Passport warning as staff claim delays will get WORSE this summer
A PASSPORT Office worker has warned that application delays are only going to get WORSE this summer.
Millions of Brits have been told to wait up to 10 weeks for their passports due to a huge delay in applications.
This has led to a number of families having to cancel their holidays, with many of their passports even taking longer than the 10 weeks advised.
A passport worker, who remained anonymous, told that the delays are only "going to get worse" this summer, adding the current delays are the "tip of the iceberg" of problems.
They explained that it was because the current system for passport applications is not "fit for purpose".
They also said that the major issue was staffing, saying: "They were trying to hire 1,700 staff but they haven’t realised anything like that number, because they can’t get the staff. It’s difficult to recruit on low wages and temporary contracts.”
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The anonymous worker added staff had been left hurt after Boris Johnson threatened to "privatise the arse" off them unless they fixed the problem, adding it had a "devastating effect on morale" when they were working as hard as they could.
Earlier this month, the government was forced to issue a warning, telling Brits to allow up to 10 weeks to get their passports, rather than the standard 5-6 weeks.
Many already have been affected by the delays - one woman told Sun Online Travel she had to cancel her £2,200 holiday to Spain because of the delays while others have had to pay to move their holidays to later in the year.
And desperate families trying to fast track their passports have been met with a broken website.
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The fast track service costs almost double the normal service - with it being £142 for a passport, rather than £75.50.
Anyone trying to use the website is met with a page saying: "Sorry, we're experiencing high demand for this service at the moment and the system is busy. Please try again later."
Here's what to do if your passport doesn't arrive in time.
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Many Brits are also being forced to renew their passport early due to new rules that require at least three months left on them.
One family had to miss their £3,000 holiday to Portgual after only being told at the airport.
