Brits face holiday nightmare as Passport Office issues delivery warning
BRITS have been warned of getaway mayhem this Christmas right after the Passport Office’s courier support admitted there could be supply difficulties.
Winter getaways could be at possibility following a deluge in put up-Covid programs and delays in receiving journey files.
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Candidates have now been warned they could deal with waits of up to 10 months for their new passports to be processed.
But even just after passports have been given the inexperienced light-weight by civil servants, several persons encounter further more delays in receiving them.
TNT, the agency accountable for shipping and delivery the permits, has been strike with issues over arrival dates frequently being pushed back again.
Some determined punters have even driven from depot to depot to test and come across their documents after reserving flights abroad.
And calls to TNT’s purchaser assistance helpline also normally go unanswered for hrs, in accordance to The Situations.
The concern has established stress among hundreds of shoppers – who have set up a petition contacting for a probe into the situation.
It reads: “In new months hundreds of us have professional important delays in having our passports shipped.”
“Many have had to cancel their vacation ideas as a result and lost out on hundreds or even hundreds of lbs.
“Compared with numerous other couriers, TNT do not seem to offer actual time tracking, nor can you offer delivery guidance.
“People today have seasoned several failed delivery attempts, some others have experienced their supply day repeatedly pushed back with no stop in sight.
“Some have even experienced their passport or software supporting documents lost by TNT.”
The petition urges the Govt to search into the offer and request why the firm’s apparent failures have not been looked into.
TNT, owned by FedEx, was awarded a three-year agreement value £77million to provide new and renewed passports in 2019.
In some cases the Passport Business is turning to different postal providers this kind of as Royal Mail, in accordance to reports.
A TNT spokesman reported a backlog had been brought about as a result of a surge in programs because of to lockdown limits easing.
He additional: “We are using extra actions to give well timed delivery by incorporating additional sources to the functions. We apologise for any inconvenience prompted.”
The Passport Office environment reported it was doing the job to set up the root of the problem.
It arrives right after The Sun uncovered how Brits with a new blue passport are staying warned to test it prior to travelling, thanks to new regulations in place.
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