Form filling in...
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Discussion

Balmoral Green

Original Poster:

42,561 posts

279 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
When it comes to filling in forms, i'm the man, as anally retentive as they come

Black ink only? check.
Applicant must be wearing odd socks whilst completing section four. Check.
Tick all the boxes on the check list. Check.
Verify the verification of section 'C' subsection 'F' by triple countersigned signaturies of a certified Doctor of Peruvian Llama dentistry who has been practising for a minimum of 45 years (must also be signed by both Doctors parents). Check.

And so on,

I am the worlds most accurate, clear and concise form filler inner, ever.

But the renewal form for BG juniors passport has got me beaten, well & truly.

I read all of the accompanying sheets and notes, about how to fill in each section, before I started to fill the form in. The form itself was already filled in because I had done it on-line anyway and they were just sending me the copy to verify it. I hadnt come across any issues on-line.

Anyway, the form needs a countersignature, so before putting my wifes details down, I thought, hang on, maybe it cant be a relative, so I read the form carefully, every word, sentence and paragraph, no mention or warning of that sort at all on the actual form. OK, I will read the accompanying notes for this section which were on a seperate sheet, again no mention of it. So I fill the form in with Mrs BG's details as countersignature, job done. Then later on, I was scanning another accompanying booklet of notes, and it says on page six at the bottom of column 2, countersignature must not be a relative...Bugger!

So the form is spoiled. But that doesnt matter, because there is another problem. I have to sign the form in a box, and not go over the border of the box. Now my signature is normal, completely and utterly normal. But the box isnt big enough, I practised making my signature small, but I still screwed it up. If you go over the border, the form is invalid.

So, I have got to do the form all over again, and it has to be in Mrs BG's name too, because she has a tiny neat girly signature that is just like normal writing in fact, and that is all that will fit in the box.

How the hell am I ever going to be able to sign a passport form in the future, for myself, when my passport needs renewing, if the box isnt big enough for my (normal sized) signature?

Arse!

planetdave

9,922 posts

284 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Put the washing machine onto the boil wash. Jump in and fire her up.

Presto...small hands

Hang yourself out to dry.

Iron

madbadger

11,754 posts

275 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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I had the same problem with the signature box on a photocard driving licence.

Consequently the signature I ended up with looks nothing like mine. (Not that it is ever the same twice, anyway )

It must be simpler to give you a big enough box, and then scale it down to fit onto whatever space is deemed necessary. We have the technology.

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

275 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Sooner or later they're going to force you to apply for a photocard driving licence - same small box : large signature issue; I ended up having to fill in three forms before I could get the bugger to fit in the little box.

ETA

bu66er too late

>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Sunday 12th February 13:20

madbadger

11,754 posts

275 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
When do you think there will be £60 and 3 points for not being able to sign your name properly?

Balmoral Green

Original Poster:

42,561 posts

279 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Then there are credit cards, where the signature band isnt big enough for even a genuinely teensy signature, let alone a normal one. And also as the card numbers are punched from the reverse of the card, the nib of the pen falls into the back of the numbers, screwing it up even more. Chip & pin, OK, so no need to sign the card then thank god. Only you still have to sign, WTF for?

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

275 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
madbadger said:
When do you think there will be £60 and 3 points for not being able to sign your name properly?

Don't give them any more ideas ferchrissakes.

littlegreenfairy

10,134 posts

252 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:
Then there are credit cards, where the signature band isnt big enough for even a genuinely teensy signature, let alone a normal one. And also as the card numbers are punched from the reverse of the card, the nib of the pen falls into the back of the numbers, screwing it up even more. Chip & pin, OK, so no need to sign the card then thank god. Only you still have to sign, WTF for?


I've got over the small space/large signature thing on CC's. Its called permament marker - writes over the plastic and also when it goes over the security numbers, they still show up (kinda a purpley colour)

all sorted

Balmoral Green

Original Poster:

42,561 posts

279 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
littlegreenfairy said:
I've got over the small space/large signature thing on CC's. Its called permament marker - writes over the plastic and also when it goes over the security numbers, they still show up (kinda a purpley colour)

all sorted
Hey, great idea, I will get one of those really big markers and write my signature diagonally across the back of the entire card

pies

13,116 posts

287 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:

How the hell am I ever going to be able to sign a passport form in the future, for myself, when my passport needs renewing, if the box isnt big enough for my (normal sized) signature?

Arse!



I had this recently,as the box is too small.Anyway i filled it out and sent it off.They returned it saying the signature is too small.I just had to send a covering letter back with my normal sig and all was well

sparkythecat

8,108 posts

286 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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Balmoral Green said:

Filling in passport forms for an under 16 is a nightmare


I buggered one up yesterday.

Asked to countersign for my mates 13yrold. I certified the back of the photo to say it is a true likeness of junior. I then filled the form in to say that I have known him since he was a stain on his dad's pyjamas.

WRONG !

I was supposed to say that I have known his dad for more than 2 years

FFS

Einion Yrth

19,575 posts

275 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
sparkythecat said:
Balmoral Green said:

Filling in passport forms for an under 16 is a nightmare


I buggered one up yesterday.

Asked to countersign for my mates 13yrold. I certified the back of the photo to say it is a true likeness of junior. I then filled the form in to say that I have known him since he was a stain on his dad's pyjamas.

WRONG !

I was supposed to say that I have known his dad for more than 2 years

FFS

One does kind of imply the other though.

Fortjefferson

8,237 posts

253 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
I have quite a flamboyant signature so I cut a slot in a piece of card the same size as the box, then, just do my best. At least it dosn't spoil the form. John

FourWheelDrift

92,382 posts

315 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Balmoral Green said:

How the hell am I ever going to be able to sign a passport form in the future, for myself, when my passport needs renewing, if the box isnt big enough for my (normal sized) signature?

Arse!



You need one of these.

Ebay clicky

Do your normal signature and it'll reduce it in size for you at the other end

Fortjefferson

8,237 posts

253 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
FourWheelDrift said:
Balmoral Green said:

How the hell am I ever going to be able to sign a passport form in the future, for myself, when my passport needs renewing, if the box isnt big enough for my (normal sized) signature?

Arse!



You need one of these.

Ebay clicky

Do your normal signature and it'll reduce it in size for you at the other end


Now that's not as daft as it sounds.

Andy Mac

73,668 posts

286 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
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I hate forms. It's a sort of phobia.. I despise them. I try to leave it as long as possible to do them.. 'Orrible, 'orrible things!

R988

7,501 posts

260 months

Sunday 12th February 2006
quotequote all
Just sign with an X