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Original poster

Help! Lost passports and travelling on Saturday!

271 replies

winterrabbit · 22/05/2022 19:19

We are supposed to be going on holiday on Saturday but have lost our passports. I have literally spent the last 24 hours turning the house upside down and they are not here. I can only conclude that i chucked them out by mistake or someone nicked them (we have had a nanny and a couple of workmen in the house but noone I think would steal them). Tried to book a fast track appointment to replace them and it says no appointment available and from what i am reading we are not going to be able to get one for weeks at best. We can't cancel the flights and DS is going to miss the football tour we were going to. The flights was extortionate as well. I honestly feel like jumping off a cliff.

OP posts:
jimboandthejetset · 23/05/2022 10:32

@winterrabbit so are you saying that you and your DS have passports that you can use, just not UK passports?

winterrabbit · 23/05/2022 10:32

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Worldgonecrazy · 23/05/2022 10:37

I once paid to get the really fast track passports as I had lost ours, day off work to go to Newport etc. next winter I put my posh winter coat on and found them in the pocket.

so check all pockets etc.

Do they still do face to face for emergencies? I called the day before and a really nice man told me to turn up without an appointment and they would fit me in. This was pre covid / government cuts though.

Original poster
winterrabbit · 23/05/2022 10:38

Only I have another passport, DS1 and DS2 don't although they are entitled, just not applied yet. If we all had other passports then obviously I would use those.

So, been up literally all night and have locked literally everywhere about 10 times and they are just not here. I have mislaid stuff before and always managed to locate with a thorough search. This is different. DH has also looked and can't find them. The only options are: I) I threw them away,; ii) mine is lost and DH never returned DS's; and, iii) they were stolen. I think i) or iii) most likely. We have had a lot of people in and out the house, tradesmen giving quotes etc, plus so it's possible someone swiped them or unlikely. I did have a big clear out over Easter and took stuff to charity shops and recycling so it's possible they were chucked out. End result is the same.

OP posts:
TonyBlairsLover · 23/05/2022 11:03

Bit of a long shot but do you have any PIs near you? It sounds a bit silly but if you’re desperate they could try to locate it

airrrrAIRRRRiELLLL · 23/05/2022 11:20

Hopefully your whole family have been taking the house apart with you only it sounded like you were panicking all by yourself!
Have you definitely looked under all pieces of paper in the house? This is where we find all our hidden stuff. Some chump has usually put something down on top. Then something else, etc. Sending crossed fingers and good luck.

Insomniacsrule · 23/05/2022 11:21

I came back to this thread hoping for an update to say that you had found them, but no.

Have you tried applying for a temporary emergency passport?

www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document

Insomniacsrule · 23/05/2022 11:24

Sorry, just seen that it takes a week.

Flyinggeese1234 · 23/05/2022 11:33

BritWifeInUSA · 23/05/2022 10:07

Well, ultimately this whole situation arose due to your carelessness (nice deflection with the “stolen” story - and even if they were, they were “stolen” from inside your house with no mention of any break-on or anything else being “stolen” so that would be carelessness again). Had you not been so careless, you wouldn’t need an emergency appointment. Get off MN and get looking if this is so important to your children. What help do you think you can get from here? It won’t find the passports and won’t get an appointment any faster.

Show quote history

Delightful!

HellyR · 23/05/2022 11:50

Get off MN and get looking if this is so important to your children

Absolutely fab advice there from britwife - lost passport? Try looking for it ... Hmm

Acunningruse · 23/05/2022 12:08

I don't understand why you keep saying they were possibly stolen?! What is this belief based upon? How would they have been stolen? This really seems most unlikely and it seems odd that you are continuing with this train of thought unless you have a genuine suspicion to that effect.

Mookie81 · 23/05/2022 14:16

Acunningruse · 23/05/2022 12:08

I don't understand why you keep saying they were possibly stolen?! What is this belief based upon? How would they have been stolen? This really seems most unlikely and it seems odd that you are continuing with this train of thought unless you have a genuine suspicion to that effect.

