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!!!

Izzy77 - I got an email back from my local MP within half an hour this morning offering help if required. What a difference from the nightmare of the last week of phone calls.
I still cannot believe passport applications handed to a Glasgow post office end up in Durham when there is a passport office in Glasgow... what a system!
Have a fab time

kimjay1008 - I found the number of my local MP, explained all the problems - He instantly got on the case and have just had my call back. It might be worth a try.

Jul3kids-thanks. Please let me know how you get on. Hopefully you will get your call back soon. I am keeping everything crossed for you!!!

Mtee-I dont understand why they sent them there either, to confuse things more mine was in Peterborough & my sons in Durham,why???? When my other sons is up for renewal in 2015 I will be going in to Glasgow & doing the 1 week service as im not sending it via the PO ever again!!!!!

Mtee, I have just emailed my MP and his PA so hopefully they will email me back or contact me via phone. Thank you. Fingers crossed I get somewhere today!

I used check & send with PO, sent it 11th July and got them both back last week on the 25th July - this was for 2 renewals and I think they got sent to the Belfast passport office.

it must be the office to which they send them to then. Durham must be snowed under for mine to have taken 4weeks and still not got them back. Bloody typical aint it.

spoke to Durham this morn, sent passport on 18th via PO this morning was 10th day and its not been looked at.

Chap on the phone was questioning me closely as to how I go the phone number, I was n't offered fast path, but I asked.

Now waiting on call back from them.. how long does that normally take?

Please can someone help and send me the number for Durham?!! Same situation as everyone else, passport is waiting to be printed and the IPS can't get me put through to Durham each time I try.. need to upgrade as travelling a week tomorrow. I will never leave it this late again!! Appreciate any help. Thank you!

Lovemylulu-I have sent you a PM

Eve-they called me back the next day. I think if you read back on here people have been called back quicker. Good luck!!!

got my call back!!! they should now be with me on tues before 1pm!!!! Thank the lord! Phew. One very happy lady.

Thank you so much, spoke to a very helpful lady at Durham and am now waiting for my call back.... does anyone know if they call back on Saturdays or if I don't get it today will it be Monday? She told me not to panic as there is still time.. thank God for Mumsnet or I would be sitting stressing unable to do anything!! The whole post office check and send service is a farce... mine was sent 16th July and has not been examined, my sister sent hers by royal mail on 13th and has just spoken to the IPS and will be getting it back on Tuesday. It's a joke. Fingers crossed I will get my call soon

Izzy, please tell me you have ALL of your passports now!

Hi please can someone help me.i really need the number for the durham office. been calling that 0300 number for three days now and cant get through to the durahm office. calling all times of the day being told the same thing. they told me they have sent an email for me to have a call back iv heard nothing. my flight is thursday starting to panic now i cant go. Thank you

Please can someone give me the num for the Durham office, my passport is stuck there and I travel a week on sun, will travel and collect if i need to but everytime i try to get through I get cut off. Really need to go away as well because its my best cousins wedding and she wnt forgive me if i cnt go! Any help will b very grateful, thanks

please help! how did you get through to durham is there a seperate phone number?

Try this - jerometurner.posterous.com/durham-passport-office-and-how-to-contact-the

Beckamaw-yeeeessssssssssss!!!!!!! I received mine at 9am & my sons at 11.30. I can now relax & look forward to my holiday on Monday. Think a wee bottle of vino is called for tonight to celebrate!!!
Thanks again for all your help, I really do not think we would be going on holiday without your help.

missmac- I have sent you a PM

elle06- I have sent you a PM

Holidaynughtmare-how are you getting on????

Received my DS & DD's passports this afternoon, so happy!
To give those just joining an update:

Sent 2 1st passports through C&S at post office 9th July
Received in Peterborough 11th July
Printed 1st Aug
Delivered at home today.

Didn't need to upgrade as when I got through to Peterborough y'day they had already been printed.

Thanks for your help, enjoy your hol's.x

sent application on 16th july saying received 18th. been ringing constantly since monday without much luck, they said on wed i could upgrade but not till following day so rang back. they said it was in checking so too late to upgrade finally got through to durham this afternoon with much thanks to the people on here. its was sent to print yesterday at 17:44 and said should receive it in 4 days - not much use as i travel on tuesday with my family!!!!! they said nothing else they could do and couldnt give any details about the courier very stressed and don't know whatelse to do

Well I finally have an update! Contacted my MP this morning and no response so my in laws phoned their MP who was fantastic, rang us at 3pm and said somebody would ring us within a few minutes, they've just rang me at 6.30pm! They can upgrade us, paid the £67 and it will be sent Monday, with me by 1pm Tuesday. So relieved but won't truly relax until its in my hands! Can't help feeling like its a bit of a con too! 3 weeks they've had it, left it until the possible time to ring us back and then charged £67 to get it on time, like we've got any choice but to pay it ! Still it's a lot cheaper than missing my hol