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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Can't get a passport or driving licence

176 replies

NoPoshMates · 22/07/2019 22:29

NC for obvious reasons.

I'm getting really worried about my driving licence. It's still the old paper sort, but I've moved house and married since it was issued. I can now afford to send off for the photocard version, but since the new type came in, I haven't known anyone who's qualified to countersign it. I was born in England, as were my parents, but I can't get a passport for the same reason.

Two years ago I only knew 2 friends who were not relations and they are not 'posh enough' for the DVLA or Passport Office - a barmaid and the unemployed wife of a train driver. Literally just those two people, no acquaintances or anything.

I am a shy person and up to last year I rarely went out (for about 20 years) because we had no money. Although I have some more friends now, I only met them when we moved here a year ago and I don't know them well enough to expect them to lie for me, and I wouldn't want to do something like that anyway.

I'm worried sick that my driving licence isn't legal, and I want to put it right, but what can I do? I can't stop driving because my DH is disabled.

I managed to get married without needing a passport or driving licence. And I honestly don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to drive or leave the country, just because I don't have any friends who are librarians or magistrates.

What can I do?

OP posts:
TheHandsOfNeilBuchanan · 23/07/2019 08:44

You don't need a driving licence photo counter signed, there are some post offices where you go in and they even take the photo for you

viques · 23/07/2019 08:49

The new passport regulations make it harder to find someone to countersign IMO . I signed many for parents and children but stopped when the information I had to put on the form became very personal, my passport details etc. I understood why they brought in the rules but at the same time was not willing to provide my personal details.

AMAM8916 · 23/07/2019 08:53

Being a shop manager or assistant manager qualifies because the list says manager or personal officer of a vat registered company and also says manager or personal officer of a limited company.

I signed three passport photos when I was a manager of a sandwich shop. It was a limited and VAT registered company so it was fine

MulticolourMophead · 23/07/2019 08:57

I can normally sign as I come under 2 categories on the list. Although, as my passport is expired, I can't sign until its renewed.

But I do recall the faff I had in getting a passport for my eldest. I finally managed to get a teacher to sign. My problem was that I worked out of town, and few friends (long story), and rarely got to speak to teachers at DCs school. I can see why OP is having an issue.

OtraCosaMariposa · 23/07/2019 08:58

But it SHOULD be hard to get a passport. It's the most important piece of paperwork you can get.

silverystream · 23/07/2019 09:02

OP, have you ever had a passport or would you be renewing an out of date one?

For renewal you don't need a counter signatory because they can compare measurements on your old photo to the new one provided. Even if your old passport is pretty out of date.

Another thing you can do is explore the other forms of ID the DVLA will accept.

Another thing to do would be to try and trace old friends and friends of your D.C, husband or any other relation you might know through them.

WildAngel · 23/07/2019 09:05

If you're self employed do you have much contact with your bank or accountant? They could probably sign.

Cwtches123 · 23/07/2019 09:05

If you are self-employed who are your clients?
Friends of your adult children who may have known you since childhood?
Local councillor?
Health professionals for you or your husband?
Neighbour?

silverystream · 23/07/2019 09:07

But it SHOULD be hard to get a passport. It's the most important piece of paperwork you can get.

But not that hard. I personally think we should have ID offices in every town. Government agencies have so much digital information on us. They manage to trace people for tax, voting, council tax, utility bills etc. It is not like the OP has said she has had a fire either where all her papers have been destroyed.

Alltheprettyseahorses · 23/07/2019 09:10

This is why a passport or equivalent ID card with the exact same powers should automatically be issued with your NI at the very latest. You have to have a passport for everything from registering with a doctor to opening a bank account to claiming UC so it should not be hard to get one.

Lovemusic33 · 23/07/2019 09:12

You can get almost any professional to sign it. I got my ex dh’s boss to sign my dd’s Passport and it was fine. Almost anyone can be classed as a professional if they have a job title. It’s really not hard, and the passport office and DVLA rarely check up on anything anyway.

I would be more worried that you are driving around without a legal driving license.

Just get anyone to sign it.

Gwenhwyfar · 23/07/2019 09:13

Just because it's important shouldn't mean it's hard to get. I don't see why those two things would go together.

Also, as the name 'noposhmates' suggests, there is a class issue here. It IS harder for working class people whose social circle is also working class people who are not professionals or company directors.

I am coming around to the need for national ID cards like other countries. The system here is just silly sometimes. When I was a lodger I had big problems opening a bank account as they wanted a utilities bill. I wasn't the person who paid the bills so I could never fulfil that. My passport and provisional driving licence weren't good enough.

OtraCosaMariposa · 23/07/2019 09:14

There is an online government Verify service. No need for a "identity office in every town".

womaninthedark · 23/07/2019 09:14

Doctor did mine, charged £35. The other practice in the same building charged people £60. That was in 2015.

womaninthedark · 23/07/2019 09:15

Oh, and I had to go to the passport office in the nearest city for an interview. They knew more about me than I'd ever told them. Good fun.

taylorowmu · 23/07/2019 09:16

@womaninthedark

So not really relevant then, given that is was 4 years ago and the GOV website is very clear that GP's cannot do this now!

ChequerBoard · 23/07/2019 09:17

Why do need a photo card driving licence? Paper ones are still valid (DH has one) unless you change your name or address:

Exchange your paper driving licence for a photocard licence
You must get a new licence if:
â—¦ you change your address
â—¦ your licence has been defaced, lost, stolen or destroyed
â—¦ you change your namee (you must apply by post using paper form D1 or D22)
◦ you’re getting a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) driver qualification card (DQC))_
If none of these apply and your paper licence is still valid, you do not need to exchange it for a photocard version.

LemonTreeLemon · 23/07/2019 09:20

Do you have any pets, OP?

We're vets and we sign them for clients.

TheInvestigator · 23/07/2019 09:21

@ChequerBoard
It's in the third sentence of the OP. She has moved house and married, so change of address and change of name.

taylorowmu · 23/07/2019 09:23

Why do need a photo card driving licence? Paper ones are still valid (DH has one) unless you change your name or address:

That will be why then..

Sinn · 23/07/2019 09:31

Train driver signed my DDs

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 23/07/2019 09:36

Why do need a photo card driving licence? Paper ones are still valid (DH has one) unless you change your name or address:

The OP is very clear that she has both moved and changed her name.....

silverystream · 23/07/2019 09:46

There is an online government Verify service. No need for a "identity office in every town".

I say this because even in the days of vast amounts of digital information there evidently is still a need for hard copy ID in order to apply for other forms of hard copy ID along with people's physical signatures and counter signatures.

If Verify is truly functional it should also be able to verify passport applications.

silverystream · 23/07/2019 09:47

Oh, and I had to go to the passport office in the nearest city for an interview. They knew more about me than I'd ever told them. Good fun.

Exactly. The whole process could be made simpler.

Jellybeansincognito · 23/07/2019 09:49

You’re not driving on this are you? Your insurance won’t be valid because your address doesn’t match and also, you can be fined for not updating your licence.

You need to ring the dvla and explain your issue to them.