham Passport Office is open on bank holidays?

Kblackett · 28/08/2012 22:45

Hey ladies

Am in the same trouble as some of you! I fly next Wednesday and haven't got baby's passport. I've emailed everyday and all the say is that it is in the examination process - its been like that for 2.5 weeks. Am worried sick I can't leave my baby behind!!!!!! I've rang 100 times today and the customer service just haven't a clue and keep telling me it's peak season! And that it isn't guaranteed but the woman in the post office told me I had more than enough time with a 2 week turn around
Does anyone have peterbroughs direct number am desperate!

solidgoldbrass · 29/08/2012 10:23

Sick and tearful and sharing the pain here too. They lied to me about fast track and told me that we would have passports by Saturday and now they are saying, oh, won't be till tuesday - I have been pleading down the phone and they are going to 'see what they can do'.

jamesmoo · 29/08/2012 12:09

Hi all, I'm not a mum but when trying to track down the secret direct phone numbers for the passport offices I found them on mumsnet - so thank you.

Just to return the favour I'd like to reconfirm the direct numbers for the Peterborough and Durham passport offices - much more useful than going through the 0300 general enquiry line and after you've listened to various messages encouraging you to call the 0300 number you get straight though to real, helpful people.

Peterborough 0845 129 0055

Durham 0845 129 0044

I sent my passport off for a standard renewal service (up to 3 weeks) but then suddenly needed to travel for a job interview. The 0300 people were nice but couldn't help, but the Peterborough team checked my application straight away and agreed to upgrade it to the immediate service (for a fee) so I should get the new passport in a few days.

Good luck, and happy holidays!

TequilaMockinBird · 29/08/2012 16:24

I've just noticed this thread. DH's new passport arrived today - 2 weeks to the day since it was sent. We didn't pay for check and send or anything, just a bog standard application.

So maybe the backlog is easing now! I hope those of you intending to travel soon get yours back quickly.

whojamaflip · 01/09/2012 21:29

I think the back log must be clearing - got my passport (renewal) back on Thursday - PO received on 15th August and it was back on 30th so rather impressed.

What I was more impressed with was the fact that I also got the dcs first time passports delivered on the same day - 15 days to process Shock

Hope all those still waiting get theirs very very soon

taten · 04/09/2012 15:13

Help could anyone send me the number for the peterborough office, Ive lost my tracking number and am desperate to find out about my sons passport app, we are supposed to leave on holiday at the end of next week

taten · 04/09/2012 15:53

actually just found out its with the liverpool office, does anyoe have their number?

KazyLou · 06/09/2012 20:09

Bump

whojamaflip · 06/09/2012 20:14

taten when did you send off the application forms?

I only ask as ours all went to Liverpool and they were back in 15 days.......

Sorry not much help I know but hopefully someone will be along with the number very soon.

shellcrox1983 · 10/09/2012 16:52

Hi I sent my passport forms and they received on 31st august I go away on 22nd Sept they are lost passports do you think il get them back I'm getting really stressed I have no tracking numbers so not sure who to ring?i iI sent my pas

sarIana55 · 10/09/2012 19:46

Can someone please tell me the number of the passport office in Durham ? I can't get through on the helpline number provided by the passport office.
thanks.

sarIana55 · 10/09/2012 19:47

Can someone please tell me the number of the passport office in Durham ?
I desperately need to get a passport for a new baby, travelling in 4 weeks time.
Ordinary helpline number not very helpful . Also can we go there and get a passport on the day or do we need an appointment? Thanks.

