An Post Passport Express - is this a problem?

IrishKev

Hi,
I needed a passport fast (flying on March 13th) and applied for a passport using the express service around the 22nd Feb. It says that it will be posted within 10 days, but from info found on boards nearly everyone got it before then. This may be pure impatience on my part (:P) but I've checked the track and trace service since then and it says that it's been "On Route To Customer" since 23rd Feb, from Cork, which is more than a week ago. Seeing that it is sent by registered post, I thought I should have got it by now. Is this normal?

Text taken from An Post Website:
DELIVERED CORK SOUTH CITY D.S.U. CORK 23-Feb-10
ON ROUTE TO CUSTOMER CORK SOUTH CITY D.S.U. CORK 23-Feb-10



Thanks

schemingbohemia

eh is that not the date it arrived at the passport office in cork?

given that you applied on the 22nd do you actually think it was processed in a day?

it's 10 working days so 23rd February would have today as the 7th working day since.

IrishKev

I know yeah but it says on route to customer and the DSU Cork is under the heading "Location". I was wondering why they would say on route to customer if they are sending it to Cork?

Cyril Squirrel

Hi, I used passport express, sent on the 18 Feb and received back on Mar 2, 12 days in total. It didn t come back in registered post either.
If you are worried ring them, they are very helpful.

IrishKev

Great thanks, just thought it a bit strange that apparently everyone was getting it within 5 days and I wasn't! Thanks

ollaetta

I've also just got mine back right on the 10 day limit and it was by ordinary post.

schemingbohemia

IrishKev wrote: »

I know yeah but it says on route to customer and the DSU Cork is under the heading "Location". I was wondering why they would say on route to customer if they are sending it to Cork?

yes but wasn't the passport office the customer as they were the ones receiving the registered letter?

barrera

Does anybody have any experience of this since the industrial action began - are they still achieving the 10-day turnaround? Thanks

IrishKev

schemingbohemia wrote: »

yes but wasn't the passport office the customer as they were the ones receiving the registered letter?

Yeah I suppose so, but it's still at that stage, and if I was to get it by tomorrow or Monday surely it'd have been sent off by now?

juke

IrishKev wrote: »

Yeah I suppose so, but it's still at that stage, and if I was to get it by tomorrow or Monday surely it'd have been sent off by now?

Well if you are concerned that the letter wasn't delivered to the passport office, just call An Post and get them to check. It might be that they just haven't updated their tracking system

bamboozle

barrera wrote: »

Does anybody have any experience of this since the industrial action began - are they still achieving the 10-day turnaround? Thanks

nope, i did mine in February and it was retured after 15 working days. Obviously no-one answering the phones the several times i rang to query its whereabouts. best bet is to go in and queue.

lynchie

barrera wrote: »

Does anybody have any experience of this since the industrial action began - are they still achieving the 10-day turnaround? Thanks

According to the news yesterday they have suspended the 10 day guarantee

Irish Times wrote:

The Passport Service has said it can no longer guarantee a 10-day turnaround for applications submitted through Passport Express, due to the ongoing public service industrial action. The 10-day service has been suspended until further notice, the office said in a statement last night.

Applications would now be processed on a first-come first-served basis, it added.

IrishKev

Just to let ye all know I got the passports today.

ad09

I'm traveling on the 22nd of this month and didn't realize my passport was out of date(thought i had another year on it yet). I rang this morning and got the phone answered by some boring person(after it ringing for nearly 10 mins, id say she only answered to shut it up) who told em i need to get the form to their offices straight away but even then she couldn't guarantee id have it in time. So i got in a car and drove to Cork (from Clare) and arrive into their offices. Upon arrival i was 30th in the queue(numbering system). I was out of there inside an hour. When i got to the desk i explained the situation to the girl at the desk and she said it shouldn't be a problem at all. She said my passport would be ready for collection on the 18th at 10am. Didn't even charge me for putting a rush on it cos it wasn't much of a rush(just 2 days before it would have been ready). Industrial action in the passport office??? Someone should really tell the people working there. They were really nice and extremely fast. Great experience overall

Mister men

ad09 wrote: »

I'm traveling on the 22nd of this month and didn't realize my passport was out of date(thought i had another year on it yet). I rang this morning and got the phone answered by some boring person(after it ringing for nearly 10 mins, id say she only answered to shut it up) who told em i need to get the form to their offices straight away but even then she couldn't guarantee id have it in time. So i got in a car and drove to Cork (from Clare) and arrive into their offices. Upon arrival i was 30th in the queue(numbering system). I was out of there inside an hour. When i got to the desk i explained the situation to the girl at the desk and she said it shouldn't be a problem at all. She said my passport would be ready for collection on the 18th at 10am. Didn't even charge me for putting a rush on it cos it wasn't much of a rush(just 2 days before it would have been ready). Industrial action in the passport office??? Someone should really tell the people working there. They were really nice and extremely fast. Great experience overall

How times change in a few weeks.