mshedden

Agreed. The 'unprecedented demand' story is IMHO BS. I would imagine for the most part that the number of passports renewed / applied for is a fairly predictable number on a monthly basis - although it may be higher at different times of year, they know the demand curve better than anyone.

Something is busted in the system. Software most likely.

In 1999, as has been previously pointed out, it was the implementation of a new (and not properly functioning) computer system that caused the problems.

Now in 2011, obviously they've been changing their system as part of the 5 step plan to get all passport processing back to the UK.

LP9

This uptick in applications happens every year, right before summer kicks off, so if they aren't prepared and adequately staffed for it, its simple mismanagement.

mshedden

There's got to be more to it than that, methinks...they were supposed to be printing all passports in the UK starting April, but they're not. Something is wrong...

Here's a little vid, while we're waiting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k64t49JwOvA

mshedden

Oh, and IPS took over all passport processing April 1, 2011. Coincidence?

Mummy in the foothills

Sounds like a nightmare when it gets to number 5. We'd have to mail our own passports to the UK for renewal, and they mail them back to you. I suppose they haven't noticed that parcels from the UK are taking months too

Jan Alaska

Voted.

This whole thing is b/s , basically we are being held hostage while the trained monkeys take their sweet time processing passports.
And Bob .. I'm going to be said 'monkeys' have more than 1 week vacation a year.

mshedden

I'm sure they will expect you to FED-EX it to them for $75 and charge you $75 to FED-EX it back. This is of course saving money because the PUNTER now absorbs the cost, and what alternative do we punters have anyway?

cheryl56

That's such a load of BS,I don't think me sending off for my 2 daughters PP renewals at the end of Feb,with travel date the end of June is procrastinating!!! I'm one of the lucky ones...we received them 11th June after many phonecalls to Careline and the British Consulate in LA. If I hadn't kept calling I'm pretty certain I would still be waiting!!!

brax

Oh to have the option to send our applications to the UK. I would have happily paid for courier service each way to avoid this trauma.

aml1982

Got another reply from the office of Lilian Greenwood (MP for Nottingham South). The issue is being brought to her attention. Not much else doing - hopefully if she can't do anything to escalate this personally, she may be able to increase awareness of it.

LP9

I'm still working on everything folks. I've made some good contacts, and making some headway.

Please try to email everyone you know.....the more the story is out there, the more likely it is to get in front of someone important.

LP9

I posted the site on WUSA 9's Facebook page. They are so far the only news outlet either side of the pond that have covered the story.

Please go here and comment https://www.facebook.com/WUSA9?sk=wall and help us all out.

Thanks,

Stephen.

LP9

Ok folks, help me help you.

3 days this site has been up.
2000 page views.
And only 36 petition signatures.
24 votes on 38 degrees.

I know there are a lot more of you than that are affected just here on this site.
Plus everyone else should be supporting their fellow countrymen. There are very nearly 150,000 members here.

Please show your support!

aml1982

Just tweeted William Hague. I don't know how helpful it will be, but I have a friend who's a hardcore Twitter user and also a conservative, and he suggested to me that Hague is pretty good about reading and responding to tweets. We shall see.

Bob

I think it's a case of having to sign up to so many things to vote etc that's putting me off.

Edit: perhaps if there was a list of people you've tweeted, the politicians, news peoples etc, all in one list?