[Piper]

I am in a bit of a tizzy this morning because I got my receipt for my Police check posted to me. The problem is that the letter had been opened at the side of the envelope. It said that they were returning the original documents I sent them (to verify my address and date of birth) which was a copy of my gas bill - in the envelope and a copy of my passport - not in the envelope. (I know they only ask for one but my gas bill obviously can't prove my birth date).

The office isn't open till Monday and I've just checked with the postman who didn't notice if the letter was open and hasn't got anything in his bag that may have fallen out.

My question is - has anyone else sent a copy of their passport and did the Public Access Office keep it or return it?

I'm now imagining all sorts of horrors about identity theft - I assume they can use the information to get just about anything - but how would they know that was in there? Panic panic!!!

Thanks

Piper

[Smiler]

Hi Piper

Did it have the New Scotland yard address on the outside of the envelope? This is how they may have known what the contents were or assumed and opened it anyway.

I was just sitting here talking to OH about what to do. He suggested calling the access office on Monday like you say, but I know it can be difficult to ge through. Maybe also speak to the passport office and see if they have any advice or action they can take.

I wonder why the utility bill wasn't taken either? :confused: I didn't think they accepted copies just the originals?

[Smiler]

Sorry I should have said, I'm 99% sure they return all copies of docs.

[Piper]

Groan.... please don't say that!!!

The envelope had the Public Access Office address on it. I guess criminals will know that information of this type is sent out from that particular place.

It's really annoying because I handed my request in to a police station as I didn't want to put a copy of my passport in the post. (I have had the real deal stolen from the post in the past).

I guess I just have to wait till Monday... oh what a joyous start to my weekend:mad:

[Smiler]

Sorry, I didn't want to worry you further over the weekend. :no

Yes they will know that's where the documents come from and that they are likely in the envelope. :mad:

I'm petrified of sending off anything like that now. We just had our IRRV's put in our passports and I handed OH's pp and my old PP and new one in at immigration. I worried all week, even though they were being returned by courier.

We use courier post (signed for and trackable) for anything remotely personal now.

Try not to worry all weekend and let us know what (if anything) the PP office recommend.

[Piper]

Don't worry Smiler - I did ask!

I have just checked out what you can do if you have these type of documents stolen and there is a very reassuring service available nationally.

It's called CIFAS and for £11.75 they put your address on a register which requires validation for anything a fraudster may apply for. Of course it also makes life more awkward for yourself because you will be subject to closer scrutiny but I reckon it would be worth it.

It just never occured to me that the Public Access Office would post the documents back - there was me, all proud of my new printer's lovely copy of my passport too :o

Also - the utility bill was a copy and that was being used in the envelope to show my address - there was nothing else with it on, so maybe that's why it was still there.

Piper

[Myrkk]

Bummer, hope you get it sorted out quickly and efficiently. The register sounds good, if a bit of a pain for you for a while.

[Piper]

I tried calling the number at the public access office today - I'm not sure why they even bother having a phone number when all they do is tell you that you've reached Voicemail and can you email them... I guess that's the way of the world these days.

I didn't see their reply to my email until this evening which was to ask when they sent the receipt out to me and did they send it recorded delivery? (NO). Oh yes, and they were sorry to hear that my mail had been opened. Thanks. So I don't know what the outcome of that will be yet.

But I did email the Passport Office (no point phoning them either) and they replied straight away to say that if I suspect that a third party has my passport number then I should get a new passport and write a letter to the passport office with the number to check that nobody has tried to use it - OH NO.:no I only got it 2 years ago. And I am flying to NZ for a holiday in 2 weeks time - all the tickets are booked with my passport number.


It seems incredible to me that, here I am at stage 1 in the process and things have gone awry in such a horrible way through no fault of my own.

What a nightmare. I am still clinging on to the tiny hope that the police kept the copy of my passport but I'm not holding my breath.:(

Piper

[pinkpiggy]

Pip, what an awful thing to happen. I sincerely hope it turns up but at the very least you are able to get a new passport in time for your trip.

[sizzlingbadger]

What a nightmare :(

Before you go on holiday and you're going to use or visas/debit cards whilst on holiday. Inform the banks, I've gone abroad before now and after I go to use my credit card for the second time the bank has put a stop on it because they think it's fraudulent use :uhoh

Hope you manage to resolve the situation, is there anyway you can apply for the passport in person explaining the situation and urgency ?

[wilson182]

What a nightmare :(

Before you go on holiday and you're going to use or visas/debit cards whilst on holiday. Inform the banks, I've gone abroad before now and after I go to use my credit card for the second time the bank has put a stop on it because they think it's fraudulent use :uhoh



That happened to us, but we were on our months reccy to NZ at the time.:( I had a more than a moments panic, being stuck half way round the world with no money!!!!!!!!!

Piper, fingers crossed that things resolve themselves for you.

Debs xx

[Piper]

Thanks everybody, for your concern. Nothing is any clearer today, although I emailed the Public Access Office again twice. The first time they told me that sometimes they might not return everything, although if it had been my actual passport they would have sent it back recorded delivery.

Ok, fair enough, but 'sometimes' and 'might not' are kind of vague and unhelpful - I gave them all the details again and asked if, under the circumstances, could they check if they did in fact keep the copy of my passport. Please.

So I got another email from someone different, but the text was missing from the email and all I got was their disclaimer. Hmmmmm - does it take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that these guys may be just a little disorganised?

I hate hassling people like this, I know they're busy, but so am I and I just need a straight answer.

Everybody at work is telling me not to worry - that nobody can really do anything with just your passport number, but I don't want to find out the hard way...

Will try again tomorrow.

(And thanks for the advice about informing my bank before I go on holiday - I will definitely do that.)

Piper

[Myrkk]

I know your work colleagues are trying to be helpful but I think I'd want to scream at them if they told me not to worry.

Is there a passport office near you that you can go to personally? Or the public access office?

Don't worry about hassling them........this is an emergency for you!! It's their job to deal with it efficiently. Sometimes you need to hassle people to get this.

[katandbob]

after all the identity knaping adverts etc I am suprised at the lack of help your getting from the Police department!

I'm pleased I went personally and filled in the form at the police station (along time ago!)- I just showed the passports and then they ticked a box.

I hope its sorted soon & that you have a stress free holiday

Kat