This was published 6 years ago
Traveller letters: How the Australian Embassy provided invaluable help after being robbed in Europe
Readers have high praise for the service of Australian embassy staff when robbed of their passports.Credit: iStock
MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED
My experience was so different to that of Errol Grace (Traveller letters, September 23) that I felt the need to add balance with my own story, which admittedly is two years old.
I managed to have my wallet and passport stolen on the Paris Metro on a Tuesday and we were to fly out on Friday morning. We quickly visited a police station, where I waited for some time to get all of my documentation done. Then I had to get some new photos and the copies of my passport and cards, which were back at the apartment.
Gold-digging on the Gold Coast?Credit: Tourism Queensland
By then it was getting late and we knew we had to be at the embassy by 4pm as it takes 48 hours to get an emergency passport.
We ran from the train (I am in my 70s) towards the embassy, which is quite a severe looking building, but is cheered up by the huge coloured picture of a kangaroo on the side, so at least we knew we were on the right track. We arrived with three minutes to spare, and fearful we may not be admitted, but we were, and were whisked through security up to a higher floor.
There was a young woman on duty who could not have been nicer, even though it was now after closing time. I filled out an application form and paid to have a temporary passport issued. My husband was able to go to an adjoining room with a phone where he organised the cancellation of my credit and travel cards, and within about 40 minutes it was all organised.
I was able to return to pick up the new passport on Thursday, which meant we could to fly home on Friday as planned. My only regret is that I never contacted the embassy to thank them for their help.
Diana Finch, Holroyd, NSW
I cannot speak highly enough of Australian Government embassy staff. On a recent holiday to Europe, my friend had her handbag containing her passport, credit cards – everything – stolen in Barcelona, a few hours prior to sailing for Naples; the result being the ship and our friends sailed without us.
A call to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was redirected to Canberra and informed her of the procedure for such an incident and directed us to the embassy in Madrid.
After a train trip and overnight stay we were at the embassy on the Monday morning when they opened. By noon my friend had her emergency passport (cost $175, with no mention of a fine) with assistance from the consul and several office staff who went out of their way to provide a desk, laptop and telephone so we could arrange flights to Naples to join the ship in Naples the next day.
In fact they would not let us leave until they assured themselves we had everything we needed. It was brilliant service from an Australian institution that met our expectations by helping us and making us very welcome and secure.
Anne Brown, Lane Cove, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK: MOUNTING TOLL
We recently travelled to the Gold Coast and hired a Hertz rental car at Brisbane Airport. At the airport we were told that if we used toll roads that we would be charged back the toll and an administration fee of $27.
The toll to the Gold Coast is about $8.80. There are signs along the route encouraging you to "ring and pay", so I did ring, but could not pay. The rental car, with Victorian registration plates, was registered with the toll company so I was not permitted to directly pay the toll and thus avoid the Hertz administration fee and any other add-on charges.
When I booked the car there was no disclosure as to this hidden fee, and the check-in agent agreed it was egregious, however unavoidable. Beware when booking a rental car for these hidden charges. I certainly won't be booking Hertz again.
Perhaps there could be a travel toll product where your home town toll account can be used across the country to avoid this rort.
Judith A. Smith, Brighton, VIC
SILKEN WORDS
We were delighted to read of another reader's recent experience at Silky Oaks in Far North Queensland (Traveller letters, September 23). It was the second place we stayed in on my first trip to Australia in 2002 and 15 years later still one of best places ever stayed in.
Victoria Watts, Gordon, NSW
SUCH IS FIFE
In your "Next big things in travel" edition (Traveller, September 23), it was stated in relation to the Victoria & Albert Museum of Design, that Dundee was the capital of Fife. Should anyone travel to Fife to visit Dundee, they'll be in for a surprise as Dundee is not in Fife, it is on the other side of the River Tay from Fife.
Dundee, like Glasgow, is reinventing itself from its days as an industrial city and is now a vibrant centre of design and computer studies.
Tom Troup, Aspendale, VIC
BURMESE DAZE
Why is Burma/Myanmar being promoted as a desirable destination in most travel publications at the moment? Is the travel press unaware of the current situation there?
Simon Evans, Fitzroy North, VIC
WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?
It is easy to sign up to Travel Insurance Direct (TID) online but impossible have a claim accepted. On May 30 this year, while travelling in Namibia, my backpack containing insulin (I am diabetic), other medication, an iPad and iPod was stolen. TID has refused my claim and I have asked for a review.
Still no action by September 25. TID has refused to reimburse the $200 I spent on insulin and other medications, saying they do not have a new for old policy. They will not replace my backpack or my iPad or iPod.
What is travel insurance about?
Janice Carpenter, Southbank, VIC
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Letters may be edited for space, legal or other reasons. Preference will be given to letters of 50-100 words or less. Email us at travellerletters@fairfaxmedia.com.au and, importantly, include your name, address and phone number.
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