This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jul/09/passport-office-appointments-interview-visit-pnone

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Is the UK Passport Office having another meltdown? Is the UK Passport Office having another meltdown?
(2 months later)
The UK Passport Office’s appointment booking system has been out of action for 36 hours and I cannot get any sense of what is going on. There has been no information, but callers are being told to keep trying on subsequent days as the system is down nationwide.The UK Passport Office’s appointment booking system has been out of action for 36 hours and I cannot get any sense of what is going on. There has been no information, but callers are being told to keep trying on subsequent days as the system is down nationwide.
I need to urgently book an interview appointment for my brother, who has Asperger’s, so it’s making the whole getting-a-passport saga even more trying. Is this going to be another passport meltdown?I need to urgently book an interview appointment for my brother, who has Asperger’s, so it’s making the whole getting-a-passport saga even more trying. Is this going to be another passport meltdown?
DB, Carlisle, CumberlandDB, Carlisle, Cumberland
Each year the Passport Office issues more than 5m passports. Four years ago, when its backlog exceeded half a million, it was made directly accountable to ministers. But the Home Office has reassured us that the technical issues are now fully resolved and will not cause delays. It tells us: “We apologise for any inconvenience. There is a good availability of interview appointments, and customers should still expect to receive a passport within six weeks of applying.”Each year the Passport Office issues more than 5m passports. Four years ago, when its backlog exceeded half a million, it was made directly accountable to ministers. But the Home Office has reassured us that the technical issues are now fully resolved and will not cause delays. It tells us: “We apologise for any inconvenience. There is a good availability of interview appointments, and customers should still expect to receive a passport within six weeks of applying.”
We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions: http://gu.com/letters-termsWe welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions: http://gu.com/letters-terms
MoneyMoney
Consumer championsConsumer champions
Consumer affairsConsumer affairs
Consumer rightsConsumer rights
Passport OfficePassport Office
featuresfeatures
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content