HM Passport Office, Durham [Appointments only]

Although I understand its a difficult time for the staff just now I must say, excellent service with regards to my fast track application. Appointment on time, even though we had to travel a couple of hours. Staff very thorough and helpful and appointment itself only took about 15 mins. Was told to expect my new one by 11 may but it arrived less than 48hrs after my visit. Extremely happy with the result. Thank you to all involved.
May 4th, 2023

Office opens at 8:30am, phones still saying they are out of hours at 8:50am. Promises every time I do speak to someone that I will receive a call within 2 weeks. It's now been 8 weeks and still no call.
May 2nd, 2023

Apr 23rd, 2023

I Applied For A Passport For My Partner They Said there was not enough documentation to carry on they didnt send the documents back they instead emailed me saying they destroyed her documents so we had to order her a new birth certificate then applied again and luckily we sent the same documents but that one got approved and she received her passport with her documents back so I dont know why they declined it last time and destroyed the documents that passport office needs closing down it just seems to be that there lazy and cant be arsed to do anything
Apr 15th, 2023

applied for passport and sent documents in january at the start. they received my documents a week later and approved my application. i heard nothing back from them till march saying if i didnt send my documents over in the next 5 days my application would be cancelled and not be refunded. i called and waited on hold for about 40 minutes for them to tell me that i had the wrong birth certificate and they had failed to notify me in almost 2 months. then i had to buy and wait for a new birth certificate to come and then pay to post it off. again. they received my documents then it was approved again. then i had a passport interview date set. they rescheduled my interview without even telling me and only told me at the time my new interview was meant to be via phone call asking if i could do it right then and there. this was no issue however the lack of communication from a government agency is absolutely shocking. anyway, had my interview it went fine then two days later i get an email saying my photo was rejected saying it doesnt look recent. this photo was taken in January and i believe passports last 10 years so what is 3 months going to do? so then i had to pay for even more photos to be taken and sent off costing me more money. this then got approved and i am expecting to receive my passport in the next two weeks. this passport office needs a complete system overhaul and new staff put in place as they are clearly incompetent and should not be working for the government when peoples travel is at stake. it has cost me over 100 now in postage and re taking photos for this and i am still yet to receive it.
Apr 23rd, 2023