Had my passport interview today.

Why did you need an interview?

Because I've never had a passport before. The law changed last May. All adults now who apply for their first passport must attend an interview before they'll send you your passport. It's just to check you are who you say you are. But they ask stupid and quite frankly very personal questions which I wasn't expecting.
I should get my passport now in 4 working days.

I didn't know that you had to do that, did you have your interview locally?

And you're not allowed to say what you are asked? How are they planning to police that I wonder?

They didn't say I couldn't say anything, but there are signs all over the wall saying if anyone's found with recording equipment they will be arrested. Also if you take any documents with you, they confiscate them.
Ok, I was asked where I've lived. Everywhere. She wasn't happy that I didn't remember an address from when I was 3 for god sake.
How I receive my phone bill (paper or online). If I have any CCJ's, mobile contracts, , CC etc. Loads of other things.
I also had to spell my full name including title. It was just over the top.
What pissed me off the most if that you're buy a desk in an open office. If anyone else would have been waiting they would have heard the whole thing.
The office I went to is 20 miles away from me. They have them all over the UK.

Personally I don't think it's OTT. It's by asking a wide range of seemingly pointless questions that they hope to catch the fraudsters out. Even if you can't remember the answer to some of your past addresses, they can gauge by your body language and reaction whether you're telling the truth or not.

Passport fraud is on the increase and it's a major hindrance in keeping track of criminals and terrorists coming into and out of the country. I'd gladly sit through such an interview if I thought it would help our security forces. And for anyone who's ever been DV-ed or PV-ed, it would probably seem like a walk in the park. ?

I know you're right Hoobygroovy. It was just more than I expected.?

As I said in my first post, I'd be stunned if someone manages to bluff their way through the interview. They should have done this from the beginning.

I'm more pissed off that they asked me these questions in an open room where anyone could have heard my private details.