UKBA lost our passports. What to do?

[mjmani]

Hello Everyone,

I need some expert advice on my options.

- Applied for Tier 1 G extension in Jan mid (main applicant & 2 dependents)
- Received all 3 Biometric Residence Permit cards on 25-May with validity for 2 years
- Passports & other docs not received
- I contacted UKBA on 28-May and was given Royal Mail tracking number.
- Checked the tracking and it was taken delivery by someone named XYZ

Royal mail claims that if it was typed XYZ by the delivery person, it must have been addressed to XYZ by UKBA.

I have lodged a police complaint and contacted UKBA to know where they sent my docs. Customer support can't provide the info since it is not on the system and was given a fax number to UKBA.

I faxed the details and received a letter from UKBA that they will investigate into locating my passports & documents (bank statements, pay-slips, marriage cert). I am still waiting for more than a week (long weekend in between).

I know it is my mistake of not attaching a prepaid special delivery package due to last minute mixups and I am seriously repenting for that. Therefore, let's not go there and I would appreciate if you focus your advice on helping me.

Kindly advice me on what course of actions that I can take.
- Can a solicitor speed up the process? How much will that cost me and possibility of claiming that too from UKBA.
- Sue?
- Claim damages (stress caused to me & my family, cost in applying new passports, loss of pay in searching the docs & applying new passports, etc)
- Identity theft possibility? What can I do? I checked with Bank and they said there is no risk since it is not my bank card that is lost.

Thanks in advance

[rpsarangi]

i think if you have the BRP cards then rather than waiting for the UKBA to investigate the case why dont you apply to reissue your passport with the embassy of your country and get the passport as soon as possible as you have your BRP cards. I think that might be a option ...
and in the mean while say UKBA to bear the cost for your extra expenditure as you are going through a lot of stress.
good luck.

[mjmani]

@rpsarangi:
Hello,
Thanks for the response.
If we apply for duplicate passports before UKBA confirm that our passports are lost, can I still apply for claims for hardship?
Btw, I don't have any travel plans at least for another 6 months.

[Greenie]

I find royal mail's claims a bit spurious. When you sign for a recorded delivery item the postman asks for the name of the person signing for the item. they don't just put in the name of whomever it written on the envelope. Moreover, what address do royal mail state it was delivered to? What address to UKBA say it was sent to?

[mjmani]

Hello Greenie,
Royal mail says it can not reveal who it was sent and which address it was sent to since I am not the sender. They asked me to contact UKBA since they are the sender. UKBA hasn't got back yet. Their customer support says they don't have the address to which it sent to since it is not on the system. UKBA asked me to send that request to their Sheffield FAX number which I did and waiting for the response. They've just sent me a letter saying they will look for my document.

[Greenie]

I think you need to wait to hear back from them before deciding how to proceed as its not clear whether the docs are lost and if so who is at fault currently.

[rpsarangi]

i think that you wait for some time to get a reply from them and then proceed for applying a new passport ...I have no idea whether you could get application fees from UKBA but why dont you contact them and ask the same if they are ready to support you for a new apllication for passport.
good luck

[mjmani]

So far my attempts to reach them for a status on this were unsuccessful. Their customer support just hangs up saying that they are all busy and call later. I am trying daily. Is there a 20 days response time as part of their service standards? I don't know where I read it, but can't find it.

[tier1Reading]

@mjmani ... any updates ?

[mjmani]

Oh! Whata timing... Just got it from UKBA. No idea how. I will update more details later.

[tier1Reading]

Congrats Mani. Good to hear the nightmare is over. Best wishes.

[mjmani]

Thanks a lot. I still have not received an explanation from UKBA on what went wrong. Either it must have been inside UKBA & someone's tracking number must have been provided to me by mistake.

It was nearly a month of peace-less mind finally has come to an end, a good end indeed. We tried too many options; checked with most of our neighbours (6 apt blocks and even few in the same road), tussle with royal mail, suspected few neighbours, first few days of sleepless nights, police complaint, identify safety measures, informed banks, housing agency, so many more...

Finally, from nowhere it landed with us. Not even an apology letter from UKBA. Oh, am I expecting too much?