Team - as per title, not much to add, trying the "refresh Appointments Unavailable (passportappointment.service.gov.uk)" link...does anybody know of a different option/number to call/have a fast line in in any way? I can make it all happy beer tokens-wise if successful!
There's the one-week Fast-Track service but that appears to be down too https://www.gov.uk/get-a-passport-urgently/1-week-fast-track-service There's the Passport Adviceline, it says to try and call that if you're having bother, the number is 0300 222 0000.
A pal of mine was waiting six weeks even though he did the one week fast track. If you need it in any urgency, I think you’ve unfortunately, $hat it.
Pants. I thought as much. Thanks anyway, guys. Will keep trying the link. I think this is the one that called me back to say that if I did the fast track and it got refused, I'd be ineligible for anything other than waiting up to 8 weeks. Our own fault, so shouldn't whinge too much. Appreciate all the tips though, chaps.
Only other option might be to go to one of the passport offices and try and get in for a physical appointment for same day passports.
Oh! This is possible? Is it just a case of rolling up as doors open and asking to see someone, or do you need evidence of urgency/an appointment?
Sorry I have no idea. I know it's possible, as I got dragged to Liverpool the day after a wedding incredibly hungover for the Spanish inquisition by an man unmoved by any attempt at human interaction. I'm pretty sure we had an appointment, no idea how you get one, so only half helpful.
When I went to the Liverpool office in mid-May, there were two queues at the door, guarded by bouncers. One of around 3-4 people (including me) who had appointments, and one of around 100 people who were chancing it. I don't think the non-appointment queue moved at all while I was inside. This was at 9:20am on a Friday.
Double pants then. I'll need to book something, I guess. Which brings me back to refreshing the website with fingers crossed, I suppose. Thanks though, chaps - it's at least confirmed the way forward.
Camp out front from 5am in the hope you are the first on that awful queue? It’ll be like an iPhone launch but with the reward of an airline losing your bags instead.
Mate of mine spent around 3 hours on the phone getting passed around to different call centres for the not-so-fast-fast-track service, and after continually maintaining that it was very important he got it sorted ASAP was eventually passed to the actually-fast-fast-track service, and was sorted with an appointment within days. Almost like there was a threshold they make to wait and struggle before determining that you must actually need the passport ASAP, rather than just being impatient, if you're still persevering after 3 hours, and just transfer you to the appropriate department.
