Passport Prices

Sash · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:33

monkeysmith said:
I don't see why it should be free because you pay tax. Or means tested, surely if you can afford to go abroad, you can afford a passport.

£7.20 a year I feel is good value for what you are getting.

http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/412.htm

I dont want to start an argument on this thread, but considering they are a government body and we pay tax to said government then we should be able to get it cheaper.

monkeysmith · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:42

Just because you pay tax doesn't mean everything the government charge for should be free?

If it were "free" then taxes would have to increase in order to pay for every single person in the UK to have a passport or access to a passport. How much would you be happy to pay for a passport and would you be happy to increase your taxes?

Ironic Namesake · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:47

Burnsy2023 said:
I am in a VERY similar position. I wasn't born in Germany but have Germany nationality and have lived in the UK all my life.

I recently had to renew my German passport, which means booking an appointment going to London, waiting for hours, finally getting fingerprints taken and then having to wait 6-8 weeks for delivery.

I had to pay £45 for the 6 year passport, £6 for the special delivery envelope, train fares and a day off work.

Citizenship really is looking like a nightmare too though. I need to do it sometime, but it's looking hugely expensive and a hell'a lot of hassle.

I actually hold a Dutch passport at the moment , but the procedure for renewal is a bit of a pain as well and takes a lot longer than if I was to hold a British passport.

I may pop down to the local register office and use the nationality checking service to get the ball rolling - looks like a long, and quite expensive procedure though unfortunately - £750 + Passport

Sash · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:47

monkeysmith said:
Just because you pay tax doesn't mean everything the government charge for should be free?

If it were "free" then taxes would have to increase in order to pay for every single person in the UK to have a passport or access to a passport. How much would you be happy to pay for a passport and would you be happy to increase your taxes?

As I said I don't want an argument to derail this thread.

monkeysmith · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:49

Sash said:
I dont want to start an argument on this thread, but

Sash · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:54

Now you are just posting for the sake of it. I made my point and ended it there, you had your point previously now we can drop it, I know your opinion you know mine no point in drawing it out more into derailment.

monkeysmith · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:58

Sash said:
no point in drawing it out more into derailment.

The thread is about passport prices, how is this derailment? I know you'd like your passport for free, but it has to be paid for somewhere, how do you propose this?

deuse · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:07

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PassportCost/

POB · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:13

deuse said:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PassportCost/

Until the price is dramatically lower then I intend to not holiday abroad period. I regard these prices as utterly obscene, I can find no better description of the fees.

Like the government cares if you refuse to go on holiday

This is a pretty poorly put together petition.

Sash · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:16

monkeysmith said:
The thread is about passport prices, how is this derailment? I know you'd like your passport for free, but it has to be paid for somewhere, how do you propose this?

I said cheaper not free. Taxes would pay for it, someone mentioned above that people coming to the country are getting free passports and visas or whatever, if this is true, it could come from this.
I know the government wants to introduce identity cards, but why not just forget about this idea and incorporate this information into existing passports. This would surely make more sense.

deuse · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:17

POB said:
Like the government cares if you refuse to go on holiday This is a pretty poorly put together petition.

I don't know who done the one I posted.
Why don't you do a petition then?

thecremeegg · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:24

deuse said:
I don't know who done the one I posted.
Why don't you do a petition then?

But your location is Solihull and Florida so you must travel abroad?

Yas786 · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:25

Its expensive thats for sure...i had mine done a few yrs ago and i cringed at the cost of renewing it but had to be done sadly.

Which reminds me that i need to get my Canadian passport renewed as well...thats going to cost me a packet as well

.

POB · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:27

deuse said:
I don't know who done the one I posted.
Why don't you do a petition then?

I don't particularly care about the cost. I know there are loads of other costs in running a department then just the apparent printing and sending of a passport.

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) does not make a profit. Passport fees cover the costs of providing passport services in the UK.

Part of the fee is called ‘the consular premium’ and is added by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). It covers the costs of providing consular help to British nationals who find themselves in difficulty while overseas.

£6 of the £72 fee alone is the consular premium.

squawkBOX · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:28

I don't agree with the idea of taking passport costs from general taxation, as everyone would end up funding it rather than those who actually need/use it.

Even though I believe my passport is up for renewal soon, I'd rather pay for it as the end user, than someone who perhaps has no intention of travelling abroad.

Klo · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:32

POB said:
Like the government cares if you refuse to go on holiday This is a pretty poorly put together petition.

Very poor, the government would probably prefer you to stay in the country so you recycle money back in to the economy, rather than spending it else where.

bsoltan · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:36

Considering all the technology in a passport it isn't that surprising that it costs quite a bit, also it lasts for 10 years which is good for an adult but not so useful for a child when their appearance etc. will change after a year.

Source: http://ips.gov.uk/cps/files/ips/live/assets/documents/9161_response.pdf

It would make it easier for people if the cost could be spread by directdebit, but if you missed a payment then do they cancel your passport? How do you get it reinstated? Would be a lot more admin work and probably put the charge up anyway.

deuse · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:48

thecremeegg said:
But your location is Solihull and Florida so you must travel abroad?

I use my US passport when I goto FL(saves queuing) and my UK one to come back.

People with a family and just starting out and on a min wage this will be a killer to pay for.

Dunks · 5 Aug 2009 at 12:14

deuse said:
I use my US passport when I goto FL(saves queuing) and my UK one to come back.

People with a family and just starting out and on a min wage this will be a killer to pay for.

People on minimum wage and starting a family shouldn't go on holiday then if they can't even afford a passport. Priorities much?

deuse · 5 Aug 2009 at 12:24

DunK1 said:
People on minimum wage and starting a family shouldn't go on holiday then if they can't even afford a passport. Priorities much?

This is were you fail, if the price of a passport was not so high then they would have no problems.