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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think a driving licence with my photo is a valid form of ID?

50 replies

OdinsLoveChild · 01/02/2017 09:52

Ive been job hunting and have been asked to provide my up to date passport to confirm my identity.
My passport ran out years ago and is in my maiden name anyway.
I gave them my recent (5 years old) up to date photo driving licence which clearly states my name, date of birth and place of birth confirming my nationality and my identity, I have a really lovely photo too so they can see I'm the person on the licence.

They said they cannot accept it because its not an official form of ID.

They will take a birth certificate with no photo and with a completely different name from the one I have been using for 40+ years though to confirm my identity.

Surely my driving licence is acceptable? Ive got into a stupid argument over it where the young person dealing with my application will not even go and ask her supervisor if its ok to accept.

AIBU to think my driving licence is far more valid than my ancient birth certificate in a completely different name.
Am I also being unreasonable to think common sense really should be applied in this instance?

OP posts:

AlexanderHamilton · 01/02/2017 10:58

Although the procedure was updated in 2014 these checks have been in place since 2008. Employers are not allowed to discriminate by only doing checks on people of certain races. They have to be carried out on everyone.

AlexanderHamilton · 01/02/2017 10:59

Crisps That's why an employee has to provide documentation that proves nationality, not just where they were born.

malmi · 01/02/2017 11:20

Driving licence states where you were born but passport states Nationality.

Birth certificate doesn't actually prove nationality but has enough detail on it to be taken as proof of nationality. And as others have pointed out, it's the government that decide what is acceptable.

I'd have thought that a copy of the marriage certificate should accompany the birth certificate if you have changed your name through marriage, but if they don't ask for it then no need to supply it, I suppose.

Allchangeathestressmotel · 01/02/2017 11:24

It has to be a full birth certificate (showing 1 parents name). Just been through this, had to order a copy of my birth certificate (cheap and quick). As others stated it proves your right to work in UK. I did provide my marriage certificate too.

AlexanderHamilton · 01/02/2017 11:25

If a birth certificate is used (has to be long not short version) it has to be provided alongside a document stating NI number.

If the documents provided have differing names on then the employer should ask for documentation regarding the name change. They may not ask for thus but would be leading themselves open to a £20,000 fine.

Okumara · 01/02/2017 11:28

As others have said, a driving licence doesn't prove nationality. Being born in Britain doesn't necessarily make you British

7SunshineSeven7 · 01/02/2017 11:40

If I was a manager and heard a potential new hire had gotten cross and argued with a young member of my staff over something stupid like this I wouldn't be taking you on.

PinkSwimGoggles · 01/02/2017 11:41

yabu
that's the rules and will
apply to any new employer.
bring on id cards

CockacidalManiac · 01/02/2017 11:44

Whenever I've recently applied for a job, I've had a list of acceptable forms of ID provided on the application form, or sent to me prior to interview.
There's usually a list A and List B, and it's always been made clear that it's to satisfy government rules.

EustaceClarenceScrubb · 01/02/2017 12:22

Senua I am still using my old pink paper driving licence. It is perfectly valid. They have not been scrapped, they are just not being issued anymore. It is only if you have to change some details on the pink one (ie change of name or address) that you will then get an updated photo ID. But loads of people like me who have not moved or changed our names in many years can still retain and use the paper licence.

OP- I had to supply a birth certificate and letter from HMRC with my NI number on it recently. As I had had no correspondence with HMRC for about eight years the only thing I had was a letter dated 2010. It was sniffily declined, even though I pointed out that NI numbers don't change once issued so it should not matter how old the letter was. It is a real problem if you somehow cannot provide the documents on the list.

GahBuggerit · 01/02/2017 12:28

A driving licence is not an acceptable form of ID to prove eligibility to work in the UK.

Cant believe you are arguing with an employer over this!!!

Fallonjamie · 01/02/2017 12:30

Arguing with someone doing their job properly is unlikely to have endeared you to your new employers.

