Help - Does anyone work at the Passport Office at Durham

[janeb204]

Im at my wits end...I need to speak to Durham Passport office, I am going on holiday Saturday and my daughters passport renewal is stuck in a backlog at Durham. I will pay for accelerated service but can't get through to ask for it. The general phone number takes hours to be answered, the call back service doesn't work, the 48hr email reply service doesn't reply. Can I drive to Durham and sit and wait. I'm frantic to resolve this...but what can I do? Has anyone got any suggestions of what I can do....apart from cry? Does anyone work there and can tell me something I can DO

Yes I get what your saying but your telling me that the 0300 number as not lie to u and I am a lovely person I don't won't any one worry like I did not sleeping for 3days over the bank holiday I fly tom and got wedding to go to

And learn to spell! That post is horrendous! You should be ashamed!

Apologies for last message - written in the heat of the moment! I do understand why you did it and I'm not going to lie part of me did think ooh I wish I'd have moved my travel date earlier but unfortunately I couldn't forget all of the other people in the same frantic situation as me/us and who are travelling sooner then I am! I travel Saturday so Friday is the last day for me and it's killing me the waiting, the wild goose chases etc but they do a priority system for a reason and if it becomes abused then it's not going to work is it?

Projuly, did you hear anything back today?

Aidycake apparently I should receive a call tomorrow regarding upgrade payment, should be printed Thursday and posted to receive Friday? Roll on 8am to continue chasing!!! My MPs have been fab though they have managed to help another local lady receive hers tomorrow for travel Thursday so hopefully the same will be said for me! Believe me after this in going to tell EVERYONE to do passports in advance!!

I did only say I was travelling 2 days earlier so was in exactly same situation and feeling sick couldn't sleep like rest of you. Thanks for kind message about my spelling and karma coming to bite me back lol but hope it all works out for u

I'm in the same position as you, travel Saturday, waiting for upgrade callback tomorrow. I'm umming and aahing about whether I should chase up in the morning or not. I've spoken to my MPs office today and they're waiting for a callback from Durham too. I'm just hoping and praying that everything combined works.

This is how useless 0300 are. After calling Durham directly this morning and being told letter was sent to countersigner yesterday I just called 0300 as I have some questions. I decided to first of all ask for a progress update and was told it's still awaiting examination and there's no more information. .no notes on the application nothing. Just that I should call back in a few days. Good thing I called Durham earlier and have been able to tell countersigner to expect letter and to send it off as soon as possible!

Got a text to say passport apps received. 23/05/14. Daughters renewal and mothers first passport at 70yrs old! You can not fast track first passport. Does every adult have to have interview? I want to book hol for 12/07/14, that will mean they will have 7 weeks! What's the chances? Give me hope someone! X

I want to book hol for 12/07/14, that will mean they will have 7 weeks! What's the chances? Give me hope someone! X

The answer appears to be the same as "how long is a piece of string".

Mine and DSs renewals were back within 3 weeks, two weeks after I got the text to say they were received. However, others have had nightmares.

Karma is a bitch and being rude to someone because their spelling isn't perfect won't help anyone.

I don't travel until 10th June but received my passport today. I'm not sure why I got mine sooner than others travelling near my date maybe its because its my own wedding that week. So maybe Cat got theirs earlier due to attending a wedding.

It's very easy to say you wouldn't lie about your travel date as you would worry about others not getting their passport. However, when you are worried and desperate I can understand why some are especially when some are getting told they will receive passport the day before travel. I can't even begin to imagine how much worse I would have felt had they told me that as I've already been stressed to the max. It does seem that everyone is receiving their passport before travel now. My best friend travelling with us is still waiting for her children's but I'm sure she will get them.

Ooh aidycake keep me posted tomorrow as to what you hear and I shall do the same!! Hopefully we will both be at similar stages if both travelling on the same day! x

Owlcapone I think you will end up like all of us calling constantly which has probably cost us as much as fast track. So I would fast track straight away if possible x

I think you have me confused with another poster :)

Oops sorry I see you were replying to a post. I can't find the original poster.

That might be me! First passports cannot be fast tracked or I most certainly would! X

In that case I would just post it check and send as soon as possible. Maybe attach a note with your date of travel x

Sent Apr 27th
Confirmed received May 2nd
Week of life wasted on 0300 number
MP contacted Tue 27th
Upgrade conversation 8am 0845 number Durham Wed 28th. Travel date requested by them - first thing Wed June 4th
Phoned by Durham Sunday June 1st to say printed (no extra upgrade fee)
Passport delivered at door 5pm Tue June 3rd
Flying tomorrow Wed June 4th

Not exactly stress free timeframe is it, but hopefully that might give some hope to those still waiting. Durham to their credit did exactly what they said they would.

(Ps. still waiting for a single callback / email from 0300 and online supposed service - just bypass them completely)

It's already at passport office! I cannot check up on it as didn't take barcode. Was asking if every adult has had to have a interview for fist passport? X

First passport!

Yes the rule came in a while ago you will be sent a letter for interview. When did you apply. I'm sure you will hear soon try not to panic you still have time.

First passport!

They received the applications on 23rd May...... Cheers. X

Owlcapone.... DO NOT book travel until you have your passport. If you do, despite reading these posts, you are asking for trouble.

Catman ... if you are such a nice person, why pvt message me to threaten to get me the sack?!

Well I would like to say to anyone who is thinking it will be ok to book holidays despite not having passports. .please don't! ! Even if you think a couple of months will be safe enough, no, please don't risk it.
We have one very upset little boy and its breaking my heart knowing we won't be flying to spain on Saturday.
Found out today that my ds' s first passport application is sitting in Belfast not even been looked at yet..they've had it for 4 weeks..and we used check and send, thinking it would all be ok. We cant fast track as its not even been looked at yet also because its a childs first passport.
Apparently there are stricter procedures now in place ( so I was told) but that doesn't explain why the examination process hasn't even been started yet.
However as angry and pissed off as I am with passport office (not the staff I must add, I mean the whole "system" they have in place) I must however take some responsibility, we took a gamble leaving my ds' s passport that late, yes it does say 3 weeks. .but also says you shouldn't book travel. Boy have we learnt a hard lesson. Been fighting back tears all day in work, its horrible. .we'v lost a family holiday we all deserve and my ds has been so excited about going on a big plane and the seaside. (He had put his teddy and a pair of socks in his little pull along case weeks ago) bless him.
So despite the fact its been great reading about happy endings for some of you, I wanted to say please be sensible and don't book travel before passport arrives. Good luck to anyone who's waiting for news.