!!!!!! Passports

[Danno]

Morning all

I'm off on me hols on the 3rd Sept. So whilst sorting everthing out, I realised I've lost my passport. So quick call to the uk passport office, who inform me that I have to fill in an application, a lost PP form, photos etc. and go to the office in London.

So an interview was booked for 11.15 yesterday.

I decide to take the surf cadet with me as he hasn't been on a tube before. So I get train to waterloo, two tubes, find the bleeding PP office eventually. This has taken 2 1/2 hours so far. They give me a ticket and we wait.

Surf cadet needs the loo, and I miss my place in queue. Get another ticket and get served. Only to be told that the countersignature is in BLUE INK!

"Sorry sir", says the man "it clearly states that it must be in black ink!", I said I'll go over it. Cant do that you have to come back. NOOOOOOOO.

***************** loads of expletives later. A total of 6 hours travelling, with a 3 year old in one of the busiest tourist traps in the world.

I now have to go BACK to PP office on Wednesday for a 1845 appointment. That means I'll get my PP 2days before we leave. OMG!!

At least the train will be cheaper, I'm working in Basingstoke so I'll get the train from there.

Cost so far £70 for a PP, Train £25, Lunch and the London Eye £20 ( the boy wanted to go on it, ITS RUBBISH! ), lost earnings £180, 2nd train journey £25

Total £320 for a sodding passport!!!!

[Guest]

Morning all

I'm off on me hols on the 3rd Sept. So whilst sorting everthing out, I realised I've lost my passport. So quick call to the uk passport office, who inform me that I have to fill in an application, a lost PP form, photos etc. and go to the office in London.

So an interview was booked for 11.15 yesterday.

I decide to take the surf cadet with me as he hasn't been on a tube before. So I get train to waterloo, two tubes, find the bleeding PP office eventually. This has taken 2 1/2 hours so far. They give me a ticket and we wait.

Surf cadet needs the loo, and I miss my place in queue. Get another ticket and get served. Only to be told that the countersignature is in BLUE INK!

"Sorry sir", says the man "it clearly states that it must be in black ink!", I said I'll go over it. Cant do that you have to come back. NOOOOOOOO.

***************** loads of expletives later. A total of 6 hours travelling, with a 3 year old in one of the busiest tourist traps in the world.

I now have to go BACK to PP office on Wednesday for a 1845 appointment. That means I'll get my PP 2days before we leave. OMG!!

At least the train will be cheaper, I'm working in Basingstoke so I'll get the train from there.

Cost so far £70 for a PP, Train £25, Lunch and the London Eye £20 ( the boy wanted to go on it, ITS RUBBISH! ), lost earnings £180, 2nd train journey £25

Total £320 for a sodding passport!!!!

What's even worse, is that when the new one turns up you'll find the old one.

Good luck on Wednesday, I had to do the PP office thing when I used to use 2 passports because of business travel and the need for passports to be off getting visas in them. That was a complicated one, letters from employer, endless forms and then a queue that defied belief.

Cheers

[Helen]

A tough lesson to learn.... always fill in forms using black ink.

I had similar event with the countersignature just outside the little box.... had to start again, then missing paperwork that wasn't clearly shown as required on the form....

When it goes wrong, boy does it go wrong.
I work just round the corner from the PP office in Victoria. Would have helped with sprog sitting if I'd known....

Good luck next time.....

You'll laugh about it while sipping a cold beer on holiday....

[mark g8awo]

We are having similar problems with the jobs worths at Peterbourgh for the kids passports and when you speak to them on the phone they talk to you like you have trodden in something..

[Mike66]

You should have done what i did!!!! Give it to the missus and tell her not to lose it. I dont know where she keeps it ,but whenever we go on holiday its always in the bag when we leave. Has never failed yet in the last eight years.



Just get rid of the responsibility , we have enough to do when on hols let alone organising it.

We have to get the beers in!!

Make sure we have enough money for beers.

Make sure the bars have enough beer

Make sure we find the cheapest place to have a beer.

And make sure its not too far to crawl home.



see so much to do.!!!!!

[Vagrant No2]

I have given up going abroad now . Wastes to much time and missed drinking time . I am off to Norfolk in the rain for my hols .


Rick

[Linda]

Out of interest... Why does it have to be BLACK ink??? whats wrong with Blue?

[Sewerat]

Rick,
Is that with the Heralds roof down is it

We had a Herald, god it was years ago, lets see around 1966 / 1969
Convertible also, had some great times in her

Sewerat Bob

[Danno]

Apparently their scanner cant read blue ink!

Anyway, she cant even find her car keys let alone anything REALLY important!!

Just started filling in the new form in low light and realised that I have just wrote my address in F*****G BLUE F*****G INK! AAAARRRRGHHH.

I'm going to hastily cover it with black when its dried!

[da SLUG man]

i've gotta get a new one... idiot in prague decided to tear my photo off mine!!

how long do they take? i'm going away in october.

[shelly]

i've gotta get a new one... idiot in prague decided to tear my photo off mine!!

how long do they take? i'm going away in october.

if they got any sense, they won't give you 1. hehehe
y did he rip your photo off? just being nosey.

[da SLUG man]

if they got any sense, they won't give you 1. hehehe
y did he rip your photo off? just being nosey.

dunno?... he was foreign... it was a bit frayed on the very corner just from wear and tear... he decided to check it wasn't dodgy and ripped the whole thing apart!... that was a nice photo of me with lovely long blonde hair too!

[Danno]

It takes 7 days from when you go in. BUT it does cost £70

Can get one in 10 days fast track form the Post Office, but not for a lost or destroyed one, only renewal or new

[Danno]

Post the photo Matt, we need a laugh!!

[da SLUG man]

It takes 7 days from when you go in. BUT it does cost £70

Can get one in 10 days fast track form the Post Office, but not for a lost or destroyed one, only renewal or new

so i can't just renew my old one then?... or is it only if it's missing? if i send mine back with the application then that will be ok?

they'll think the pics a different bloke! i was only 18 in it!