Passports

[Agent]

That is exactly what it boils down to. People made travel plans without being in possession of a valid passport - they took a risk - and unfortunately that risk happened. I accept, up to a point, that there are occasionally unexpected requirements for travel, such as funerals, but there are fast track options to renew a passport the same day if it has been allowed to lapse. There may be a case where a death happens while the passport is being renewed, in that case a good case could be made for a second passport under exceptional circumstances.

I fully understand what you mean, but it shouldn't be a risk to this degree. This isn't some shoddy back alley service where you pass your money through a slot and you get your goods passed to you in a bin bag. This is an official government service, that knows the numbers they are likely to expect each year (within a few %), that were warned this was likely to happen.

You might as well not have estimates if this is the route the government wants to use. My passport expires next year. I want to book a holiday that happens after its expiry, even though it's got about 11 months on it currently....What should I do? Renew it now on the off chance there is an 11 month delay? - Difficult as I'm going to be using it and there are delays

According to your logic, I shouldn't book a holiday next year because I don't have a valid passport in an event that's 12 months away. That seems a little bit barmy....but I guess by not doing something, you take risk mitigation to the extreme.

As for fast track - yes, if you can get there. Literally hundreds of thousands of applications are from abroad.

A pssport can be renewed at any time, and the expiry date is not really a surprise.

Indeed. But given that most people are applying before their expiry, with plenty of time according to the official estimations, the surprise really comes from the delay that wasn't announced before it hit the press.

I don't think 2p/day is really a lot of money.

Where can I get a passport at a daily rate?
I'm not being a pedant, but the cost of a passport is a lot of money for some people.

"The Government" is a convenient scapegoat for a public that largely refuses to take responsibility for its own (in) action. If I book travel without a valid passport - on the assumption that it will be renewed in time, that is a risk I accept and knowingly undertake.

To a point, yes. At the same time there is a paid for service that has a job of getting you that passport within a reasonable time frame. I don't agree that the responsibility here is one sided.

The same is true of (say) airport checkin. The accepted time is two hours before flight. I know from experience that at Gatwick I can, on a good day, step off the platform at the station and be at the gate in 45 to 50 minutes. However I get a train that gets me to the airport at least three hours before check-in time, preferably longer. In that event I am allowing for unexpected delays on the train. It has never happened - but it might. Its called contingency planning. If I miss my flight because the train was delayed, it is my fault. I failed to allow enough time to get there.

And what if the train company knew the train was going to be delayed, weeks in advance, never told you, you got on the train only to get half way and then find out you're stuck in Dudley for 6 hours?

The crux for me is the total silence until the press went into overdrive, even when they knew major issues were happening, they didn't tell the public. People did get an earlier 'train', wasn't told there was an issue on the line, and were then left unannounced at a station no closer to their destination.

I fully see your points, I really do, I just have a different take on it. Responsibility isn't just one sided here in my eyes, so I'm sure we'll agree to disagree on some things on this issue

[TVoJ]

I'm waiting on my passport to come back from renewal so that I can apply for student finance. It's a right pain in the bum thi!