I’ve had to sell my dream hols on Facebook after problems with my son’s passport

A FAMILY were forced to sell their dream holiday on Facebook after problems with one of their passports.

Samantha Smith, 28, had booked a £2,000 holiday to Spain with her husband Mark and four kids – Darcie, 11, Theodore, 8, Benjamin, 6 and Roman, 4.

2

However, they had to apply for a new one for Roman after losing their passport.

She told Lancashire Live that they lost it back in March, saying they “turned the house upside down” to look for it, so realised they had to apply for a new one.

Despite this being 11 weeks before the holiday, they are yet to get it back after being passed between teams and getting no updates.

She said: “I tried for four weeks, and I sent 10 inquiry forms with references on.

“I rang at 8am every day and it would say, due to high call volume, we cannot accept your call; there was not even an option to wait in a queue.”

She added: “They say don’t book a holiday until you have your passport, but you would think that 11 weeks to go should surely be enough time.

“I’ve been trying to sort this out every single day – this holiday has been approved by the school in term time but I don’t understand how the passport office can be so dismissive of other people’s time and money.”

She has since said that even if she gets half the money back from her holiday, it will be better than nothing as they can’t afford to lose all the money.

Samantha wrote on Facebook: “Gutted to have to do this but I am selling my holiday, details are as follows… 6 guests: 2 adults and 4 children, Lloret De Mar, Spain, 16th June to 23rd June, from Manchester airport to Girona airport,

“Ryanair flights include priority boarding and 2 cabin bags per person, Air BnB, 3 bedroom apartment on the beach, self catering.

“I paid £1,800 for flights and accommodation. I am looking for around £1,500 which will include name changes.”

Other people on social media said the passport issues were “disgusting,” and Samantha isn’t the first person this has happened to.

The Passport Office currently advise allowing around 10 weeks to get a new passport back due to a record number of applications.

However, many families have complained that they have waited longer than 10 weeks, with hundreds resorting to queueing through the night at the Passport Office.

One couple said they were facing having to cancel their wedding due to passport issues, while a five-year-old’s Disneyland holiday was ruined by the passport delays.

And now new research has found that more delays could cause problems, according to the Independent, due to new plans to cut staff.

Here is how to get a fast track passport renewal.

2