pixienix73 · 12/09/2012 20:52

We put in applications for 1st passports for myself, my dh, & my 2 dd's on the 3rd August. My dh had his passport interview at the end of August & recieved his passport 2 days later. My interview letter arrived & I booked my interview for the 4th September. As we knew my dh's passport arrived 2 days after, we booked our holiday for us 4 plus my mum & dad to go to Ibiza in the early hours of the 19th September. It all then went horribly wrong! I got a call from a Craig in the Durham office saying he had cancelled my interview & my documents that were in the post on the way back to me were sent back by mistake & they hadn't finished doing the needed checks & I needed to send them back as soon as I recieved them. My childrens passports wont be sent until mine has been approved. I explained we booked our holiday for the 19th & he told me not to worry as they weren't busy now & we'd get our passports in plenty of time....My documents arrived back here by courier after the post office closed last Tuesday, we sent them back to Durham via next day delivery on Wednesday to arrive by 1pm on Thursday. I phoned Craig & told him the documents were on their way back 7 he still assured me I'd be ok & get my passports in time. I phoned yesterday to see how they were getting on as we have a week left til we were meant to travel & my mother has picked up the tickets & I was told they couldn't find my application & a manager will ring me back...they eventually did & he said they were still doing checks to make sure my previous 2 names weren't still being used by me or anyone else, he couldn't tell me how long they would be likely to take & said he doubts I would get my passports in time to travel as they are rather busy at the moment. I'm fuming, it was their mistake & there is absolutely nothing I can do apparently to speed this proccess up & get our passports in time for our first ever holiday abroad. We also are likely to loose the 4 grand for the all inclusive holiday we booked and I still have no idea when we will actually recieve our passports :((

shellcrox1983 · 13/09/2012 08:40

That is awful they just don't care they gladly take your money though. You need to get in touch with the home office I did this and with in an hour they rang me.back and said that I could have my children's passports back the next day for a fee which I'm going to pay today and il get them back by courier Tom I don't understand why you have to pay again but we go away in 9 days and I'm so stressed out with.it all I'm paying it.

pixienix73 · 13/09/2012 16:58

Thanks for that advice shellcrox1983, have u got a contact number for the home office? I'm willing to pay anything, meant to be flying out tuesday night & I haven't even had an interview yet, stressed is not the word!! Was thinking of postponing the holiday with our travel agents if they will allow us to but they won't even give me any indication of when our passports are likely to be ready :(

moojie · 13/09/2012 17:03

I had been following this thread as I needed to apply for my DS2 's first passport. We had decided to go away last minute and needed it in 4 weeks. Amazingly we got it back yesterday only 2 weeks after applying. Just wanted to reassure anyone else that is panicking about a first passport. Obviously there are always exceptions and I used check and send (took 3 attempts to get it right!)

shellcrox1983 · 14/09/2012 10:33

If you type in home office on the internet it comes up with links and contact details I only sent an email and got a response within an hour and they really helped. Sat waiting today for my passports hope you get sorted

shellcrox1983 · 14/09/2012 13:20

Just got my passports delivered after paying over 300 pound but now I get my holiday good luck everyone else

pixienix73 · 14/09/2012 17:03

Glad u have yours through :) I emailed the home office & my passport is def not going to be ready in time :( They are still quite busy & its just routine checks mine are waiting on but they have now agreed to release my 2 kids passports for examination Monday so if they pass with no problems they will be sent out by courier & I can pay for the next day delivery so have a faint glimmer of hope that at least maybe the kids will get to go on holiday with their grandparents if nothing else!! She said she couldn't guarentee this so am just keeping my fingers & toes crossed for a phone call Monday to say the kids passports can be sent

shellcrox1983 · 15/09/2012 09:32

Can you not move the holiday over for a week or so? I feel for you I really do are that at Durham if so I know for a fact they are not busy x

pixienix73 · 15/09/2012 14:38

we did try & postpone but the travel agent wanted 100% fee as it was so little time til the holiday. We didn't insure it either & we booked an all inclusive deal with coach transfers the lot & don't have another £3,200 lying around :( It took 2 years to save for this one! My holiday is lost I've accepted that but I just hope they get the kids ones sorted in time now as they are devestated. They keep insisting they are busy at Durham on the phone & couldn't guarentee the kids will get theirs but would do their best...its a long weekend just waiting for Mondays call to find out if the kids will get their holiday or not x

Ronaldbiggs · 21/09/2012 21:01

O.K so here goes, supposed to be taking my friends daughter on holiday with us (traveling on 1st October), passport application was sent off about 7 weeks back, had a few complications due to "change of name deed".

Had an appointment yesterday for an interview as it is for her first adult passport but missed this due to ilness. Now booked another appointment (in Birmingham ...about 130 miles away) but this is not until next Wednesday, so she has then got 3 days from interview to get her Passport back.

My understanding is that the passport will be printer the day after interview (thursday) so can she book a courier for delivery on Ftiday or Saturday.

I am not certain which office will issue the passport ( the applicant lives in the South West).

Any help very much appreciated