New service vs existing service-biometrics for BRP replacement

I did get back into the country with only a five-minute time out of shame at immigration for not having my BRP card. Now I need to get it replaced. I assumed that it would be like I did when the Home Office sent me one with a crooked picture, I would pay, they would send me a form, which I would take to the Post Office and do my biometrics there. But the application for a replacement 1. Made it seem like I would have to submit documentation of my accounts all over again (I understand if I just need a bank statement for proof of address, but is that it?) and 2. has thoroughly confused me with this "new service" and "existing service" malarky:

Providing your evidence and biometrics
Learn about how our service is changing

To complete your application, you will need to make arrangements to provide your evidence and biometrics (fingerprints and facial photograph).

If you choose our new service, you will need to book an appointment with our commercial partner to provide your biometrics. You will be able to upload copies of your evidence on our commercial partner's website, or you can take your evidence to your appointment to be scanned and uploaded by our commercial partner (there may be a charge involved). With the new service, there are additional options that you can choose to buy to help improve the process.

You can find out more information here.

If you choose our existing service, you will need to post your evidence, or you may be able to book an appointment at a premium service centre.

Check available locations

The new service is currently only available in certain locations. View the full list of locations and opening times and make sure you are able to attend an appointment if you want to use the new service.


Select which service you want: (Required)

New service

Existing service
You will not be able to switch to the other service after you have paid for your application.

I don't want to book an appointment at the premium service centre, but if I chose the new service, I may have to anyway, because the closest one listed is Croydon. It doesn't say where the library services are, or which of these "6 core locations in major cities" there are. This change seriously happened just as I lost my card! Can anyone make heads or tales of it? Again, I'm not making a new application, just trying to get a replacement card.

https://www.soprasteria.com/docs/librariesprovider41/ukvi/ukvi-app-services.pdf
https://www.health-and-care-update.co.uk/2018/11/new-service-launched-for-people-seeking-leave-to-remain-or-to-settle-permanently-in-the-uk.html

Try this.
https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/biometric-residence-permit-replacement-service

I did all that, and this bit was the end. I found something, using advanced Google-fu, that basically tells me I have a very limited amount of time in which the service centres are all closed, and I'm to use the biometric services at the Post Office like before. So whew, and I'm glad I'm not making my visa application now, but I'll be curious to see how this affects the future of visa applications here. Will it really be simpler and easier, or only for the UKVI? Only having 60 locations to get biometrics done (with the full application able to be done there at the same time) seems like it would be inconvenient for a lot of people, and be overall inefficient. But this IS the same country that inspired Dickens' Circumlocution Office!

Glad you didn't experience anything out of the norm getting back in.  Keep us posted on how long it takes to get the replacement BRP.