Yes - this is the important point. As long as you are trying to do something routine and automated it seems OK - but when you try to sort out something a bit tricky it is almost impossible -and when you eventually do get to speak to a human being, they tell you this, because they are equally frustrated.
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Passports renewed on line in July and received new ones in August after approx. 4 weeks so pleased with the service. We live in France.
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No not recently but i have Never had a problem you fill in questions down load a selfie , and pay . I renewed my sons that way as well from France sent to France.
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Steve Webb was second to IDS when our WFP was stolen from us.
He didnât seem to have any conscience then, but is now out of politics and shouting from the rooftops when anyone gets it wrong.
Has anyone noticed that again it is ,mainly this time, women who have draswn the short straw.
But itâs only women, Jane.
Thatâs why there was no tapering when they took the 6 years away.
It was only women.
The UK government hosed literally billions straight into Covid. Hundreds of billions have been wasted on PPE that was not up to spec. Hundreds of billions more into the pockets of Tory friends and MPsâ personal contacts that would benefit corrupt Tories and MPs personally. More spend that was wasted due to ineffective provision or not required. All those excessive tests and yet the UK - an island country - has held a consistent position of amongst the highest infection rates. But those multiple hundreds of billions were sprayed without question.
Uprate pensions earned in the UK just because a pensioner wishes to spend all or some pensioned years in another country? Nah, theyâre only predominantly women especially the ones that have got very old.
Sudden stop taking away 6 years of earned pension without warning for females born between specific dates. With no tapering to spread the hit and hardly any warning? Nah theyâre only women. Weâll just face them out and wait for them to die.
Both the above would cost a fraction to fix than was wasted by the government using covid as an excuse
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They are now having to face and acknowledge the escalating violence and controlling behaviour against women.
It has been ignored by the Home Office for years, but with the latest report and huge public vigils they cannot hide anymore.
Engineers have also produced a report saying that continuing to build new housing with the huge amount of concrete needed will dramatically affect the UKâs attempt to limit CO2.
After the 2nd world war the housing shortage was addressed by building pre-fabs.
Technology has advanced apace since then and factory built housing makes total sense, unless you are one of the Tory donors who happen to control one of the UKâs housing companies.
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Just come across an article in specialist finance industry press.
Itâs not only the widows pension that the UK government DWP has been found out to have underpaid to pensioners whose first claim for a pension was before April 2016, pensioners who hadnât worked enough years in paid work to get a full pension have also been found to have been underpaid.
Itâs massive and it goes back to 1985.
90% of pensioners falling into the above categories are women
134,000 pensioners were underpaid. The government says 40,000 have now died (convenient, that) and a further 10,000 the government thinks will be impossible to trace next of kin for (convenient, that).
Would still cost less to fix this problem, that has affected a group composed 90% of women, than a small fraction of what has been piâŚed up the wall in mis-aimed covid spend.
Link here so Iâll recall where seen if anyone doesnât believe me but firewalled https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2021/09/22/years-of-human-errors-at-dwp-led-to-1bn-pension-underpayments-nao-finds
The DWP conceded last month that the pandemic and staffing problems had caused backlogs in payments, with the pensions minister, Guy Opperman, telling parliament: âNormal service will be resumed by the end of October 2021.â
Iâll believe that when I see it!
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I renewed my passport last year, including new picâ no problems or hold up, arrived here within expected time. No benefits of being in the UKâŚunless it is an urgent renewalâŚie it is about to run out.
Ah Geoff, they only said âNormal serviceâ will be resumed. For the miserable and often nasty DWP, we know what that means.
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Yet another Government Department âNot fit for Purposeâ.
I got my passport in three weeks and two days,and that included a four day weekend
In the last few weeks? Up until recently the international service was very good.
In the UK on line I sent it 29 of March and got it back 21 April
The point the article makes - with links to evidence - is that the service is âeither really very good or an absolute shamblesâ. It doesnât claim that every application is delayed - you were lucky Lizzie - others have lost their holidays, been unable to attend funerals, etcâŚ
I also noticed the other day the The Guardian Consumer Champions commenting on HMRC:
I am getting a lot of complaints about delays and problems with this government department. Letâs hope this is not about to become the next DVLA.
Another âkill it with lack of cash & manpower, claim it is not fit for purpose, privatise itâ scam from your local Tory government 
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