DVLA Number that actually gets me a human?

[Ghoulette]

Trying to get DP's provisional sorted (came back from 8 years overseas recently so needed to renew).

0300 790 6801 gives a spiel and then "Goodbye". Webchat is never available.

They said it would take 3 weeks to process. Does anyone have a working number where I can talk to an actual human?

@Tomnooktoldmeto what's simply not true?

@Tomnooktoldmeto if you are referring to the fact I said ours took 13 weeks. That is the waiting time for paper applications. Not everyone has a passport like my whole family. You can't say something isn't true when it is hard facts. You only have to read the Twitter posts.

@PheasantsNest the fact they can’t read new passports! DD’s passport was only issued this week and was less than 2 days post issue date, the system accessed it easily and it displayed her photo and signature on the screen during the application

I

@Tomnooktoldmeto you are obviously very lucky then. There are hundreds of posts on Twitter complaining about this.

The backlog is ridiculous. Applied for DS provisional licence when he turned 16 last year, booked in with his preferred instructor for first lesson next week at 17. DVLA have had full paper application with photo, NI number since before last Christmas. We've had to resubmit TWiCE because they've lost or can't trace the documents. Not that DVLA bothered to acknowledge this, it's only come to light when they've returned the fees without explanation and I've doggedly chased it up. Now he doesn't gave a licence and has had to postpone the lessons. Starting again with the application just feels like volunteering for more of the same with no end in sight.
There's a whole year's worth of would be new drivers who can get licences, lessons or tests- and instructors whose businesses are tanking.
I'd love to know how the DVLA staff can justify strike action - we won’t notice any difference!

We applied for my daughters provisional in August online, she was then sent the forms and we posted it back within 2 weeks and still waiting. She put her passport in and didn’t sent it recorded So I’m not expecting to see that again!

It’s utterly frustrating.

I just checked my daughters process online. A month m ago it said awaiting forms back (which we’d sent about a month before) and now it says there’s no data as it wasn’t initiated online. Which it was!! Who are the powers that be with stuff like this? How can they get away with this?

[quote user1471530109]@catsandshoes No! that's bloody shocking. Have they actually contacted you to say it's been extended etc?
This is my main worry. That I'm blissfully unaware they never received it. I live and work rurally. No licence. No job.[/quote]
Thankfully dh sent his application tracked so he knows it has been received.

Good luck. I managed to 'talk' to someone by messaging their FB page. It took 12 weeks to get DDs provisional licence!

Oh and DDs tracking said awaiting form until the form was shipped which is normal apparently so if it says the form hasn't been received it probably has!

*until the provisional was shipped

@Beachybeach

I’m worried incase they’ve lost my application. I applied in late July and online it says it’s waiting for my application back?!

I guess because my passport is 7 years old they needed a new photo.

But I can’t get hold of anyone! Sent quite a few emails and tried to call.

I’m dreading applying again as I need my licence asap!

They will have it - see my last posts

@Titsywoo What do you mean by "until the form was shipped"?

I applied for my daughter in August. Got the form within a week and returned it with a photo as she's no passport. The online thing says "awaiting application return form". Are you saying they have got the form? I sent it signed for although I'm not sure where the receipt is now. We need to do medical forms too and they haven't sent them out yet so I assume another massive wait once they finally send them...

Her birthday is next month and I feel like I've let her down not applying early enough.

@earlydoors42 it took 13 weeks for my DD's standard provisional to come. There is no way you will get it by next month it needs the medical department. They are the department taking the targeted strike action.

[quote earlydoors42]@Titsywoo What do you mean by "until the form was shipped"?

I applied for my daughter in August. Got the form within a week and returned it with a photo as she's no passport. The online thing says "awaiting application return form". Are you saying they have got the form? I sent it signed for although I'm not sure where the receipt is now. We need to do medical forms too and they haven't sent them out yet so I assume another massive wait once they finally send them...

Her birthday is next month and I feel like I've let her down not applying early enough.[/quote]
Yes this is what they replied to me on FB

Thanks for getting in touch. It can take between 6-10 weeks to process the licence, but we are currently processing applications received from 12/08/21.

A great way to check if the licence has been issued is at 👉 www.viewdrivingrecord.service.gov.uk/driving-record/personal-details

If you applied online, you can track the progress here: www.gov.uk/track-your-driving-licence-application

Even when the documents are received, it will show as "Awaiting Application Form" until the application has been processed. Once processed, it will show the status as “Transaction Complete – Licence Issued".

For me it still said Awaiting Application Form the day before we received the provisional in the post.

I did get my photos updated via the post office and it took less than a week to get my new license but I suspect that is mostly automated as the post office do all the paperwork.

Thank you for the info! The medical department are taking the strike action. Awesome. Just one more kick in the teeth from the gift that is type 1 diabetes!

I have started saying that taking lessons when the weather is better is better than in winter anyway. Let's hope we get her licence by the spring!

It's an absolute mess isn't it?
My Dh is an hgv driver with over 20 years experience. He can't drive at the moment because we are waiting for his medical forms to be sorted. Looks like we could be waiting for months! Meanwhile he's lost his livelihood when we need him most.

My child is also a type 1 diabetic. They are also waiting for a renewal for a provisional that was sent in ages ago. The kicker there is that they had passed their theory and were ready for their test and then covid hit. Provisional ran out in that time and they are also going to have to pay to do theory again as they aren't extending those that ran out over lockdown. Just brilliant.

Can I ask that as many of us as possible email our MPs? If enough do, maybe someone will listen?
Surely they need a process in place to acknowledge receipt of medical applications. THEN they need to change to law and extend either the expired licence OR extend section 88. And it needs to be made public so that police/insurance etc are all aware without having to go digging.

Finally got to speak to a real human at the dvla today - spent 35 minutes on hold. Even with the 11 month covid extension for medical licences my licence expired in July! I sent off my application in February 2020

Anyway she confirmed my licence is being processed but can’t say when I’ll get it back. They way they have treated people with medically restricted licences is appalling. Especially when you have a condition where you have to apply by post which mine is.

All this time of emailing and phoning this week seems to be slightly easier to get through as I’ve been put through to the options a couple of times which I’ve never been able to before.