Don't lose your passport

Well, here I am in Berne waiting for the British Consulate to open Monday morning.

Had my passport stolen en route to GVA Friday. After sorting out Police documentation, I discovered from UK Borders that thanks to our Dave C, entry conditions have just been tightened-up. I had my photo driver's license, cards, boarding pass and wife with me: until recently, that would have been enough to get me on my flight home. No longer. I need to go to the nearest British Embassy - Berne (no, there isn't one in Geneva) with photo ID, passport photo, and new flight plan.

Thanks to the kind people at BA, I was able to reschedule my flight at no charge to Monday evening. And also thanks to the nice people at the SBB Travel office in GVA who organised all my travel and hotel in Berne.

In some ways, I'm fortunate. I still have my wallet and driver's license and cards, and my kind wife lent me her mobile. And there was time on Friday for the Embassy to do all their checks and give me the OK.

So lesson is, of course, try and ensure you have your passport on you at all times, especially on the return journey.

I keep meaning to take a photo copy of the important bits of my passport, as I am told it speeds things along some what 8)

Wow bad news :shock: You were really well organised to get the replacement.
I shall now make sure I have copies of the important stuff stashed.

Under what circumstances was your Passport stolen?

Is there still an Embassy Consular Agent in Mollens to get the ball rolling?

Ian Wickham wrote:I keep meaning to take a photo copy of the important bits of my passport, as I am told it speeds things along some what 8)

I was about to say the same thing and shall be doing so at work on Monday (ignorning the notice on the copier that says its illegal to copy passports)

What an awful thing to happen!

Well done for getting it sorted :thumbup:

I've photocopied all our passports and leave a copy at home as well as taking a copy with us. And I always keep my passport on me when I'm on holiday. My elderly parents had their passports stolen once out of my mum's handbag whilst they were actually in the airport, and they had to go to the British Embassy as well.

Ally

In Northern Ireland we can have two passports. Both British and Irish.
I have never don this, but think I ow will. Seems like a real pain if you lose one.

To answer one of the questions:

I was on the train to GVA and because it was crowded, had to put my rucksac on the overhead shelf. What the thief did was come along with a similar-sized and coloured one, and then take mine when he got off at a station. it wasn't a mistake - the one he left had almost nothing in it and was probably from the previous victim.

It poses the problem of just what to put where. Really, losing your Passport is worse than losing your wallet, so this is the thing that you need to keep on you. But then, I gather that you're as likely to be pickpocketed for either. So there's no easy answer.

I was with two other people and they didn't see anything either. They had their sacs on the floor, but mine was too big to leave there on a full train.

Travel Tips:

Have your Photo Driver's card in your wallet as Photo ID i.e. don't put your passport and driver's ID in the same place.

If you have two mobiles, then separate them as well. It may not be feasible for someone to loan you theirs while you remain behind.

Have the current contact number for UK Borders to hand: these are the people you 'phone first. They then find out the nearest Consulate and get the Consulate to call you. Currently this is +44 207 008 1500 but this may change.

Carry a Passport 'photo separately. There may not be a photo booth handy and you need this when you arrive at the Consulate. They don't have photo facilities.

If you lose your passport

1. Call the Borders Agency
2. Write down a list of your contact details and items lost.
3. Go to the police and give them (2) and get an incident document.
4a. If it's a Weekday, wait for the Consulate to contact you.
4b. If it's a weekend, then you have to fend for yourself until Monday.
5. Contact the airline and ask them to reschedule your flight. If the Consulate has called you back, then you'll know the timetable for accomodation and rescheduling etc. It is much more flexible if you can do this at the airport (rather than on the 'phone).
6. You will probably have to organise travel and accomodation - a travel agency or information desk will be a great help if there's one nearby.

In my case, the Borders Agency and Berne Consulate were very quick to respond, so I knew my timetable and logistics. I was able to go to the BA Information Desk and tell them I wasn't going to make the flight and they were great in terms of rescheduling it then and there. Apparently, it is much easier to do this at the airport.

Don't get angry at the Borders Agency or Consular representatives. They cannot change Dave C's policy. You will have to go in person to a Consulate and if this is distant, then that's unavoidable. If you think this is all ridiculous posturing by the Government (which I do) and any serious terrorist is going to circumvent it, then complain to him.

Speaking from first hand experience of having THROWN (accidentally!) our passports away (long story!) - I have first hand knowledge that the UK Passport Agency have an office in Hayes in Middlesez where everyone's details are kept (or were kept) - as we had photocopy's of our passports, it was much quicker to get everything sorted this way, than without. Never travel anywhere without a separately stored copy of your passports, it will save you tears, hassle and can certainly speed things up - just keep them in a white envelope marked 'passport copies' and keep them apart from where you safely keep your main passport.

What I found ironic was how hard it actually was to leave Britain - so how come so many people easily find their way in??? Your passport (apart from the initial expense) is a very important piece of kit when travelling, look after it - and it will look after you!