Follow up my British Embassy Incompetence 6th Sept

[oldsailor35]

I eventually got my old friend to the police station to make a report.

Searched the internet to find the appropriate forms including the one to make payment, and printed them off.

Found the correct address to which they instruct "they be posted or delivered" and proceeded.

Now the Embassy say that we have sent the incorrect form also that the payment authority form is incorrect despite the fact that two of us read the instructions first. We have to do it again and contrary to their instruction "Post or deliver" to, we are now told that we have to deliver in person ( another chancy trip to Bangkok) Also in the reply they say that we have to get the Police report interpreted to English despite the fact that they employ Thai staff ( what do they do for a crust) Sounds like money for old rope to me,for them.

And this embassy likes to brag that they are doing a good job for their nationals

[ukrules]

It's simple, they don't give a shit.

[oldsailor35]

It's simple, they don't give a shit.

Just what i am thinking.

[tomdfc]

I have tried for years to register the missus and myself (as per their recommendations) with the Embassy and have yet to have the courtesy of a reply. Their business process is flawed. Their management and supervision is invisible. In layspeak, they are a waste of space.

[54321]

sadly either you are correct or they are a caring sweet bunch who are completely misunderstood, either way they need to get their act together.

I have tried for years to register the missus and myself (as per their recommendations) with the Embassy and have yet to have the courtesy of a reply. Their business process is flawed. Their management and supervision is invisible. In layspeak, they are a waste of space.

[Greenhill]

But it was only last week that the UK Ambassador had tea with the re-instated Bangkok Governor!!! I am sure that very important issues were discussed, as they affect UK citizens here!!! How could you say that the Embassy is a waste of space!!!!!!????? (Said with 'slight' tongue in cheek)!!

[hansnl]

I have tried for years to register the missus and myself (as per their recommendations) with the Embassy and have yet to have the courtesy of a reply. Their business process is flawed. Their management and supervision is invisible. In layspeak, they are a waste of space.

It is quite simple.

The EU has decided national Embassies must concentrate on facilitating trade and business

The service to own nationals is not the reason why Embassies are there any more.

That has become additional secondary business and should be cost effective.

Wake up, lads, people are not important for Governments any more.

[digitalchromakey]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

[cooked]

I have tried for years to register the missus and myself (as per their recommendations) with the Embassy and have yet to have the courtesy of a reply. Their business process is flawed. Their management and supervision is invisible. In layspeak, they are a waste of space.

It is quite simple.

The EU has decided national Embassies must concentrate on facilitating trade and business

The service to own nationals is not the reason why Embassies are there any more.

That has become additional secondary business and should be cost effective.

Wake up, lads, people are not important for Governments any more.

The concept of public service has gone from UK government, if it doesn't make money, sell it, ignoring the fact that the postal services, railways and the rest of it were nationalised (with taxpayers' money) because they were loss makers. Only a matter of time until the British Embassy is privatised. The Swiss Embassy has farmed out tourist visa applications to a semi-private firm already.

Anyway a friend that was running a trekking company in Ecuador got no help or advice / feedback from the UK embassy when the excrement hit the fan 20 years ago, He fled on foot with almost nothing and got home with help from his parents. Nothing has changed I guess.

[oldsailor35]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

He has reported the loss, or rather 'tried' to report the loss, but they do not appear interested apart from giving him more hoops to jump through there has been no progress from the Embassy. Take the instruction concerning the Police report, it was returned telling him to get it interpreted ! what in the hell are their Thai staff for ?

[SantiSuk]

Embassies should be efficient and competent. Issuing inexact instructions about their process is inexcusable.

However I do not believe that embassy services should be a social service paid for out of general taxation by everyone. Why should I pay for some 20 year old to go walkabout in the nether regions of the world and get stuffed up or run out of cash? Why should I pay for some low-life or drunkard to get pulled out of a mishap and repatriated. I welcome the privatisation of all services that can be better performed by the private sector.

Trouble is the government forgets that you need competent and tough staff managing the contracts with these private delivery firms and that if you believe that the service is one that should raise revenues then you owe it to the customers to provide an effective customer service, not just an abrogation of all responsibilities. We are now getting abrogation of responsibilities.

[mikebell]

Is there no agency to which complaints may be made? When I had a problem with my wife's visa, I wrote variously to members of the Foreign Office; including Haig(ue). Only got one reply from a lady who urged me to contact my local MP!

My visa complaint was eventually responded to by an agency in Singapore.

