EirePassports.com can be more expensive than the Irish Passport office
I recently used EirePassports.com to renew my Irish passport after finding the site through a Google search for “renew my Irish passport.” At the time, I was unaware that EirePassports is not affiliated with the Irish Passport Office, although the website appears quite official at first glance.
I was charged €164 for the renewal and initially believed the receipt covered the official passport renewal fee. However, after raising a complaint with the company, I discovered that the actual passport renewal cost was €75, plus €15 postage. EirePassports had charged an additional €74 [AUD $120] consultancy fee for essentially acting as a “middleman” between myself and the Irish Passport Office.
I contacted the Irish Embassy to complain about being charged significantly more than I would have paid had I applied directly through the official Irish Passport Office. The Embassy forwarded my complaint to the Passport Office, which responded by pointing out that EirePassports does include disclaimers stating they are not affiliated with the Passport Office and that their fees are for consultancy services.
Interestingly, the Passport Office also stated in their email:
“The Passport Service strongly recommends that online passport applications should only be made directly at [Irish Passport Office web address]
The email further acknowledged that third-party providers such as EirePassports operate independently and are neither sanctioned by nor associated with the Irish Passport Office. That is why they can charge a premium for passport applications and renewals.
In hindsight, I should have read the fine print more carefully. However, charging a 82% premium for what appears to be little more than forwarding information to the Passport Office feels misleading.
I can provide TrustPilot with a copy of the email sent to me by the Irish Consulate if required.
Antwoord van EirePassports
Thank you for your review and for sharing the response you received from the Irish Passport Office.
We note that the Passport Office's response confirms that EirePassports includes disclaimers stating we are not affiliated with the Passport Office and that our fees are for consultancy services. This is consistent with what we have communicated throughout our correspondence.
Our independence from the Irish Government is disclosed on our website. Our fee of €164 covers the applicable government fee, international courier, payment processing, and our consultancy service, all of which is outlined clearly on our pricing page.
In your case we also identified that your passport photos did not meet the required specifications, guided you through resubmitting compliant photos, and your application was approved and dispatched within 5 days. The standard processing time through the Irish Passport Service is 10 to 15 working days.
We understand that some customers prefer to apply directly through the Irish Passport Service, which is always an option. Our service exists for those who value professional guidance and support throughout the process.