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Original poster

Passport problems - this can't be normal?

63 replies

EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 19:49

Basically, I've applied online for a first adult passport at age 40+ (mainly for ID as I don't drive). I said I hadn't had a passport before because in my married name I haven't. I wouldn't know what happened to my old passport as I was a child living with my parents when it was last used, so I felt like reporting it lost or stolen after 30 years would be silly.
Evidently not, because I was sent a letter saying they'd found a passport registered to me (in my married name, which is impossible) and I should send them it or report it lost/stolen.
So I reported it lost, sent them that I'd done it in writing as requested.
Now they've sent me a text saying they need another countersignature - and it can't be the person I asked before. The trouble is I don't know anybody else! I had trouble finding that one person.
Now I feel like just asking for my money and documents back and just deal with having no photo ID.
Does everyone have to go through this much to get a passport?

OP posts:
Fortheloveofus · 30/03/2023 20:32

EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:16

@Fortheloveofus they don't have a passport

OP dentified someone she could ask to countersign her passport application, which was the problem in the first place. Of course she doesn't have the passport yet, she hasn't asked them yet, plus passport office are going to be on strike for a number if weeks so there might be a delay...you're being overly pedantic for no reason whatsoever unless it missing something??

I also suggested the alternative of a learner driving licence so the problem of photographic ID has other solutions.

I'm sorry if my advice or opinions aren't good enough for you. I'll shut up, eh?

Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:35

@Galliano no, I'm not in work. My daughter is in school and I guess that is maybe the one avenue I could pursue. I'm "that mum" that's always calling in to complain at them though 😬I would have to muster up a lot of courage!

@Muchtoomuchtodo nowhere that anyone will have known me for over two years unfortunately!

OP posts:
Galliano · 30/03/2023 20:38

EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:35

@Galliano no, I'm not in work. My daughter is in school and I guess that is maybe the one avenue I could pursue. I'm "that mum" that's always calling in to complain at them though 😬I would have to muster up a lot of courage!

@Muchtoomuchtodo nowhere that anyone will have known me for over two years unfortunately!

Or maybe a fellow parent…I have countersigned previously for people from the school run

AmIThatMam · 30/03/2023 20:39

Unfortunately, unless you know them personally, most teachers won’t countersign. It’s not worth their jobs if you aren’t who you say you are and really, how could they know?

Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:39

@Fortheloveofus ?
I said I could ask the neighbours to do the countersignature, as they are "of good standing in the community" if they had a passport, which they don't. I'm not sure what you think I was meaning but sorry if I've offended you somehow?

OP posts:
AmIThatMam · 30/03/2023 20:39

What about your parents or siblings, do they have friends in those professions?

Brefugee · 30/03/2023 20:41

this is one reason, not the only reason, that i've let my UK Passport lapse and i just went to the town hall and got a German one instead. That's a brexit benefit i wasn't expecting, so yaay for that (it's cheaper too)

Brefugee · 30/03/2023 20:42

sorry, that's smug and doesn't help OP.

You need a passport to book Air BnB?

Fortheloveofus · 30/03/2023 20:44

No, you haven't offended me, i just think the problem is more easily remedied than you think. People are suggesting a lot of alternatives or solutions but you seem intent on firing them all down. Is there a reason why you can't apply for a provisional licence (a medical problem that would prevent you from driving) or an identity card?

CombatBarbie · 30/03/2023 20:45

I'm Confused, you had a passport as a child and Passport office say you've also had a passport as an adult? But you haven't.... Are you not concerned someone may have gained a passport on your identity? You should challenge that.

Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:46

@Brefugee LOL no that's funny!

Yes they say you need drivers license (not sure if that's full or can be provisional and they wouldn't tell me - believe me I asked!) or passport, or "Government issued photo ID" which we don't have in England.

