Passports from HMPO

[Yosemiti]

Hi,

Hoping a postie can advise as HMPO seem quite clueless.

Unusual circumstances which I’m not going to bore you with, but please note that this isn’t a ‘last minute holiday’ type application!

Fast track for a child, have been told will be released, approved and printed at midday on Friday. It’ll go into their afternoon fast track courier delivery via RM 24hr tracked. What’s the likelihood of it arriving Sat? The people at HMPO don’t seem to know if it’s possible for a Sunday delivery or if it’ll fall on Monday if not delivered Sat.

Huge thanks in advance

Worcester postcode WR6 if that helps.

[Yosemiti]

Should add that I know there’s lots of stuff on FB about this bug I’m not on FB and would prefer advice from a ‘real life’ postie if possible. Huge thanks in advance

[BenacreNick]

Hey Yosemiti.

Passports are currently being processed through the network alongside SP delivery items, so I would suggest there is a strong chance of delivery on the Saturday.

Probably not on the Sunday as they will be different products from different retailers.

Let us know what happens please.

[baldrick]

Royal Mail does not currently deliver on Sunday. Hopefully it should arrive on Saturday.
But I recently applied for a new passport. I got email notification last Tuesday that it should arrive the next day, Wednesday, between 1100-1500.
I waited in, but it didn't arrive. Next day, Thursday, I got an email saying it hadn't been possible to deliver the previous day, no new delivery date.
This Monday I still hadn't heard anything so I went to Delivery Office, and on production of ID I was given the passport.

[Yosemiti]

Thank you @BenacreNick - fingers crossed it does arrive on Saturday then! May I ask, once I have confirmation it has been passed on to RM, am I able to contact the local DO and request to collect if they’re unable to deliver on Sunday? My local DO (Worcester) are open Saturday mornings but closed on Sunday. Is this worth a shot or not? I can’t find the telephone number for the DO online but can keep scouring the net to find one!

Oh crikey - not good @Baldrick! I’m glad your situation has been resolved and very much hope this isn’t the case for my son’s passport!

I shall indeed keep you posted on when the passport does arrive

Thank you again

[yellowbelly]

Thank you @BenacreNick - fingers crossed it does arrive on Saturday then! May I ask, once I have confirmation it has been passed on to RM, am I able to contact the local DO and request to collect if they’re unable to deliver on Sunday? My local DO (Worcester) are open Saturday mornings but closed on Sunday. Is this worth a shot or not? I can’t find the telephone number for the DO online but can keep scouring the net to find one!

Oh crikey - not good @Baldrick! I’m glad your situation has been resolved and very much hope this isn’t the case for my son’s passport!

I shall indeed keep you posted on when the passport does arrive

Thank you again

I'm 80% certain that in the past I've had passports that have been what we call 'Local Collect' at the local delivery office. However this service relies on you knowing (usually by text or email) the tracking number of the said passport. Whether you'll get that info quickly enough after the passport is printed on the Friday to put the request into the system for the item to be 'Local Collect' on Saturday is another thing altogether. The email/text would contain the link to request the 'Local Collect'. From t'internet the Worcester DO appears to be open on a Saturday morning 8-12.

Not sure myself whether the contract the Passport Office has with Royal Mail includes Sunday Delivery. We do stuff for the big commercial companies on a Sunday (had a 'Tracked 24' Moonpig card on a Sunday myself) but whether the Govt. paid for that service with passports I don't know.

[Yosemiti]

Thank you, Yellowbelly.

I’m assuming the text could come at any hour? Is it an automated system?

I’ll post back on Friday to let you know how things go in terms of tracking. I don’t want to run the risk of confusing the system and this causing further delays so will see what time the message comes through and go from there.

HMPO couldn’t confirm Sunday delivery, stating it was ‘area dependent’, with some people receiving theirs on Sunday and others having to wait until Monday..

Keeping everything crossed for a Saturday delivery OR collection (I would prefer to collect to save the risk of someone not delivering as Baldrick experienced!).

Many thanks again,

Claire

[SpacePhoenix]

HMPO couldn’t confirm Sunday delivery, stating it was ‘area dependent’, with some people receiving theirs on Sunday and others having to wait until Monday..

That's probably just down to staffing levels in DOs, not all DOs will have the staff available to deliver stuff on a Sunday

[Yosemiti]

Thank you for your reply - let’s hope that Worcester have lots of posties working at the moment!

[Yosemiti]

Does anyone have the telephone number for Worcester sorting office please? I can’t find one anywhere