I’m flying out of the country for two weeks on August 8th. Did not have enough time to file a regular passport application, so I purchased an expedited passport service with U.S. Passport 123. Web site says they will provide the service WITHIN TWO WEEKS.
Sent me to file a passport application with a passport officer. Went to the post office on July 15th. Passport officer refused to accept a third party expedited application because government rules state that a third party expedited service is available only to persons that leave the country within LESS than 14 days from the day of filing of the application. As I mentioned, the application date was July 15th and my flight is scheduled to August 8th, not less than 14 days.
But because the company only guarantee a 14 day service, how can I file the application on a date which is less than 14 days prior to my departure??? If I leave the country in LESS than 14 days, what good do I have in a 14 days service???
Called the company and asked for their assistance because the passport officer refused to accept the application (being presented with an itinerary for a flight which was not within 13 days). The company’s response was that they will fax the passport officer a FALSE itinerary for me stating I leave the country in 13 days (!!!). I refused to present the government with false information (when you apply for a passport you are sworn on the bible that all the information you presented is correct). Had to file an application on my own and pay additional fees, and hope that I will receive the passport in time before my flight.
Called the company and asked for a refund because they provided me with no service and in order to use their services I had to lie to the government which I refused to do. They refused to refund me... Said they have a no-refund cancellation policy and that there is nothing wrong in presenting a false itinerary to a government officer.
Out of the $129 I paid them, $30 are for Fedex overnight service for shipping of the application to the U.S. Department of state. Even if they are right and I should have agreed to present the false itinerary (Not!), they should still return the Fedex fee which they never incurred, but they refused to do even that.in my view it is pure theft…
To make a long story short - they promise you 14 day service whereas the passport officer will only receive a third party application if presented with an itinerary showing that the applicant leaves the country within 13 days. But in that case a 14 days service is one day too late... They do not explain this issue in their website and it seems to me that they scam people out of money. Found many complaints on the company on the web.
Basically you pay for a service you cannot receive unless you are willing to present the government with a false itinerary.
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