Can't get a passport or driving licence

[NoPoshMates]

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?

[misscockerspaniel]

You can get a first adult passport from the Post Office - have a look at the Royal Mail website.

[Yokohamajojo]

My husband is self employed and has a ltd company, he got a friend who is in the same business and also owns his own company to sign our DSs passport. Surely that's the easiest option, many hairdressers, builders, electricians, plumbers etc are VAT registered and own a ltd company. Doesn't have to be posh.

I do see the problem of not having known you long enough but for the passport, the verification is all done via email now so perhaps you can contact an old friend.

[silverystream]

And I think relatives should be able to verify your ID. They are next of kin and have authority to make other important decisions about you when you are unable to. They would be the first to recognise a fraudster with a bogus name. In the case of acrimonious relationships eg when applying for divorce you should be able to register this and make sure they can not verify new ID applied for in your name.

[PetrichorRain]

A doctor is not allowed to sign it, unless they actually know you well and would be able to look at a photo and say "oh, that's noposhmates". If your doctor can't pick you out of a line up or recognise you walking down the street, then they can't sign it.

Interesting, I didn't know this. I have regular (every 10-11 weeks) medical appointments with the same person, but we're not friends, I wonder if she would be able to do it? I'm pretty sure she'd recognise me if we passed in the street.

[GabsAlot]

You dont need someone to countersign for a driving license i dont remember doing that when i switched over

[callmeadoctor]

You say you are self employed, your accountant can sign it!

[OtraCosaMariposa]

No all self employed people use an accountant.

[taylorowmu]

You say you are self employed, your accountant can sign it!

Im self employed. I do t have an accountant.

[EBearhug]

Is there no one from where you lived before, who was at your wedding, who could sign? I had to get photos countersigned to replace a lost passport, and got a professional friend in a different town to sign it (which was all fun to sort out within a week, which included an appointment at the passport office...)

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

I am sitting in the barbers waiting for my DS to get his haircut. Funnily enough someone just asked him to countersign their passport application. He owns the business and apparently does this for a lot of his customers. Perhaps OP could ask her hairdresser?

[dementedpixie]

Small business owners would count as someone of good standing in the community

[coconuttelegraph]

You can get a first adult passport from the Post Office - have a look at the Royal Mail website

Where are you getting that from, you can't get passports from the post office, this thread has got some nonsense on it

[Ontheboardwalk]

I wonder what would happen if someone signed a passport photo when they weren’t eligible to??

I was in passport office a few years ago and someone had a "pillar of the community' sign the photo and it got rejected outright. Their expensive emergency appointment was cancelled and they were told to rebook (at full price) for another appointment with the correct documents.

They went on companies house and checked the signature details for my photo and I was replacing an expired and lost passport

[BubblesBubbly]

I’m a teacher and this is the 1st time I’ve ever been referred to as posh!

[Justaboy]

Yes of course the barber! may not know the person sure knows the head;)..

In Penny Lane, there is a barber showing photographs
Of every head he's had the pleasure to know
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say, "Hello"

[MulticolourMophead]

You can get a first adult passport from the Post Office - have a look at the Royal Mail website.

No you can't. They can assist in getting the forms completed, but the forms still go to the Passport office.

[Myimaginarycathasfleas]

Do the people who sign to verify the photos ever get checked?

Yes. DH (civil servant) countersigned my friends's son's passport photo. He received a phone call from the Passport Office asking him how he knew friend's son, and, I believe, what school he attended. Which was slightly awkward as DH has never had the best memory so had to guess. This is about 20 yrs ago, might be different now.

[ChihuahuaMummy1]

I know someone who's mil signed theres as she was of a retired profession of those listed,all came back fine.Bit if a risk though

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

Do the people who sign to verify the photos ever get checked?
The head at my school has the majority of those she signs checked up on. That’s one of the reasons we charge £20... it genuinely takes up a fair amount of time.....

[Theimpossiblegirl]

It takes 5 minutes. I wouldn't dream of charging and I do loads as a teacher.

[dementedpixie]

Our school had signs up telling you not to ask as they wouldn't do it for you

[StripeySocks29]

In my job I have to verify people’s identity, and one of the most frustrating things is people who just ignore our letters because they don’t have a passport or driving licence rather than calling us and asking what would be acceptable, because there are so many things we can accept that you might not think of. Op you need to call the passport office and explain your situation, you will not be the first person with this problem.

[notangelinajolie]

Your manager at work can countersign your passport.

[TheInvestigator]

@notangelinajolie
Have you read the OP? She's self employed. Do you think she has a manager?

Why did people come on days after a thread has started and give the most obvious advice, as if no one would have thought of it.. Do they just not bother to read the thread and realise the advice is totally not applicable.

[BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou]

It takes 5 minutes.

The initial counter sunning does yes, but the checks afterwards take up time. Our head even had to go into the city centre for an interview about one of them... it was all legitimate and fine in the end but these extra random checks are made, especially where the parents aren’t both U.K. born (which is the case with a lot of our families).