Eurotunnel - Passport Control Disaster
Discussion
I spent a week skiing during the half term - from Wengen - Switzerland I drove back to Calias in about 10 hours - my train departure time was 10pm - I was 5 minutes from the exit for the Eurotunnel the time was 9 am - I thought ample time - BUT NO
From the motorway it took nearly 3 hours to reach passport control. We thought there was a security scare, good old more than my jobs worth passport control decided to cock it all up, (even the French gendarmes we taking the mickey out of them)they didn't even have all the lanes open, even shut one lane as the controller we assumed clocked off)- I was incredulous, it was a total farce. The passport lady was very nice, took ample time checking our 4 passports, forced us to wake up our youngest child even though she could see hem lying in the back, it was if they thought, well just because you have been away skiing in your big cars, we are going to make you suffer ( no one ever considers we may have worked our nuts off ) - I know I sound a pompous t
t but honestly, Range Rovers, XC90's and Discoveries were everywhere, with either top boxes or ski's on top, where the hell do they think we have been, what is the point of checking our passports????? - number recognition shows we left the UK a week go - it is embarrassing to be English sometimes - how to government officials ever expect to get respect????
From the motorway it took nearly 3 hours to reach passport control. We thought there was a security scare, good old more than my jobs worth passport control decided to cock it all up, (even the French gendarmes we taking the mickey out of them)they didn't even have all the lanes open, even shut one lane as the controller we assumed clocked off)- I was incredulous, it was a total farce. The passport lady was very nice, took ample time checking our 4 passports, forced us to wake up our youngest child even though she could see hem lying in the back, it was if they thought, well just because you have been away skiing in your big cars, we are going to make you suffer ( no one ever considers we may have worked our nuts off ) - I know I sound a pompous t
t but honestly, Range Rovers, XC90's and Discoveries were everywhere, with either top boxes or ski's on top, where the hell do they think we have been, what is the point of checking our passports????? - number recognition shows we left the UK a week go - it is embarrassing to be English sometimes - how to government officials ever expect to get respect????Griffalow said:
I spent a week skiing during the half term - from Wengen - Switzerland I drove back to Calias in about 10 hours - my train departure time was 10pm - I was 5 minutes from the exit for the Eurotunnel the time was 9 am - I thought ample time - BUT NO
From the motorway it took nearly 3 hours to reach passport control. We thought there was a security scare, good old more than my jobs worth passport control decided to cock it all up, (even the French gendarmes we taking the mickey out of them)they didn't even have all the lanes open, even shut one lane as the controller we assumed clocked off)- I was incredulous, it was a total farce. The passport lady was very nice, took ample time checking our 4 passports, forced us to wake up our youngest child even though she could see hem lying in the back, it was if they thought, well just because you have been away skiing in your big cars, we are going to make you suffer ( no one ever considers we may have worked our nuts off ) - I know I sound a pompous tt but honestly, Range Rovers, XC90's and Discoveries were everywhere, with either top boxes or ski's on top, where the hell do they think we have been, what is the point of checking our passports????? - number recognition shows we left the UK a week go - it is embarrassing to be English sometimes - how to government officials ever expect to get respect????
a/ Public sector workers are out to piss you off.From the motorway it took nearly 3 hours to reach passport control. We thought there was a security scare, good old more than my jobs worth passport control decided to cock it all up, (even the French gendarmes we taking the mickey out of them)they didn't even have all the lanes open, even shut one lane as the controller we assumed clocked off)- I was incredulous, it was a total farce. The passport lady was very nice, took ample time checking our 4 passports, forced us to wake up our youngest child even though she could see hem lying in the back, it was if they thought, well just because you have been away skiing in your big cars, we are going to make you suffer ( no one ever considers we may have worked our nuts off ) - I know I sound a pompous t
t but honestly, Range Rovers, XC90's and Discoveries were everywhere, with either top boxes or ski's on top, where the hell do they think we have been, what is the point of checking our passports????? - number recognition shows we left the UK a week go - it is embarrassing to be English sometimes - how to government officials ever expect to get respect????or
b/ Just because it isn't on the telly - doesn't mean that there isn't something serious going on.
Hug a bunny - and move on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Area - people can always lobby for the UK to be in. It's not unusual to have big queues for the Eurotunnel during busy times/holidays.