GahBuggerit · 01/02/2017 12:34

Agree Fallon, especially as it will be obvious OP will be treating this 'young' person with disdain.

I can safely say that OPs application would go into the shredding pile if it was me.

JagerPlease · 01/02/2017 12:51

As PPs have said, being born in Britain isn't relevant to your entitlement to work here. Your British passport is, or a non British passport along with visa/Brp. Birth certificate is valid if accompanied by NI details. You can get a UK driving license even if you're in the UK illegally (although they are now revoking them)

MrsRonBurgundy · 01/02/2017 12:59

It's a Home Office requirement for any employer to only accept the acceptable documents. Driving licence isn't acceptable and companies risk fines of up to £10,000 for each individual without the correct paperwork during an audit.

They're not going to risk that because you find it odd or inconvenient

Astoria7974 · 01/02/2017 14:16

If your nationality isn't British or a European country, you will be here on a visa. In that case your driving license doesn't count and you need your passport - I can't believe you don't know this already. It's one of the first things you learn being a non-EU immigrant.

olderthanyouthink · 01/02/2017 14:27

I've had this problem recently trying to rent my first flat. I haven't had a valid passport for over five years and lord knows where my birth cert is.

I had to dig out my old passport from 10+ years ago. There's a bit of a difference between 9/10 year old me and 21 year old me. I have a baby face but the person checking had a loooong look before signing to say yeah that looks like her.

HerRoyalNotness · 01/02/2017 14:30

It's the lack of explanation on their part about what they want and why. It's very frustrating. If they'd said from the start, we need ID for xyz purposes you would have rocked up with the correct information.

Man10 · 01/02/2017 14:43

If I was a manager and heard a potential new hire had gotten cross and argued with a young member of my staff over something stupid like this I wouldn't be taking you on.

But the reason for the argument is the employers fault. They've said the want id, when they don't, they actually want proof of right to work. They've told her bollocks and then been difficult when she's pointed out to them that they're not making sense.

It's perfectly reasonable for her to assume the young person is an incompetent jobsworth, because what they are telling her doesn't make sense.

BertieBotts · 01/02/2017 14:48

Astoria she is a British citizen.

Yes unfortunately the driving licence doesn't show your citizenship because being born in a country doesn't mean you are a citizen of that country. Whereas passport and other similar dociments show nationality on them directly.

Fallonjamie · 01/02/2017 14:53

What she was told makes perfect sense 'it's not an official form of ID'. So not one they can accept. And OP did that thing that people really love to encounter during their work 'please go and speak to a supervisor'; the implication being that you clearly don't know what you're doing so please go and get someone better'.

People do this all the time with our receptionists at work which is a) rude and b) wastes my time talking to someone who's already been given the correct information and I'm just repeating it.

BlurryFace · 01/02/2017 14:58

Over here we have a right to work document (now a credit card thing) which is £15 if you need to get a new one, surprised the mainland has nothing similar.

BertieBotts · 01/02/2017 14:59

People in the UK get confused about driving licences because we often use the word ID when what we more often mean is proof of age. Driving licence is acceptable POA but not actually official ID. Elsewhere where they have actual ID cards nobody confuses a driving licence with ID because they aren't the same thing.

BertieBotts · 01/02/2017 14:59

FWIW I also wouldn't have realised the distinction until moving away!

lokisglowstickofdestiny1 · 01/02/2017 15:11

It depends on what you are trying to do, buy a financial product or service a photo driving licence is acceptable as ID but it isn't proof of nationality so not suitable for a right to work check.
Money laundering checks can be difficult for some to comply with but there is a degree of judgement allowed as to what documentation is acceptable as we do not want to be seen as financially excluding individuals. Older customers often have difficulty producing a valid driving licence or passport so we have to look at alternatives. There isn't that degree of flexibility with right to work checks...and yes any prospective employer isn't going to look kindly on someone arguing the toss.

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