[AGareth2]

I have tried for years to register the missus and myself (as per their recommendations) with the Embassy and have yet to have the courtesy of a reply. Their business process is flawed. Their management and supervision is invisible. In layspeak, they are a waste of space.

and tax payers' money

[billd766]

I have tried for years to register the missus and myself (as per their recommendations) with the Embassy and have yet to have the courtesy of a reply. Their business process is flawed. Their management and supervision is invisible. In layspeak, they are a waste of space.

It is quite simple.

The EU has decided national Embassies must concentrate on facilitating trade and business

The service to own nationals is not the reason why Embassies are there any more.

That has become additional secondary business and should be cost effective.

Wake up, lads, people are not important for Governments any more.

Actually for the UK this was decided by Tony B'liar quite some time ago and we are all reaping the poisonous fruits of his (New) Labour Foreign policy. That said however the current lot in power are no better and Nu Nu lLabour are probably worse still.

[simple1]

OP: Sorry to say you are contributing to your friend's problems. On the web page providing guidance for obtaining a replacement passport overseas it states:

"Check which supporting documents you must submit with your application. You must get documents that aren’t in English - including documents showing an address - fully translated by a professional translator"

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/replacing/adult

Edited September 16, 2014 by simple1

[Baerboxer]

Embassies should be efficient and competent. Issuing inexact instructions about their process is inexcusable.

However I do not believe that embassy services should be a social service paid for out of general taxation by everyone. Why should I pay for some 20 year old to go walkabout in the nether regions of the world and get stuffed up or run out of cash? Why should I pay for some low-life or drunkard to get pulled out of a mishap and repatriated. I welcome the privatisation of all services that can be better performed by the private sector.

Trouble is the government forgets that you need competent and tough staff managing the contracts with these private delivery firms and that if you believe that the service is one that should raise revenues then you owe it to the customers to provide an effective customer service, not just an abrogation of all responsibilities. We are now getting abrogation of responsibilities.

Managing contract performance by suppliers of outsourced services does indeed require the right level of management by trained, skilled professionals. The UK public sector is one of the worst at this.

They manage by statistics which unfortunately don't usually reflect reality. Look at the performance of the clown running the Passport Office, any of the outsourced immigration services or just about anything connected to and run by central or local government.

The British Embassy here, is IMHO, one to the lowest performers, certainly IME. And the FCO or anyone else in the UK won't give a toss.

[FritsSikkink]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

He has reported the loss, or rather 'tried' to report the loss, but they do not appear interested apart from giving him more hoops to jump through there has been no progress from the Embassy. Take the instruction concerning the Police report, it was returned telling him to get it interpreted ! what in the hell are their Thai staff for ?

Their staff is not there as a translation service. If you read the info on internet properly you would have know you have to apply in person:

https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document What an emergency travel document does

An emergency travel document allows you to leave the country you’re in and travel to your destination via a maximum of 5 countries.

The emergency travel document can also cover a return journey if you’re resident in the country you’re applying from.

An emergency travel document doesn’t guarantee entry to every country. You may also need a visa. Check with the embassy or consulate of the country or countries you’re intending to travel to or through.

How to apply

You need to apply in person. Contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate to check if you need to make an appointment.

You must bring with you:

• a completed emergency travel document application form
• a recent photograph of yourself
• proof of your travel plans - eg, booking confirmations (or detailed written travel plans if you can’t book ahead)
• a police report if your passport has been stolen

You will have to pay a fee in local currency, equivalent to £95.

[digitalchromakey]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

He has reported the loss, or rather 'tried' to report the loss, but they do not appear interested apart from giving him more hoops to jump through there has been no progress from the Embassy. Take the instruction concerning the Police report, it was returned telling him to get it interpreted ! what in the hell are their Thai staff for ?

To repeat; The British Embassy don't issue replacement passports any more, they only do Emergency Travel Documents - is this what your friend is trying to get?

[oldsailor35]

OP: Sorry to say you are contributing to your friend's problems. On the web page providing guidance for obtaining a replacement passport overseas it states:

"Check which supporting documents you must submit with your application. You must get documents that aren’t in English - including documents showing an address - fully translated by a professional translator"

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/replacing/adult

Absolute 'bunkum' that stupid police report is so simple, so why could the Thai staff not read it...........Official translator ! for goodness sake, they muxt have seen dozens of them all exactly the same. Date , Time and place, thats about it. Talk about lazyness at the big house . As i see it, the embassy got their report albeit in Thai, but they should be able to handle something so simple. Seems that want everything laid out for them so they have no work to do.

