2011 census form peek

[Nick29]

So .... what you're saying is, when my friend's daughter moves to Scotland in couple of months, she'll have to either have a passport, which she doesn't currently hold (£77.50), or exchange her paper driving licence for a photo, which she has no need to do (£20)  in order just to fly up to visit her daughter?  But she can get a flight for only £50.   

Question .... why don't 'they' issue all those of pensionable age with a free photo ID card?

A lot is down to the discretion of the airlines, but most will only accept a photo driving licence or a passport, because these are the only IDs issued by the government.  It's best to check with the airlines before you travel, and if you do need a passport or a new driving licence, it will take at least 10 days to get either by post.

I had a lot of problems renewing my passport, because the wretched photo machine in my local supermarket kept telling me that the photo it had just taken 'was not suitable for a passport application', but it didn't tell me why !  In the end, I went to a small post office which did a photo service, where the man took a photo with a Polaroid camera.  It turns out that the new regulations say that the photo must show the entire eye, so your eyes must be fully open, but you must not stare - not easy !    You should also not wear glasses for the photo, because the photo flash can reflect in the glasses and obscure the image of the eyes.  When I'd filled in the forms and enclosed the photos, I used the Post Office 'Check and Send' service, and I'm glad I did, because I'd filled the forms in with a blue pen, and the authorities only accept black ink !   

As for the free ID card idea - well, some would complain about their rights, which would play right into the hands of the government, who do not want to lose all the passport revenue ! 

[groom]

Also your hair must not obscure your face/eyes. So my sister who wears glasses and has a fringe had to remove the glasses and pin back her fringe. Even her husband didn't recognise her.   

[Mogsmum]

Takes off specs - pushes hair off face - gets passport photo taken - sends it off - receives passport - books holiday - takes luggage, children, husband and passport to airport and .... has very long chat with UK Border Agency since passport bears no relation to holder!!   

[carol8353]

Haha Mogsmum 

My hubby has worn glasses since he was a child. No one recognises him without them on. Only me and that's cos I've woken up next to him for the past 38 years sans spectacles

He looks very different if he takes them off.Sort of sinister 

Good job I won't fly anywhere then !

Carol

[Siamese Girl]

I wouldn't even recognise myself without my specs and my hair swept back 

Carole

[giraffe]

I had my classroom training session for the post of census collector 2 days ago

Good luck netgrrl, I was a collector in 2001, and met some really nice people, as well as some difficult ones, mine was a rural area near my home, and I discovered some really beautiful spots around here - that was a bonus.
We also had to check up on a number of people who had not returned their forms, and to help those who needed it to complete their forms.
Any problematic customers we just reported to our Team Leaders.
giraffe

[Nick29]

It's not a case of a UK Border Agency officer recognising you.  It's a case of your the pattern of your iris being recognised by the camera that you look into when you enter the country.  There is also data about you stored in a microchip retained in the passport which can be read from 15 feet away.

[Mogsmum]

I too was an Enumerator in 2001.   Remember when your 'supervisor' would ring to let you know which forms had been returned?    Mine told me of 2 - one a Church Hall with no accommodation, no-one living there and thus no form had been delivered.   The other was called 'The Cottage' (which I suppose it had been ... once) - by 2001 it was derelict, no more than a pile of stones with a bit of corrugated sheeting over one corner to provide shelter for a load of pigs.   I insisted she couldn't have received a form from it, she insisted she had.  George Orwell's Napoleon was clearly alive and well!!

If the shambles my little patch encountered, was repeated just once in each of the others all over the country - gawd 'elp us.

[giraffe]

Hello Mogsmum,
Mine was very much a rural area, lots of big houses with electric entrance gates etc. Didn't I feel regal as I sailed through them in my little Fiat!

I did have to follow up several people, a few unable to read and write (!), one partially sighted man, a couple of premises where they simply refused to complete the form, and two who railed at me because they were eating their evening meal !  The worst parts were the farm premises where I had to disinfect my shoes - foot and mouth was rife at that time if you remember - very sad.
giraffe