I like the Eurotunnel. I think it's great that a service like that exists. As for border control it is what it is as Kimi would say
I like the Eurotunnel. I think it's great that a service like that exists. As for border control it is what it is as Kimi would say
Edited by hdrflow on Saturday 1st March 20:21
Griffalow said:
...my train departure time was 10pm - I was 5 minutes from the exit for the Eurotunnel the time was 9 am - I thought ample time - BUT NO.
From the motorway it took nearly 3 hours to reach passport control. We thought there was a security scare, good old more than my jobs worth passport control decided to cock it all up...
So, if you left the autoroute at 09:05 and reached pisspot control some 3 hours later, what did you do until the 22:00 departure? From the motorway it took nearly 3 hours to reach passport control. We thought there was a security scare, good old more than my jobs worth passport control decided to cock it all up...
Op,
This is where you should have posted your rant..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
This is where you should have posted your rant..
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Griffalow said:
well just because you have been away skiing in your big cars, we are going to make you suffer ( no one ever considers we may have worked our nuts off ) - I know I sound a pompous tt but honestly, Range Rovers, XC90's and Discoveries were everywhere, with either top boxes or ski's on top, where the hell do they think we have been, what is the point of checking our passports?????
I'd have checked you vehicle documents as well, then called my supervisor who'd have just gone for his break and wouldn't be back for 45 minutes. Why should you get special treatment just because you drive a Ponce Rover and go on expensive holidays? Next time go on a motorbike, you go straight to the front of the queue. t but honestly, Range Rovers, XC90's and Discoveries were everywhere, with either top boxes or ski's on top, where the hell do they think we have been, what is the point of checking our passports????? Griffalow said:
what is the point of checking our passports????? - number recognition shows we left the UK a week go - it is embarrassing to be English sometimes - how to government officials ever expect to get respect????
1. To confirm who you are2. Number recognition confirms your car left the uk, not who was in it.
3. Why are you embaressed?
I bet that if britain stopped the passport checks and then it gets out that undesirables have been cloning plates in the posh ski resorts and driving straight to the uk you'd have a letter wriiten to the Daily Mail.
You neec to get out more, bet you also fume when parent and child bays are full?
Had similar arriving at the 3rd world airport Heathrow. Passport control for aliens 10 desks open and no aliens,and NO waiting time; the single desk for GB/EU passports a seemingly a 200m queue and a lot of very peed-off Brits/Euro peeps... to then be confronted by signs stating that abuse to lazy staff would be prosecuted. Abuse was called for in this case, lazy feckers!!!! I'm sure the do this on purpose.
I said from the start I sound a pompous tt - I appreciate people have jobs to do - but surely an element of common sense must prevail - checking every occupant on apparently on of the busiest days of the year is not practical. Look at one passport the driver, quick glance let you through. I am a biker, I get judged by people fairly or unfairly, that's life, but I get seriously more stick just because I go skiing in a large 4x4 - my money doesn't just get handed to me because I am a nice bloke, its because I work bloody hard - really disappointing we have such low opinion of people with money
t - I appreciate people have jobs to do - but surely an element of common sense must prevail - checking every occupant on apparently on of the busiest days of the year is not practical. Look at one passport the driver, quick glance let you through. I am a biker, I get judged by people fairly or unfairly, that's life, but I get seriously more stick just because I go skiing in a large 4x4 - my money doesn't just get handed to me because I am a nice bloke, its because I work bloody hard - really disappointing we have such low opinion of people with moneyTotal non story. I used to travel around Europe every week and I used to be embarrassed flying into the UK with my European colleagues. Aside from odd problems I have always found security coming into European countries refreshingly fast. Come to the UK and they treat everyone like a criminal and you should be grateful that they have let you back into your own country and of course its important that you queue for a long time for the pleasure of visiting the UK. . I have only ever been treated with contempt and disdain at UK security, generally they are much more professional in the rest of Europe.
