Waiting for Dvla to give back my license

[collectingtears]

Hi,
Looking for a bit of advice from anyone who can help with Dvla time scales please?

I had my driving license revoked on medical grounds 2.5 years ago. (Non epileptic attacks...taught by a neuropsychologist how to control them, last attack was 15 months ago). I was allowed to reapply 4 months ago and I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any insight in to how long this process may take? Maybe from personal experience, or from someone who works with the Dvla?

First letter told me it would take about 8 weeks. At 8 weeks got another letter stating it "could take some time". Called the Dvla 3 weeks ago and was told they're not able to give time scales over the phone.

I totally get that they have to be doubly sure it is safe for me to drive, but it's the not knowing that is driving me mad (pardon the pun!) 

They'll be waiting on reports. Same as my DS who is absolutely entitled to a bus pass doesn't have one because the reports never arrived.

Thank you. It's just the not knowing that's making it a bit frustrating my consultant told me I had to be 3 months clear before I could reapply. Then the Dvla told me I had to be 6 months clear. 6 months came and went, reapplied and was then told I had to be 12 months clear.

Totally understand the importance of them getting this right, it's just the constant shifting of goal posts. Even if thy could just say, it'll be 3 months or whatever. At least I'll have something to aim towards. Totally psychological I think!!

Thing is, the Dvla have told me that they weren't able to get any info from my GP and haven't even tried contacting my previous consultant (I was discharged in March 2018, but she has confirmed nobody has contacted her ).

Is your DS at the stage of reapplying? If so how long has he waited?

Bump

It took 6 months for my SIL to get his license back after he was passed as fit to drive following a head injury. Initially the neurosurgeon was slow to respond with paperwork but then the application was stuck in a pile at DVLA and they were totally unprepared to give updates. Far from ideal as it affected his work. DD wrote to their MP in the end and it was suddenly processed.

Oh really natural?

It's always a it's when MPs have to get involved, and when it's the only thing that get organisations moving. I actually had change my entire job role. I needed my car for work and was put into a back office environment when I lost my license. My new manager was a horrendous bully and the work was monotonous, so I ended up leaving.

I feel as though my whole life has been turned on it's head tbh. My non epileptic attacks were as a result of stress and anxiety, and I feel my anxiety levels rising again due to this.

W know there's worse things in life than not driving, but I've got a car sitting there not being used. I have to get up at 4.30am for a 7am start for work, and I'm not home until about 8.30pm (I work 7am-7pm). I feel as though I don't have a life at the moment as I'm continuously tired. I absolutely HATE being on buses. Erin's that other passengers are so rude. Guaranteed that at least one person on the bus will play their music through the speaker instead of headphones. Or an audiobook. Or a tv programme. Every single time, at least one person. It gets my anxiety back up again and I end up a nervous wreck by the time I'm off the bus. Start each day stressed and running in the door at work. First bus of the day is at 5.50am but it's always at least 10 minutes late.

I just want my independence back, I could cry

Out of interest natural, what did the letter to the MP say? I think I may have to go down that road.

The dvla keep changing the goal posts on time frames 😔

Collectingtears Your journey to work sounds awful. Have you thought about wearing Noise-Cancelling headphones and playing white noise through them so you can be alone with your thoughts / book on your journey?
I would be inclined to get some of the larger comfy ones like these (who cares what you look like!) and use an app such as this. That way at least you would be less stressed withe obtrusive noise levels whilst travelling.

I've just noticed all the spelling mistakes in my previous posts I'll definitely look into the noise cancelling headphones, thanks for the suggestion.

It's the bus journeys that I just can't bear. I work as a nurse in an office (not nhs24 but along the same lines) and it's such a noisy environment, I'm in the phones all day for 12 hours and I work Fri, Sat, Sun one week. And then Tue, Wed, Thur the next week. So effectively I'm speaking to people on the phone in a noisy environment for 72 hours within the space of a week

The bus also has to go via the city centre, so when I'm finishing at 7pm on a Friday or Saturday it's full of people either heading in to the pubs and being super rowdy. Or it's people going home after daytime drinking.

I'd love to be able to get home from work at 7.30pm, have a long hot bath and dinner before bed. But instead I'm running in the door at 8.30pm, grabbing a quick shower and some toast then in bed for 9.30pm latest for my 4.30am start

Losing my license has completely changed my life in terms of work and work-life balance, and I feel I can't cope with carrying on like this.

This is all I get when I log in online, no other information at all. When I last called I was asked not to call but to log in online instead. (I only called the one time!). Had told them I hadn't heard anything for a while...she went into her computer system and could see that of been sent a letter 6 weeks prior telling me that it "could take some time" to process things. And she said she couldn't understand my call as the letter shows they had actually been in touch

Anyway I can see I'm becoming slightly obsessed with this! Just want my life back again.

