How can the online premium service appointment be cancelled

[life2enjoy]

I booked the two appointments for next month. I cannot cancel one where UKBA site doesn't provide options to cancel or to reschedule. I called ukba they told they can cancel only appointment just before 48 hrs. Is this new policy since 06/04/2013?

[megatop]

I had the same experience couple of days back. Booked an appointment for May 7, received the booking confirmation letter but it didnt show up under My Account.

I wanted to cancel it badly to book another appointment and so called up their call centre. The lady who took the call said that we can cancel only those within the next 48 hrs. She told me that I would have done some mistake (???) during the booking process and thats why it isnt showing up.

Once you receive these kind of response from the other side, it is better just to submit before them and request that there is absolutely nothing that you could do because there is no way you could cancel it from your login.

Finally she felt little sorry for my state and agreed to cancel it for me.

Try calling them couple of times and talk to different agents before giving it up. Who knows some other person would have recently taken a similar call and wouldnt mind doing it for you..

Note: I have heard of an unconfirmed news that you can book another appointment only after cancelling the previous one. They might also cross check the appointments in your name and cancel one of them (mostly the one you need the most!!). Play Safe!!

[mulderpf]

This can easily be avoided by only booking necessary and non-speculative appointments. When you book, you are asked to ensure that you can definitely attend the appointment.

Personally I think the UKBA can do a few things to finally stop people from doing this (the US embassy actually works like this):

* Take full payment for the visa upfront when booking an appointment
* Don't even allow the ability to book a second appointment, cancel or reschedule
* Each appointment needs full payment

It works for the US embassy and people make sure that they book for times they can actually attend. I'm sure if the UK does the same, the entire attitude towards this would change and people would stop speculating with appointments.

[madhumesh]

Any appointments booked after 6th April will automaticlly get cancelled if booking fee is not paid, otherwise you can email ApplyOnlineE-Support@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk they may be able to help you.

[megatop]

Completely agree with your view.

One valid (in my opinion and experience) reason why people (me including!!) do speculative appointments is the uncertainty around whether I will get an appointment on an ideal date for the 5 years ILR calculation. Since there could be a range of dates during which an appointment can be made, I preferred to book a not-so-ideal date first so that at-least something is guaranteed. Then scout for a better date with the relaxed mindset that your base is covered to some extent.

I can still freshly recall that harrowing experience with me about to click the 'Book Now' button and my heart beating at a faster rate than what it normally does at the gym. For the premium one pays for a PEO appt, I feel that we can be provided a better experience. With the Captcha test and 15 minute window, I can already feel the difference in performance. But still more can be done...