Solicitor photo ID and passport being renewed

[catandpanda]

Just buying a property (not selling) and have also just sent passport off for renewal and says takes 3 weeks, don't drive. Solicitor is asking for photo ID, the original and to see me in person. Really don't want to hold up sale for 3 weeks for this - plus as solicitors is also an hour away. Is there anyway round this?

We've paid solicitors for searches etc but they are refusing to start. Can't speak to solicitor until tomorrow, have e-mailed them a photocopy of old, still valid passport, but don't have it, with passport office now. Thanks. EA just took photocopies and we didn't need to attend in person. Not selling.

When I worked for a solicitors we had to do it before opening anything up as part of our money laundering and fraud checks. Nobody could open a file regarding a client without it so it may not be them being awkward - they might not be able to start working on your behalf without it. We could also accept driving licenses as ID (if you have one).

I missed the bit where you said don't drive. If they say it is policy unfortunately they may be restricted legally and there is no way around it. May be worth looking into whether a provisional license would come before your passport will if it's time you're worried about.

Thanks very much - I phoned and didn't get a solicitor but lady said I could try sending in the old one by e-mail and doing a video call with solicitor and they may take that. Will see with solicitor tomorrow.

Do you have a photo driving licence?

I missed the bit where you said don't drive
Ooops! So did I! Sorry

Good luck!

Thanks very much. Hope there's a way round this though online at least people reckon passports come back in a week but says three, argh. Online apparently some solicitors use an online checking service where you just need passport number etc but doesn't sound like they offer that. So annnoying literally posted old passport couple of days ago. But we need that too to get visas for holidays.

Could you apply for a provisional driving licence? It might be quicker than the passport and is still photo id. If nothing else it would mean you have two form of id for any future times.

I’ve just renewed a passport. Yesterday I got an email,to say it’s been accepted, after the photo was rejected the day before (new one sent electronically), and I should get the passport in a few days. From start to finish it will be about two weeks, so hopefully you will get yours quicker than three weeks also.

Thanks very much - applied online for passport at the weekend and photo was accepted but said needed old pp to start which they should have got earlier this week so I am hoping it will just be a few days.

Me passport renewal took less than a week from applying online to receiving the new passport. You might be able to take other documents that prove your ID to a local solicitor and get them to certify - you'd probably need a witness to sign and say a photo is of you. There has to be a way round this because not everyone has a passport or a driving licence.

Thanks that's useful to know. In the past its only been a week but so frustrating they can't at least start the search without it. Will see what solicitor says tomorrow - I've used her twice before at different firms. Provisional seems to take 2 weeks and seems to prefer a passport to apply so will just wait it out with passport, may call pport office to see. Hoping I can negiotiate old by e-mail now and before transaction the proper one.

Dh and i sold a house in 2014 and i sent photocopies of ID electronically - in dhs case a certified photograph because he does not have a driving licence or passport. We never met the solicitor in person even though local firm - everything was sorted via post telephone or email!

My passport came back in a week. I sent it in on a Tuesday and it came in the post the next Tuesday! That was only last week. Good luck!

Copy of your birth certificate and copies of the front and rear of your bank card. Plus copy of marriage certificate if appropriate.

Estate agent can certify them for you

A more local solicitor might validate it for you, we did this and it was a tiny fee (10 pounds each I think) which he then sent to the solicitor doing the house purchase. It might be worth ringing a local firm?

Thanks very much - lots of great ideas. Am speaking to solicitor tomorrow. Would be great if passport is back in a week. Sent application on Sunday online with accepted photo but only posted old passport yesterday recorded so would have today. I may try calling them to see but a few people saying a week so looking hopeful.

As one of the PPs has said, your best bet - other than waiting - is to see if your solicitor will let a local solicitor certify the docs for you. They won't want the EAs to do that as they can't certify docs.

If you can't get there though and they need to see you face to face unfortunately you'll either have to find a nearer solicitor or find a way to get there. I know it's a pain but the rules are becoming increasingly stringent and cumbersome.

Thanks - the solicitor is only an hour away so its a pain to get there but just half a day off. It's by husband's work. Its more getting hold of documents they will accept that's the bigger issue. But hopefully will agree a solution with solicitor tomorrow and hopefully passport will be back shortly. Though its good to have back up plans too.

Spoke to solicitor and she said if we take in 2 original address IDs she can get started, will get husband to take in on Monday. I offered to give new passport when it arrives - passport office said it will be 3 weeks but think that's just their standard line to take. Phew.

Now if I could only get Santander to close my account. Grrr. That's with Financial Ombudsman. Thankfully have funds from elsewhere to cover.