DVLA - any idea how to get them to help?

[Ridingoutonahorse]

To set the scene we as a family have had a really tough year, life limiting illness, operations, house moves……..

I sent my DD provisional licence off to the DVLA to get it updated for a new address. I applied online the same as I did for DH and mine but for some reason had to send DD existing licence back to them which I didn’t for ours.

Anyway her driving test is booked for Sept so I’ve been ringing for days to chase it, after over 50 attempts at getting through on the phone I finally managed to speak to someone today.

That person was able to acknowledge that the DVLA have received her licence but have done nothing in terms of processing it, they think it’s unlikely they’ll have done anything by late Sept when her test is so their advice is to rebook her test.

On top of everything else DD is currently shut in her room with Covid, I honestly don’t want to break this news to her as passing her test is all she’s been focussed on through some pretty tough times.

After some Googling I realise IWBU to send the licence off and expect the DVLA to actually do something with it but now I have does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do to get them to deal with it?

@listsandbudgets Exactly, it's just so frustrating.

[quote abeautifulday]@cherrypiepie we did ours online but they wanted further information to verify her Identity which was pointless. We'd given her NI number and passport details online. When they sent the form they asked for her passport number which we'd already provided. Then we proceeded to wait 15 weeks and still no sign of it.[/quote]
Yes we had this too, although fortunately it was back in 2019 and we still got it within a couple of weeks.

It is really quick if you can do it wholly online - I assume it's done by an outside body which is working normally. My son got his full licence 4 days after passing his test, we were stunned.

Equally - so-called 10 week wait for passports - husband applied for new passport last week - received an email today saying new one on way. Again, applied online.

Sorry OP. Had to chase my MIL’s licence the other day. The phone lines and chat are off during normal operating hours due to “high demand” and when you email you get an automated message three days later. My MIL has been waiting for her licence and returned for 9 weeks and it’s nowhere near done.
I hope your call set the ball rolling for you, very impressed you got to speak to a real, live person!

I tweeted them every other hour for about 2 days - I then got a phone call.

They are mostly still working from home, so online applications are supposed to be quicker, but there was an article in one of the papers at the weekend about an 8 month backlog for paper ones, which is disgraceful. Yes, they were hit hard by Covid originally and there has been industrial action, but it is appalling that such important documentation can take so long.

Good luck!

If you have a valid licence, provisional or otherwise, do you actually have to have it in your paw for the driving test?

@Jossbow Absolutely you do.

@Panicmode1 They won't let most of them work from home that's part of the issue.

@PheasantsNest - I don't know the ins and outs but that was what was reported at the weekend in the paper and giving the reason for the delays - that many are still home based and on the back of industrial action, there is a huge backlog.

Whatever the truth, it's appalling that such a vital service is in such a mess IMO.

@Panicmode1 I watched the recent Transport Committee Session where Julie Lennard and Baroness Vere lied through their teeth.

There are no penalties for politicians if they lie, or mislead Parliament, or the country any more it seems @PheasantsNest!

I think whoever designed the passport agency's system should deal with the DVLA. Since they introduced online passport applications they've been lightening fast except at very busy times of year. I had to get one for me, DD and DS a couple of years ago all at different times and they were all back within a week - DD's took 4 days. If passports can do it why can't DVLA?

DVLA are absolutely appalling just look at all the cries of a shortage of lorry drivers well they also share some of that blame as anything to do with paperwork is backed up by months due to covid, strikes and sickness.
I would try and do it online again as online applications are going through at a normal pace.
I had to send of for my DH digital Tacho card which at the time I could only do online if I was transport manager. Two weeks went by they still hadn't cashed the check so I looked online again and could apply for it and he got it 2 days later!

I can’t believe how many people have had similar experiences. I could kick myself for not checking before sending it off, I did mine my DH and DD online at the same time and thought it was weird I had to send DD in but did. DH and mine came back weeks ago, I honestly don’t know how to tell her. I won’t for a while in the hopes that it’s going to appear but I can tell by reading this it isn’t!

@abeautifulday I’ve had the same issue, Sen true form off with my passport details and NI number on off twice now, 21 weeks later and still no sign.

Sent the*

I have finally got my marriage certificate back after sending it and my licence off for a name change but I suspect I will be old and grey long before I get my licence back. It is a fucking shambles.

I did just try the online application again on the off chance what @glitterelf said was applicable in these circumstances but just got, you are not eligible to apply for this service.

I live close enough I could go and get it. I know it’s an impossibility but if it was possible I could pick it up from them the morning of her test and have it back to them within 2 hours and then they could keep it for as long as they like 😂.

My daughter sent off for her provisional back in April, still nothing. She did receive her birth certificate back a few weeks ago.

I sent my licence off two months ago (almost) simple change of name after marrying still don’t have it back.

@bloodywhitecat how long before you got the certificate back? I’m still waiting for that and the license after marrying

My dd sent her licence off to have the change of name and address done - she called them 2 days ago and they told her it could be at least 3 months before she gets it back.
I think you need to cancel the test until her licence arrives.

@abeautifulday my response was to @greyspottedgoose asking why they can be so quick- not sure why you are quoting it?

@Ridingoutonahorse Sorry thought it might have worked for you.

I ordered a replacement license 5 weeks ago now, it arrived within a week, so it must just be luck of the draw.

I had to deal with them for something else earlier this year too, I emailed them and they got back to me with a couple of days and were really helpful, even rang me on a sunday.

@3Br1tnee the online services are not affected and never have been. It's the paper applications that are the issue. You can only apply online if you have a valid passport. Even then they are sending out paper forms to some asking for more information.