I now mostly only travel for pleasure but thats even worse. Last time out (week in turkey for a holiday) the passport woman singled out my 12 year old son for special treatment. 'Take your glasses off. Turn left. Turn right. Whats your full name. Whats your date of birth. Do you know these people (myself and my wife) . Where have you been. Where do you live. When did you go away.... ' it went on and on and on. And the bloody woman wouldn't let me speak to him at all during this I was told to 'be quiet or you will be taken away' when I asked what was going on and why she was asking all the questions. It didn't help that she didn't really speak English so my Son was having trouble understanding her. If I had been on my own I would have been tempted to ask for an interpreter. And no there was no obvious security alert for 12 year old boys trying to enter the country, I saw others going through having just had the normal crap treatment.
I think its a power thing, little people with boring lives earning minimum wage take out their frustrations on the people they are supposed to serve. Its ingrained in British society. Doesnt make it any less annoying though.
I now mostly only travel for pleasure but thats even worse. Last time out (week in turkey for a holiday) the passport woman singled out my 12 year old son for special treatment. 'Take your glasses off. Turn left. Turn right. Whats your full name. Whats your date of birth. Do you know these people (myself and my wife) . Where have you been. Where do you live. When did you go away.... ' it went on and on and on. And the bloody woman wouldn't let me speak to him at all during this I was told to 'be quiet or you will be taken away' when I asked what was going on and why she was asking all the questions. It didn't help that she didn't really speak English so my Son was having trouble understanding her. If I had been on my own I would have been tempted to ask for an interpreter. And no there was no obvious security alert for 12 year old boys trying to enter the country, I saw others going through having just had the normal crap treatment.
I think its a power thing, little people with boring lives earning minimum wage take out their frustrations on the people they are supposed to serve. Its ingrained in British society. Doesnt make it any less annoying though.
Griffalow said:
I said from the start I sound a pompous tt - I appreciate people have jobs to do - but surely an element of common sense must prevail - checking every occupant on apparently on of the busiest days of the year is not practical. Look at one passport the driver, quick glance let you through. I am a biker, I get judged by people fairly or unfairly, that's life, but I get seriously more stick just because I go skiing in a large 4x4 - my money doesn't just get handed to me because I am a nice bloke, its because I work bloody hard - really disappointing we have such low opinion of people with money
Once could be a misjudgement, but twice?t - I appreciate people have jobs to do - but surely an element of common sense must prevail - checking every occupant on apparently on of the busiest days of the year is not practical. Look at one passport the driver, quick glance let you through. I am a biker, I get judged by people fairly or unfairly, that's life, but I get seriously more stick just because I go skiing in a large 4x4 - my money doesn't just get handed to me because I am a nice bloke, its because I work bloody hard - really disappointing we have such low opinion of people with moneyWas no one else stuck in the queue? Was this a special queue for people with money and a range rover? I suggest that you were probably treated the same as everyone else and that's what upset your rhythm?
Why did you rven mention the car and money? It's not relevant.
You do seem to have a high(er) opinion of yourself.
Griffalow said:
I said from the start I sound a pompous tt - I appreciate people have jobs to do - but surely an element of common sense must prevail - checking every occupant on apparently on of the busiest days of the year is not practical. Look at one passport the driver, quick glance let you through. I am a biker, I get judged by people fairly or unfairly, that's life, but I get seriously more stick just because I go skiing in a large 4x4 - my money doesn't just get handed to me because I am a nice bloke, its because I work bloody hard - really disappointing we have such low opinion of people with money
I'm shocked that our border control were checking the passports of everyone in each car whatever next will they start security checking everyone before they board a plan instead of just checking then poor looking onest - I appreciate people have jobs to do - but surely an element of common sense must prevail - checking every occupant on apparently on of the busiest days of the year is not practical. Look at one passport the driver, quick glance let you through. I am a biker, I get judged by people fairly or unfairly, that's life, but I get seriously more stick just because I go skiing in a large 4x4 - my money doesn't just get handed to me because I am a nice bloke, its because I work bloody hard - really disappointing we have such low opinion of people with moneyThis wouldn't be the end of British Half Term would it?
The French are notorious for not bothering about working out if they'll be busy or not on a certain day and staffing appropriately, especially when it comes to government employees.
They have a very different work/life balance and attitude to these things.
The French are notorious for not bothering about working out if they'll be busy or not on a certain day and staffing appropriately, especially when it comes to government employees.
They have a very different work/life balance and attitude to these things.
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