Thanks Concrete.I don`t remember anyone countersigning my last passport,but maybe someone did.Reckon I`ve moved around too much.Not had a photo driving licence,but must get one soon too.

Good idea,I don`t do Pubs,Post Offices or Barbers.

Maybe I should try my quack,but the last time I visted him 3yrs ago and asked if he`d confirm something in writing,he went to the trouble of sending me a letter saying he wouldn`t !

I`m beginning to sound like Billy-no-mates or Howard Hughes(but without the dosh...or planes),haha.

Back to the drawing board.I`ll probably just ask a mate to do it and see what happens.

Thanks Bromptonaut,yes,I reckon a mate it`ll have to be.

I think it`s the responsibility of the Passport Office to put staff on that know their job,which the young still wet behind the ears lady clearly didn`t.If one makes/issues a ruling,one should be able to define it.

Funny how some of these people in important positions are incapable of doing their jobs....don`t think that attitude would`ve got me far if I`d adopted it or was incapable in all the trades I`ve worked in.

I recorded her too,because I record nearly all my calls,amazing how much money that has saved me :)

Thanks folks.

Fair point,I suppose we pretty much live in a fobbed-off world.At least that`s unlikely on this forum.Engineers and good mechanics are problem solvers and generally brighter than the hoi polloi.

There`s usually a message at the start of calls,as far as I`m concerned,that covers me.I went up against a manager in a legal organisation on this one,and they backed down....in that I tested them by hinting that I often record calls.They took the bait and told me that I had to tell them if I was recording them.Oh no I don`t,I replied,at the start of this call there was a message that this call is being recorded,I take that as a statement of fact that covers me.

Not that I am in any way bothered about being taken to task,pre-warning or not.I will record whatever.I do not expect ever to be arrested for this.

Generally I rate the CAB very highly,only had one example that left me puzzled.Even a member of staff was disgusted when I told them,and that was when they paid a professional a lot of money to come in and talk me through my options with my supplier of electricity. We could have done that for nothing and advised you better,was the statement.

One member of staff was outstanding,they provided me with some DWP rule-book details that were a Godsend for me to use.I tested the DWP by phoning them and asking for this rule book...nope...then,the particular pages...nope,only available internally,not for public consumption.How the hell the public are supposed to sort out certain issues when they`re not even privy to the rules that they`re governed by,beats me.Lucky me,that`s all I can say.Real eye-opener.

I seem to have drifted off the Passport theme,luckily this forum isn`t like most that seem to abide by R4`s Just a Minute rulings.Off to one of those now,haha.