[oldsailor35]

All documents were returned fullstop!

They could have said "Resubmit report in English, however your lost passport has been duly noted"

[oldsailor35]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

He has reported the loss, or rather 'tried' to report the loss, but they do not appear interested apart from giving him more hoops to jump through there has been no progress from the Embassy. Take the instruction concerning the Police report, it was returned telling him to get it interpreted ! what in the hell are their Thai staff for ?

To repeat; The British Embassy don't issue replacement passports any more, they only do Emergency Travel Documents - is this what your friend is trying to get?

Yes of course, however the report of the lost passport was not done at the Embassy, but the new office for passports, another British government cost saving project i believe.

[oldsailor35]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

He has reported the loss, or rather 'tried' to report the loss, but they do not appear interested apart from giving him more hoops to jump through there has been no progress from the Embassy. Take the instruction concerning the Police report, it was returned telling him to get it interpreted ! what in the hell are their Thai staff for ?

Their staff is not there as a translation service. If you read the info on internet properly you would have know you have to apply in person:

https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document What an emergency travel document does

An emergency travel document allows you to leave the country you’re in and travel to your destination via a maximum of 5 countries.

The emergency travel document can also cover a return journey if you’re resident in the country you’re applying from.

An emergency travel document doesn’t guarantee entry to every country. You may also need a visa. Check with the embassy or consulate of the country or countries you’re intending to travel to or through.

How to apply

You need to apply in person. Contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate to check if you need to make an appointment.

You must bring with you:

• a completed emergency travel document application form
• a recent photograph of yourself
• proof of your travel plans - eg, booking confirmations (or detailed written travel plans if you can’t book ahead)
• a police report if your passport has been stolen

You will have to pay a fee in local currency, equivalent to £95.

Yet in another place it says Apply in person or mail to the following address ????? There is a form to use if one wants to use Credit Card, so why print this if Local Currency has to be tendered ????

[oldsailor35]

Seems that one can "Cherry Pick " all day with these forms.

[oldsailor35]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

He has reported the loss, or rather 'tried' to report the loss, but they do not appear interested apart from giving him more hoops to jump through there has been no progress from the Embassy. Take the instruction concerning the Police report, it was returned telling him to get it interpreted ! what in the hell are their Thai staff for ?

To repeat; The British Embassy don't issue replacement passports any more, they only do Emergency Travel Documents - is this what your friend is trying to get?

His Passport expires in a few months, so it would be logical to apply for a new one.

[simple1]

OP: Sorry to say you are contributing to your friend's problems. On the web page providing guidance for obtaining a replacement passport overseas it states:

"Check which supporting documents you must submit with your application. You must get documents that aren’t in English - including documents showing an address - fully translated by a professional translator"

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/replacing/adult

Absolute 'bunkum' that stupid police report is so simple, so why could the Thai staff not read it...........Official translator ! for goodness sake, they muxt have seen dozens of them all exactly the same. Date , Time and place, thats about it. Talk about lazyness at the big house . As i see it, the embassy got their report albeit in Thai, but they should be able to handle something so simple. Seems that want everything laid out for them so they have no work to do.

Your choice not to comply with or research the bureaucractic process, but then don't complain when the application is rejected.

As the saying goes 'pick your battle wisely'.

Trust your friend will soon be able to obtain a new passport.

[digitalchromakey]

Presumably your friend is trying to get an ETD?

For replacement red passports he will need to apply via trendy towers, see link below:

https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports/y/thailand/renewing_new/adult

and here is where one reports a lost or stolen UK Passport

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport

He has reported the loss, or rather 'tried' to report the loss, but they do not appear interested apart from giving him more hoops to jump through there has been no progress from the Embassy. Take the instruction concerning the Police report, it was returned telling him to get it interpreted ! what in the hell are their Thai staff for ?

To repeat; The British Embassy don't issue replacement passports any more, they only do Emergency Travel Documents - is this what your friend is trying to get?

Yes of course, however the report of the lost passport was not done at the Embassy, but the new office for passports, another British government cost saving project i believe.

Here is the link for lost and stolen passports in Thailand - report should be made to the British Embassy Consular Facility not trendy towers:

https://www.gov.uk/report-a-lost-or-stolen-passport/y/lost/adult/abroad/Thailand

Instructions seem clear to me, presumably one gets a document from the Embassy confirming loss; then one can start the application process for a replacement passport with trendy.

Edited September 17, 2014 by digitalchromakey