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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find the DVLA bastard ridiculous?

48 replies

WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 11:28

I am filling in a CRB form for my new job, and need my driving licence number, apparently. Except I can't find my driving licence.

It's ok, I think, I've been without it when hiring a car before and they just rang and got my driving licence number. I'll phone the nice bods at the DVLA.

Except when I ring I am told that 'changes to security protocol' mean they will not give me my own driving licence number even if I can prove my identy by answering security questions. Neither can I get it froma DVLA office. All I can do is send off for a replacement licence and hope they send it to me some time in the next decade.

What the actual fucking fuck???

OP posts:
McHappyPants2012 · 15/10/2012 11:36

so you are annoyed with them for protecting you.

I know every detail of my husband, all his security details .These are his details how does the DVLA know i haven't got someone else to phone pretending to be DH.

WhenShallWeThreeMeetAgain · 15/10/2012 11:41

YABU - you're supposed to carry your DL with you when driving.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 15/10/2012 11:47

Yabu.

MrsPresley · 15/10/2012 11:52

If you have a passport with the chip thing in it, you can apply for a new licence online.

I applied for mine on the Sunday evening and got my new on on the Thursday, although I think it says on the webiste up to 2 weeks.

Original poster
WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 11:54

You are not legally required to carry your licence when driving, actually.

Good to know MrsP - I don't have a current passport (can't afford to go abroad!) but I'll go get a form from the PO today. I need to send a form off apparently as I've never had a photocard one, they weren't compulsory when I passed my test, but now I have to have one.

OP posts:
WhenShallWeThreeMeetAgain · 15/10/2012 12:05

You are not legally required to carry your licence when driving, actually.

Maybe not, but if you did then you'd know where it was, wouldn't you?

MrsKeithRichards · 15/10/2012 12:07

You don't have to carry your driving license about!

Op have you got other id you can use? Usually it's photo and address, driving license does both but you could use passport and utility bill.

Original poster
WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 12:08

Yes, I probably would, but I'm not sure how your fucking snark is relevant.

I THOUGHT it was in my 'important documents' folder along with birth/marriage certs, NHS medical cards,DH's passport, DH's paper licence, qualification certificates, but it's not. I also THOUGHT it would be safer there than folded up and squashed into my purse, but I was evidently wrong on that front as well.

I bow down to all superior folk who have never lost anything, ever, of which I am sure you're one.

OP posts:
Original poster
WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 12:11

Cheers Mrs KR, it's not about ID, I'm covered on that front (birth/marriage certs and letters from DLA) but I need the actual driving licence number to put on the form. I asked if I could take my many forms of ID to a DVLA office to prove my identity and get the number, but no, apparently that won't do either, but if I send them in the post, they'll be happy to send a new licence, and hope it doesn't get lost/stolen/tampered with en route Hmm

OP posts:
ScreamingManAndGoryOn · 15/10/2012 12:14

I hate the DVLA for completely different reasons, but I will join in your gripe with you Grin.

Original poster
WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 12:18

I hate that they are closing down all their bloody local offices! We have used ours a lot over the years, getting disabled vehicle tax sorted etc, it's always rammed. Do they think all these people will jsut happily schlep all the way to fucking Swansea?

OP posts:
ScreamingManAndGoryOn · 15/10/2012 12:20

Centralisaton - i.e. Saving money at the expense of the public.

scurryfunge · 15/10/2012 12:24

You can work out your own driver number. I can't recall exactly but if you google it will tell you how. It's a combination of name, date of birth and gender.

izzywizzyisbizzy · 15/10/2012 12:28

I have reported someone for fraudulently using my address, I cannot do anything about it, I have reported it to the DVLA, have tried to report it to the police (someone fraudlently using your address is not a police matter), and still the letters keep coming, those would be the letters I am not suppose to open.

It transpires, that returning stuff to them, not known at this address gets ignored, using their online service gets ignored, emailing them gets ignored and so I have now written to them in the hope it works!!!!

I opened the last lot, there are now letters threatening county court action to someone who does not live here, against MY address, I am livid.

evilkitten · 15/10/2012 12:29

It is an offence not to carry your driving licence while in the car. It is also an absolute defence to this charge if you are able to present it at a police station within 7 days.

Actually.

Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 15/10/2012 12:33

Well I would have the card bit of my licence on me if I was popping to the shops because it's in my purse, but the paper bit is filed away with our other important documents. So most of the time I haven't got it on me, no.

What's the most likely? Ever getting asked for it or having my car nicked with the licence in it?

Just wondering.

EnjoyVampirebloodResponsibly · 15/10/2012 12:34

After 30 years of owning a licence, the DVLA have told DH that they don't recognise his middle name.

This will be the same name that's been on his licence for 30 years.

They are immovable on this. DH has had to send a copy of his passport, issued with no quibble re the middle name.

Original poster
WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 12:34

I shall pass that information along to the police officer who called me a 'stupid girl' for leaving my insurance and MOT certificates in the glovebox of a car that someone set fire to, evilkitten. He informed me that it was not an offence as long as you produce within 7 days when asked.

OP posts:
DeepPurple · 15/10/2012 12:39

It is an offence not to carry your licence when driving. However, a courtesy is extended to allow you to produce it within 7 days at a station of your choice.

Of course they can't just give you the number over the phone. That's to protect you. If you are driving you need to Bevin possession of your licence and able to produce it do you are actually committing an offence.

Therefore YABVU.

ivykaty44 · 15/10/2012 12:41

I known of a man who sent his DL to the DVLA for a change of address - only they lost his DL and then said he would need to provide them with all the detaisl otherwise they would not send him another.

Now he had lost the DL so hadn't got all the detaisl so they told him in which case you may not have ever had a DL and so take another Driving test.

he tried the county archive as he took his driving test in 1970 when it was done on a county level, the county archive told him that all the detaisl of his test were with the DVLA in their archive.

The DVLA tld him they didnt have this stuff.

he had fortuantley taken out an ISA with a building society and for money luandry they took a photocopy of his DL Grin so he was able to get a copy form them and proove to the DVLA that he had a DL....

if you have read so far - well done

the moral of this story is

make a photocopy of your DL and keep that in a safe place if you send of for change of a address or your ten year renewal

Original poster
WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 12:46

But the point is, Deep Purple, that they used to do this quite happily. I have had conversations with them that have basically gone, hello, I'm hiring a car and have forgotten to bring my driving licence. My name is...., my address is ....., my DOB is ....., I passed my test on ...... Yes, if you could just give my DL number to the nice Enterprise man that would be fab, thank you.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 15/10/2012 12:48

Have you tried working out the number WelshM?

kim147 · 15/10/2012 12:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
WelshMaenad · 15/10/2012 12:50

Only ever had a paper part.

OP posts:
Startailoforangeandgold · 15/10/2012 12:51

Never carry my licence since some cunt stole my handbag and I had to shell out for a new driving licence, library and student membership card. Bastard didn't even get anything useful to him as my wallet was in my coat.

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