Here is today's update.
Today I called UKBA, FCO, a courier firm and CSC (software firm behind Worldbridge).
This is how I got on:
I spoke to an entry level staffer and a superviser at UKBA. They were in the mould of public sector staff who threaten to cut you off and report you if you raise your voice or talk over them. The repeated message was that there is no central UKBA switchboard or department within UKBA that can deal with any queries regarding this situation. Despite making it very clear that the problems are occurring in London and that I had been expressly told to contact UKBA by a line manager at the BCG in Chicago, UKBA told me to speak to the BCG in Chicago. With or without a phone number. The second suggestion was to call the FCO on: 0(+44) 207 008 1500.
So I called the FCO who have no knowledge of this and insisted that I call the BCG in Chicago. Again, with or without a phone number. I was asked to call again tomorrow. Presumably so a prepared statement can be read out before I am disconnected. Laughably the staffer I spoke to (after some brow beating) offered to give me the email of 'someone quite senior in the FCO.' When I asked who, she said David Miliband. Someone quite senior indeed, but I doubt if the British Foreign Secretary will be reading my email let alone dealing with it before Christmas.
I do have a switchboard number for the British Home Office though 0(+44) 207 0345 4848 given to me by UKBA.
Below is the response from Worldbridge to my carefully tailored complaint with specific questions requiring an answer. As you can see their response was less than specific. This is in fact the generic reply they are making to all queries about the biometric servers. I also phoned CSC (software firm behind Worldbridge), the switchboard know nothing of this and the helpdesk were out of hours. So, until tomorrow. Their number is
0(+44) 1252 534 000
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Dear Sir or Madam,
Thank you for contacting WorldBridge Service, UKvisas’ commercial partner. We appreciate your patience regarding the response to your enquiry as WorldBridge strives to provide the most accurate responses to all enquiries. Below you will find the response to that enquiry.
There was a global technical issue, and it is now resolved. Posts' processing was delayed because of it, but Posts are now working to catch up. Everything is now ok, and please be patient, applications are now being processed as normal.
Thank you again for contacting WorldBridge.
Very sincerely yours,
WorldBridge Service
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Lastly I called the courier firm who, as you can imagine, were overjoyed to hear from me. They have been told by the BCG in Chicago that it is 'illegal' to post any communication on the FCO website regarding the biometric system failure. Hence their information blackout. Furthermore the BCG in Chicago is 'not permitted' to write emails to applicants informing them of the situation. This second part at least ties in with garry's comments on the ring fencing of consular and embassy staff regarding communication.
I am considering calling the BCG in Chicago again later today. Simply because evey Tom, Dick and Harry in the UK is telling me to.
In the meantime here's me venting some bile on the FCO blogspot: newcomer link: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/pryce/entry/the_listening_project [nonactive]
And coming soon:
newcomer link: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/hale/entry/digital_diplomacy_what_s_that [nonactive]