My MIL had her license revoked because of a cataract.

It took ages to get it back. She had the cataract op in November, was given the all clear and passed a new test a few weeks after that. It took six or seven months to get the license, and we had to go to the driving test centre as well to do another eye test.

I'm afraid they are just very slow.

My DH has just got his back and he applied in March. He was on the verge of contacting our MP.

Thanks for replying.

Oh god it doesn't bode well does it?

It just seems impossible trying to get any kind of update from them. They seemed incredulous when I called then directed me to a useless web service.

It's the shifting of goal posts that is most frustrating.

I have a 15yo DD with anxiety. She point blank refuses to do public transport so this affects our lives no end. She is having counselling however still won't use public transportation she becomes v anxious around strangers in small spaces. This is seriously affecting our relationship as we can't do the things that a lot of other mother-daughters do, such as shopping or lunch etc. I have family that live 6-7 bus stops away but she'll just not go

It's amazing how it affects you when it's taken away from you. (And I know that not everyone drives or can afford a car and all that goes with it, but my life was based around being able to drive).

If I were to write to my MO what do you suggest I say? I've never been in a position of having to do that and I don't want to come across as bratty.

Have emailed my local MP. Let's see what happens now. Thanks for the advice

I hope it helps. Sorry I didn't catch up with the thread earlier and didn't realise you had asked me a question. I think she just explained the situation, how they were getting nowhere with DVLA and what impact the delay was having on their lives.

This happened to my husband, the application seemed to vanish into a black hole! He got his licence back 2 days after lodging an official complaint which mentioned taking legal advice for compensation. I'm sure he said there is a complaints procedure on the DVLA website.

live.email-dvla.service.gov.uk/w2c/en_gb/decisions/A%20complaint%20or%20compliment%20about%20the%20service%20you%20have%20received?_ga=2.73066451.1149160585.1569049340-995058170.1538140820

I've just noticed your replies

Well I emailed my local MP then afterwards I thought perhaps I should email my local councillor. Councillor got back to me saying he's forward it on to MP as he wouldn't be able to help. I've not had any acknowledgement yet however I know he'll have bigger fish to fry!

Email really just explained situation with moving of goal posts and impact upon my life and that of my family etc etc.

I'll have a little look at the link. Thanks again to everyone

I am waiting for mine back after medical checks. First they said they didn't have GP report. Now they do. But it's been weeks since that.

I started the process in April.

Complaint made!!

Thank you very much for the link

Oh gosh clowns

It's absolutely horrible isn't it? I've had no feedback whatsoever about what is taking so long. When I called I was told not to call and to use website login instead!

May I ask why your license was revoked?

Oh crap I forgot to mention legal advice in my complaint

Do you think I could tag on a little "and another thing"

A notifiable mental illness. I wasn't diagnosed when I renewed my licence/photo 10 years ago. This time I had to tick that box.

I notified the DVLA of psychiatric issues about 15 years ago and have always battled to get my licence. My doctors have always been honest about my condition on the forms. It was refused for the first few years, I'd appeal then it was still refused. I got my first licence again 4 years ago & still get reviewed annually but next year I might get a 3yr licence! It always takes f-ing ages and involves numerous call and chasing up on my part.
Ironically, an elderly neighbour that has a paralysed arm & leg post-stroke so drives a specially adapted car and has had various funny turns since is always cleared to drive immediately - none of this waiting 3mths but I suspect his GP is economical with the truth. Certainly I won't get in a car with him.

This happened to me recently I handed back my license in February was able to reapply in May and received my license in August.

However because of section 85 I was able to drive with my dr say so between May and August so it may be worth seeing if that applies to you?

I was told the timeline varied on whether your firm from your drs could be seen by there team or if had to go to there drs (the latter having much longer waiting times).

Hi OP

I have quite recent experience of this.

I had an isolated blackout or seizure, consultant felt it could have been a single mild epileptic episode, as one slightly normal EEG. But no diagnosis and I was cleared by him and the cardiologist to drive after 6 months. All cardiology tests normal.

It then took the DVLA 5 months to make a decision after I sent my application! Maybe coincidentally, I complained to the director of the DVLA (just Googled how to complain to the DVLA to find the details) and within a few days got a call from them and the license had been issued.

Have you looked into section 88? This means as long as you have been medically cleared to drive and pass the DVLA criteria then you can drive while waiting for the application to go through. Of course, you would need to inform your insurance company before doing so. I did not do this personally, as my case was not black and white, as I didn't have a definite diagnosis, and had one abnormal test.

Good luck and I hope you are back driving again soon. I had 11 months not driving, live rurally with 2 young children at school and nursery 2 miles apart! So I understand the frustration and inconvenience.