Passport - Payment

[vicky8319]

Hi,

I recently applied for Naturalisation via the JCAP programme (AN + Passport).

I have received a letter supposedly from HM Passport Office that my card mandate has not not gone through which i believe it should have.

The letter gave a direct number for me to dial in and said it is the Finance Department. I am suspecting this to be a scam letter because of variety of reasons.

The exact message is -

Dear <FirstName>,

PASSPORT APPLICATION

Thank you for your application for passport services.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to process your card mandate.

Please telephone us (028) 90 789 685 as soon as possible between 9.00 AM - 5:00 PM (Mon-Fri). Please dial carefully.

If the payment is not made directly to the Finance Department this will further delay your passport application. When you call, please quote reference RDC1/XXXXXXXXXXX/MAR

You can pay over the telephone using a credit or debit card or you can send your payment of xx.xx by postal order which should be crossed and made payable to "her Majesty's passport Office". Please return this letter with your payment.

If we do not receive your payment in 28 days, the passport application will be cancelled. However, please note the fee for the application will still need to be paid.

Yours Sincerely,

Finance Section


Any Inputs please ?

[CR001]

Why not just phone HMPO on the number on the website and check.

[vicky8319]

Why not just phone HMPO on the number on the website and check.

Thanks CR001.

This is what i did -

Called the # on the letter. They said they cant give the card details present on the madate to me but expected me to give the 3 digit security # as that was empty in the form. I said i will call them back in some time and dropped the phone.

Then i called bank to check if any transactions that already went through in the last few days which is yet to reflect in my bank account.
Result - There was nothing.

Called the Passport Office Belfast 0845 #, and selected correct option to get into payment section. I was asked a 10 digit reference #. I said the letter i received did not contain one and explained them with the contents of the letter. Customer Rep said i should call the finance department and not this number that i have dialed in for the payment.

I then limited the maximum amount that can got out as a transaction to a little more than this passport payment money.

I called the number on the letter again - Gave my details as they requested. This time the rep on the other side explained me a bit more in detail like my passport file was on hold as payment did not happen and it will now be released after the paymnet. I was told about the payment reference # and money that was taken out from my account.

Called bank to check this, Bank confirmed the money (no payment reference # yet though) and i was told that the money went to HM Passport Office, Belfast.

Will have to wait and see what is yet to come.

[mulderpf]

It is not usually possible to process a card not present transaction without the CVV number (last three digits on the back), so you shouldn't expect to see an attempted transaction. It is the same as expecting to see an attempted transaction without providing a card number - it simply cannot be done.