9942 Wanna passaport(o)?

Your UK passport expires, you live in Italy, so you think fine, I'll renew it through the Embassy in Rome, (as I did ten years ago, and twenty years ago, and God am really that old).

You want to talk to a living entity, (because that is the way you have always done it) so you think "I'll find the number of the Brit Embassy" (a challenge in itself - thanks Sally for the English Yellow pages link which was marginally useful). You ring this number, an automated response says "if you have a passport query press 1". A different automated voice says "we have farmed out passport stuff, you must ring premium number 899 xxxxxx".

Ooops....I ring this number with great hesitation, (having read daily in the Italian press about the evils of 899 numbers), but luckily Telecom Italia is on my side, and will not let me connect! However, in particularly obscurely phrased Italian, an automated Italian voice implores me to dial quarantottocentottantasette,insert my PIN, and if I haven't got a PIN, to ring the ubiquitous 187.

187 dutifully dialled, I listened to another automated Italian voice inviting me to press various keys for a multitude of services which I didn't want, and finally, offering me a key to press if I wished to make my line vulnerable to the dreaded premium rate numbers.

Success, I thought! Well, nearly success. At least that final key press connected me to a nice live Italian operator (very quickly, she must have been waiting on a call from a sap who actually had a reason to dial an 899 number!) who - after enquiring whether I knew the rates charged by these numbers, and my explaining to her that it was actually the British Embassy and not a sexy hotline with whom I wished to communicate - was very sympathetic and told me "it happens a lot with multinationals". I wasn't really primed to enter into an anti-global discourse, (Coca Cola or Russian prossies, foreign Embassies, all the same stuff) so we kept it clean and she furnished me with a PIN, and pretty clear instructions about how to use this PIN.

So then, I dialled quattrottocentottantasette, pressed some other keys on automated voice prompts, entered 899 hash (canceletto if your Italian is good enough) on the appropriate prompt, and then my laboriously acquired PIN. Then I hung up, as instructed.

I then dialled the 899 xxxxxx British Passport number, and connected to a very nice Irish guy called Peter, who was embarrassingly aware that he was fielding a premium rate call, and spoke even more quickly than the Italians....I said, "look, Peter, you and I both know that this is a premium rate call, but actually I don't much care, because I just want some solid information".

After a bit of friendly banter, Peter suggested that perhaps it might be easier if I went to the UK to do this passport renewal, but (as they say) forewarned is forearmed, and I said "I've read the [URL="http://www.britain.it"]HomeAmbasciata britannica in Italia[/URL] site, and since I've already jumped through the 899 hoops I think (I KNOW) it's easier here". (Now 'here' seemed to be a word with which Irish Peter wasn't entirely at ease, so I wonder if he's languishing unhappily in Mumbai.)

Anyway, the relevant form to fill in was downloaded from the Embassy website, filled in, witnessed, accompanied by an assegno circolare and the nearly expired passport, plus photos, and consigned to the post.

At this point, I thought I'd better furnish myself with an Italian ID card (having no other photoID - the driving licence is very old), so I nipped into the Comune and said give me an ID card please. Documento, she said....oh b*gger. Sorry, I haven't got anything, I have just posted off my passport to the Embassy. "Why" she enquired (a reasonable request indeed), because it needed renewing I responded. This is where Italy kicks in, she said okay, I'll do you a Carta d'Identita, but only because I know you.

Isn't Italy wonderful! Not half an hour trawling automated responses - just that I'd met the girl manning the desk.

Category

General chat about Italy

"quattrottocentottantasette" - don't you just lurve it? :laughs:

Hey Charles,
Thanks for the heads up on that... Fore warned is fore armed. My passport is due next year so maybe I ought to begin the process now. I've had my Italian ID card for several years so no worries there

You mentioned a link that 'Peter' gave you to download the application form for British passport renewal - could you share that with us. I would like to get everything prepared without the need to fill the coffers of Telecom Italia OR the British Embassy by using their premium rate numbers.

Just quickly read your post Charles so I hope I haven't missed something. The number froom their website is Tel. (+39) 06 4220 0001 and I don't think a premium rate number.[url=http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1025627694549]Contact UsBritish Embassy, Italy[/url] Doesn't make sense to use a premium rate number given people lose passport and money and unable to pay for such calls.

My passport ran out a couple of years ago,I was think about a new one.....but after that post I dont think I can be bothered ..........

The British Embassy information lines for passports are operated from 09:00 - 17:30 Italian time by service partner ABTRAN. Calls cost €1.50 + VAT per minute and should be answered within 30 seconds.

TELEPHONE: [B]899[/B] 010 003

This is not for lost or stolen passpports Sally, this is for renewals, which is what Charles was referring to.

Hi All you who need new Passports

Just dialled the British embassy no. the one is Sally's post above because OH and I both need passports in the near fututre.

1. It does give an option if your call is about a passport.

2. Ignore it.

3. Wait for the other options list

4. A real person answers, who then puts you through to the passport office at the normal call rate.

5. A really helpful woman answers the call and explains the 'situation'.

6. They are there 24/7. Passports generally take 2 weeks, you can download application form then send it with requested info. etc. or take in down to Rome in person. You can then have it sent back or take a second excuse for a Roman lunch and go again. In the summer it can take a little longer because of extra demand. Passports can be issued within the day if there is an emergency. Premium rate number seems to be a way to encourage users to go online, many calls to embassy seem to be unnecessary....when info is on site.

Hope this helps

I just renewed mine last month with Rome. Looked up how to do it on the internet. Printed the form off the internet and sent it recorded in the post. My new one was sent back to me in 2 weeks. No phone calls, no hassle. A great service.

[quote=juliancoll;92673]The British Embassy information lines for passports are operated from 09:00 - 17:30 Italian time by service partner ABTRAN. Calls cost €1.50 + VAT per minute and should be answered within 30 seconds.

TELEPHONE: [B]899[/B] 010 003

This is not for lost or stolen passpports Sally, this is for renewals, which is what Charles was referring to.[/quote]

Yes I know J&C that Charles was talking about renewals but what number do people ring if they lose their passports (and money)??? The same premium rate number??? If a different one then try that one instead perhaps.

[quote=Noddy;92695]I just renewed mine last month with Rome. Looked up how to do it on the internet. Printed the form off the internet and sent it recorded in the post. My new one was sent back to me in 2 weeks. No phone calls, no hassle. A great service.[/quote]

I did exactly the same just last year! Very quick service and no hassle. No need to call them just print off the form from the website, fill it in and send the old passport off with the cheque. Mine came back after 3 weeks. (in August)

This thread was both interesting and very imformative, thanks all of you, but may I add a warning...a friend did what was suggested and then posted her passport using a special post office delivery system. may have been called Gold or somesuch. The Passport was "stolen" and as she has a contact in the "Post Office Police" it was confirmed that theft was fairly common. Afterall your passport is addressed to the Passport office at the British Embassy in Rome and a bit of feely - touchy and everyone knows what's inside. So may be an idea to go to Rome with it and have a day out?

Yeah well - so I could have done it 'the easy way' but then, heck, I wouldn't have bothered to craft a marginally amusing post, innit!

all seems like too much hassle, so think I will just put my expired passport in the bin and stay in Italy forever.

Hi All
I did say a few months ago that we would be offering a small parcel service from the UK, I have finally got all the rates nailed down, so if you need urgent documents, or parcels collected in the UK, please feel free to PM me for rates and service details.