AIBU to use third party driver's license company

[ScottishNewbie]

Simply that really.

I've been calling DVLA for days, spent hours in the webchat queue etc.
I can't get hold of them at all and need to urgently replace a lost license and also change the address from my old one. The DVLA system won't let me do it for some reason

I am at the end of my tether and don't know what to do. Anyone used a third party and was it okay?

Why don't you dog to your local post office and pick up a D1 form and then send it in to the DVLA by Royal Mail?

*not dog, go

@ScottishNewbie Can you not do it via a postal form?

I didn't know I could do that.
Thank you!
Why didn't even think.....lol

Off to post office now.

Hopefully it won't take too long. It needs to be replaced and address changed by next week

The third party company just charge you to fill in the form. It won't get you any quicker help. Order a D1 form online or go to a post office. I've been waiting five weeks now for my photocard renewal.

They have a backlog of approximately 800,000 applications. They are continually having strike action.

@Rillington what an absolute nightmare!!!

@ScottishNewbie it is. It's impossible to get hold of anybody. The press don't seem to be showing anything about it. Some people have lost their jobs as they have been waiting months for their licences.

@Rillington
I'm about to lose something really important also. Hopefully I'll be able to sort it out, and I wish I had done my postal application sooner but it sounds like I would have been waiting weeks anyway. It's absurd.

It sounds like DVLA is more overrun than the NHS

@ScottishNewbie hope you don't have to wait too long. It's all about safety and the lack of social distancing. One of the workers died which has led to the strikes.

We have been waiting months for a replacement license. The backlog is huge so I wouldn’t count on getting one quickly.

@AllTheCakes months???
Wow. Something needs to be done about this system. What are people supposed to do?
I'm sorry to hear that!

I heard something on the radio recently about this - possibly You & Yours on Radio 4 - with someone who is a professional driver who was at risk of losing their job. It said it's quicker online than sending a paper form, but there are massive delays all round. A third party company will only increase delays, I would think.

@EBearhug. Oh really? I'm.glad it's being talked about.

I have tried to do online but unfortunately for some reason it just says I am not eligible for the service and to contact them....which is impossible.
I am really stuck!

I was ineligible to do an online renewal too so sent my postal form off approx 8 weeks ago and it hasn't come back yet. I couldn't even be placed in the queue to speak to someone as they were so busy (to check if it has even been received) so I understand your frustration! Unfortunately I don't think there is a quick way of doing this at the moment.

I went to local post office that do Driving licence applications, cost me a little more but they did photo too and licence back within 6 days.

I think I was 1 day too late to renew online (totally my own fault) but the lady in the PO said loads of people have been having issues.

I had mine renewal done at the Post Office last Friday (18/06/2021) and the new licence arrived yesterday. I’d forgotten my renewal form but the woman who did the renewal was great and did it without. If you go today you should get it back within a week

Wow, thanks for tips guys. I'm off to post office and hope it comes quickly

So strange. Had my renewal notice through the post last week. Completed the form online, and had my new license in the mail 4 days later 🤷🏻

@ScottishNewbie

Simply that really.

I've been calling DVLA for days, spent hours in the webchat queue etc.
I can't get hold of them at all and need to urgently replace a lost license and also change the address from my old one. The DVLA system won't let me do it for some reason

I am at the end of my tether and don't know what to do. Anyone used a third party and was it okay?

Email them and they'll get back to you in a few days. They even called me on a sunday about my issue I had.

@justchecking1 the issue is not with online applications. Only those with a valid passport can apply online. If you haven't got a passport you have to apply on the paper form.

Not sure if test passes are different my son passed last Monday his license came on the Thursday of the same week
Hope you get it and it comes soon op

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/586778

We're 3 months into waiting for DHs to come back. There's a petition to look into how appalling the DVLA have been.

It's not consistent then. Dh had to renew his licence (it expired during first lockdown but due to Covid everyone who had that then was given an 11 month extension, which is now up.) He did his via the post office as no passport so couldn't do it online 45 minute drive to the nearest post office that does licences, but that's another grrrr.

Anyway, long shot is that it was back within a week.

Thinking about it, I bet that's why there are problems. There will be a backlog of people like him, who presumably are being prioritised as his came back so quick, plus everyone who has their licence expiring now but are not being prioritised.