TerriBull
The backlog of applications from last year was shocking, ruining umpteen people's travel plans. I just hope they can turn them around a bit quicker, I'll need a new one this year I have no idea what the new cost is though.
I really don’t think you can put all the blame on the passport office - people hadn’t been travelling since before COVID so of course there was a massive onslaught of applications for pps needed in a hurry.
My own dd realised very late that the passports of her two elder needed renewing, and she didn’t have one at all for the youngest. Talk about panic stations! Very last minute, but the little one’s did arrive (just ) in time - dh went to collect it.
Might add that according to Swedish friend it was exactly the same in Sweden, or possibly even worse, since their pps are valid for only 5 years. Her DiL was told no appts. until September - she was going away in June! It was finally sorted somehow, though.