OP posts:
Oldnproud · 30/03/2023 20:49

CombatBarbie · 30/03/2023 20:45

I'm Confused, you had a passport as a child and Passport office say you've also had a passport as an adult? But you haven't.... Are you not concerned someone may have gained a passport on your identity? You should challenge that.

This is what I was thinking too.

VQ1970 · 30/03/2023 20:49

I was just going to say the same thing as @CombatBarbie

You said you had a passport as a child but not since being married, yet the passport office has a record of you having a passport registered to your married name. Why aren't you querying this? You've now told them it was lost but you never had it in the first place? You're causing a problem here by not challenging it. This could be identity fraud so the passport office is not going to roll over and just say here, have another passport!

Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:49

@AmIThatMam my parents both passed away quite some time ago (which is why I couldn't answer questions about my old passport, incidentally) and my siblings aren't that close that their friends know me. The only partner I could have asked was the first countersignature!

I think I better just suck it up and ask my daughter's school, and hope they don't laugh in my face.

OP posts:
CombatBarbie · 30/03/2023 20:50

I thought the YOTI ID was part of the approved Gov ID?

Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:51

Okay, I best ring the passport office in the morning. I really hadn't thought about identity theft considering the age of my old passport. Clearly I'm a bit naive.

OP posts:
Fortheloveofus · 30/03/2023 20:52

EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 20:46

@Brefugee LOL no that's funny!

Yes they say you need drivers license (not sure if that's full or can be provisional and they wouldn't tell me - believe me I asked!) or passport, or "Government issued photo ID" which we don't have in England.

See, firing down valid and doable solutions. I know for a fact provisional licences are acceptable form of ID, even for enhanced DBS checks. Why can't that be your solution? If you don't need a passport to go abroad, go for the easier alternative?

Brefugee · 30/03/2023 20:52

Yes they say you need drivers license (not sure if that's full or can be provisional and they wouldn't tell me - believe me I asked!) or passport, or "Government issued photo ID" which we don't have in England.

but a citizen's card is government issued, isn't it? if you're calling them tomorrow, ask them about the citizen card

Lilbunnyfufu · 30/03/2023 21:03

Galliano · 30/03/2023 20:38

Or maybe a fellow parent…I have countersigned previously for people from the school run

Show quote history

I was just gonna suggest a parent from the school. The mum I got to do it from the school happened to be a police officer but I didn't know that when I asked her

Cherrybl0ssm · 30/03/2023 21:03

If the passport office says there is a passport in your name but you didn’t apply for it. Then either 2. the made an error or 2. identity theft or 3 something else.
You could make an appointment for your Member of Parliment to countersign. They will have surgeries. It’s a way round it.

Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 21:06

@Brefugee that's a good idea. I will ask them about that. I asked Air BnB which ID was suitable other than Passport/DL but they were very unhelpful and just kept referring me back to the same webpage but not actually answering me. Very frustrating.

The Provisional License and the YOTI Card also need a countersignature with similar restrictions which I will have to ask for again, or try to sort things out with the passport office.

OP posts:
Original poster
EverySporkIsSacred · 30/03/2023 21:07

Thanks everybody for trying to help, I at least have some ideas to move forward with now. Not least trying to avoid identity theft!

OP posts:
Fortheloveofus · 30/03/2023 21:09

You had one person who signed your original passport application. This person can be used for your DL or YOTI application...see, problem solved.

Or here's another idea, there are places you can rent holidays homes from other than AirBnB who don't need ID

whynotwhatknot · 30/03/2023 21:09

you shouldnt have said you had a passport in your married name thats lost when you clearly havent

this is going to raise r4ed flags with them now as you keep changing the story

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 30/03/2023 21:21

I went through a lot more than that to get a first adult passport. Including getting an early morning train to a major city for an interview with a toddler in tow, and being asked to tell them what my parents died from and where they were buried, I had to describe my childhood, the layout of my house, what I studied in my GCSEs, and how I would walk from my house to the nearest post office. Amongst other things. First passports often require an interview as well as countersigning. You are being spared that as it’s a renewal.

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