It sounds better than 'carelessness has fucked up my son's trip that's been 2 years in waiting '. 😬

Original poster
winterrabbit · 23/05/2022 14:32

I do have a genuine suspicion otherwise why would I say it? I've already said I feel awful and haven't slept for 2 nights looking for them and worrying about it but of course there are some lovely ladies here just out to make me feel worse (thank you so much Mookie81, I really hope you are perfect in every way and have never lost a single item in your life or ever have any bad luck - how holier than though you must be). The passports are not in the house and they were not taken out of the house. That leaves 2 possibilities; i) I threw them away in error, or ii) they have been taken by someone in the house. We have had a number of tradespeople, painters, delivery men in and out of the house who were not supervised every minute. If I had left the passports over the fireplace in the lounge (which is most likely based on my and my sons' recollection of what happened) then it's conceivable that someone may have swiped them, right?

OP posts:
Original poster
winterrabbit · 23/05/2022 14:34

So I am careless by leaving our passports in our house? I have never lost them in the last 15 years but now suddenly I am careless? Plenty of other people of this thread have lost passports or know people who have. Are you saying they have all fucked up as well? Are you perfect Mookie? I really hope so. If not, stop putting the boot in.

OP posts:
Shelby2010 · 23/05/2022 14:41

Have you taken drawers out to check they haven’t fallen down the back of the drawer. Also leaves out of filing cabinets in case they are underneath.

Inside the casserole dish at the back of the kitchen cupboard. Behind the fridge.

In our house they’d be in a pile of paperwork put aside for filing - and it would still take 3 attempts before they were spotted.

I hope you get lucky, may still be worth asking exDH to check, in case DS left them in his bag & they were still there when he went back. Also worth asking DS to check all the crap in his school locker in case they got mixed up with stuff he dumped there.

Have you checked the glove compartment in the car? Under the microwave?

Blowyourowntrumpet · 23/05/2022 15:58

I really hope you find them 🤞. Have you taken any clothing or bags to a charity shop?

MissNothing1991 · 23/05/2022 16:04

Mookie81 · 23/05/2022 14:16

It sounds better than 'carelessness has fucked up my son's trip that's been 2 years in waiting '. 😬

Show quote history

She doesn't like to admit blane by the looks of it, so it's workmen etc. Or indeed the kids dad. No possible way she could have done it

Original poster
winterrabbit · 23/05/2022 16:06

Only I have a 2nd passport, not DSs.

In any event, I am delighted to report that THEY HAVE BEEN FOUND!

They were in the drawer in my office where I always keep them and which I have checked about 100 times. They had somehow stuck themselves or got caught onto the bottom of the drawer above so not visible. We only found them because I was talking to DH and pulled out a drawer in frustration to do a final check and DH caught a glimpse of something red and said hang on, and there they were! I would not have spotted them otherwise.

Thanks all the kindness and support during a horrible 48 hours and for all the tips about checking the bottom of drawers (which I didn't actually do!)

BritWife and Maisie81 you can both bog off. Not so careless now right????

OP posts:
winterrabbit · 23/05/2022 16:08

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User0610134049 · 23/05/2022 16:10

oh OP I’m SO GLAD, I lurked on this thread yesterday and felt really stressed for you! Delighted you found them

BerkyWithTheGoodHair · 23/05/2022 16:12

The update that I have been waiting for!! I felt sick on your behalf and I'm so glad you have got them. Have a brandy to calm down now Grin

ZekeZeke · 23/05/2022 16:12

Fantastic update. Delighted for you

airrrrAIRRRRiELLLL · 23/05/2022 16:13

Lovely! Enjoy your holiday!

ScootsMcHoy · 23/05/2022 16:14

Hooray! 🥳🥳🥳

What a relief! Of course they were in the drawer where they were supposed to be.

GalesThisMorning · 23/05/2022 16:16

Woo hoo!!! Been lurking and hoping (and obsessively checking my own family's passports) well done for finding them! Your trip will be all the better for having been preceded by that awful sick feeling of dread and anxiety 😁

Enjoy your holiday