Renewing UK passport

[Timtammi]

Has anyone had any recent experience renewing their UK passport through the online service?
I'm having a bit of a panic attack as information online indicates they have had massive backlogs and delays since moving to this system and I have a trip to China coming up in June.
I only need a new passport as the old one is chockers and I will need blank pages for the China visa which I don't have.
Completed online form and paid yesterday, sent off signed declaration, current passport and new photos via DHL express satchel today, they should arrive at Liverpool passport office on Monday.
There didnt seem to be anyway to fast track the application from overseas, only if you were actually in the UK.
Hoping that things have improved recently and that maybe someone here has done it recently and can give me some idea of how long it took.
And in case anyone is wondering, I'm not a dual national, so I don't have any other passport I can use.

Thanks!

 

[clifford]

My daughter applied online for renewal of her expired UK passport a couple of weeks ago, and checking the online status this morning, it shows "dispatched". If that is correct, you shouldn't have any problems.

The problems with the UK Passport Service have largely been overcome as far as I am aware.

 

[Timtammi]

Thanks for letting me know Clifford, fingers crossed my experience is the same!

Cheers

 

[clifford]

Postscript:

My daughter has now received her new UK passport. All looks good and the whole process took less than 2 weeks elapsed, from posting the application (via express post) to receiving the new passport.

Absolutely amazing service. On that basis you should have yours soon.

 

[Timtammi]

Wow, that is awesome, thanks for the update. I just got an update from DHL express confirming that the package with signed form and old passport is being delivered to the passport office today so lets see how quickly they turn it around. As a data point for anyone else interested I will post an update here.

cheers

Timmi

 

[Archipelago]

As per Clifford's post, it is a lot quicker than they make out to be.
My recent renewal took 12 working days (under 3 weeks) door to door.

On another angle - have you considered getting a second UK passport to help in future?

 

[Timtammi]

Update, passport was at the office in the UK all of 2 days and was then issued and sent back to me. Door to door 11 days.. Wow!!!!