DVLA.. need to get their act together covid no no longer an excuse ..

[Bananadobana]

Hey, I dunno if anyone else is in my position or waiting for anything else from DVLA, but I have tried to contact them repeatedly by phone and line isn’t in action, web chat is off, and have send several emails. Won’t go into specifics but waiting on full driving licence, sent pass cert snd provisional. 3 months ago and heard nothing.. read up snd I can legally drive snd have pics in phone if prob licence and pass cert but still nervous incase this is an issue… 12 weeks!
Have heard of other folk who have had licence expire or waiting on provisional licence to be able to start lessons. I’ve just been through a hellish learning process with lessons and tests cancelled due to covid.. I heard instructors are booked out and can’t imagine how frustrated those wanting to learn must be if they can get a slot but can’t proceed with no licence. What’s going on!!???

I know they have a hold up with covid but this is crazy to have no phone line and webchat.. they say they have phone but it is constantly off line!!?

They have been on strike which is why there is a huge backlog. It sounds like it will be ongoing for some time to come

www.gov.uk/guidance/dvla-coronavirus-covid-19-update#processing-dates-for-paper-applications

Shows the dates they are currently processing

Aren’t you finding the same thing with every organisation you deal with, I am. Not just the DVLA but the council, bank, solicitors, tax office etc.
There was a thread recently about people being unmotivated wfh. It obvious that lots of people are doing very little.

I had similar issues in first lockdown trying to sort ds1 provisional.
I completely understood why for the first few months they would only deal with people who were key workers that was fine. But when eat out to help out came along I was getting quite pissed off that noone was answering the phones. My point was if you can go out for a meal the dvla MUST be open.
Over a week I think I rang them more than 200 times only got through 3 times twice to be cut off and once holding for 45 minutes to FINALLY speak to a human.
Ds1 provisional finally came back end of sept last year. About 7/8 months after we had first applied.
I have no idea what is going on with them.

DVLA are hands down the worst organisation we've tried to contact recently. Literally impossible to get anyone on phone/webchat although I will admit they do respond eventually to emails...but unless what you're asking for is an easy fix you get the copy and paste blurb about increase waiting times and try to self serve online I did you fucker, read my email!

Even DWP are easier to get hold of and they're notoriously bad outside of a pandemic.

As far as I can tell the issue is with the people who had to continue attending the office all the way through lockdown for paper processing. DVLA didn't make the environment as safe as possible for them according to the unions so they've been striking. This means the tiny workforce present in the office to process stuff is even smaller and the forms just keep building up. DVLA management really need to sort this out. Mandatory documents shouldn't have lead times measured in months.

Dh is waiting to get his licence back after he surrendered it following a medical condition which is now under control.

Ironically he is a teacher in a college where managment did not adhere to any covid safety measures so forgive me if I don't feel sympathy.

Don't get me started on the DVLA.
My husband was wrongly disqualified from driving last year when he was mixed up with someone from a different county with the same name. It was a seriously huge fuck up and they could not have handled it worse. I loathe them entirely and they are not fit for purpose.

It's the passport office I'm annoyed with. I applied for my passport in June and it only went to processing in August. And still sitting on processing. Dh passport was back within a week and we applied on same day.

@Comefromaway

Dh is waiting to get his licence back after he surrendered it following a medical condition which is now under control.

Ironically he is a teacher in a college where managment did not adhere to any covid safety measures so forgive me if I don't feel sympathy.

I was having a look through this, and I think it looks like if you surrender your licence voluntarily you can start driving again without them having sent it back.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/inf1886-can-i-drive-while-my-application-is-with-dvla

See link above, you'd definitely need to read it closely and discuss with a doctor as I might have misunderstood. If it was formally revoked you can't, but I think if it was voluntarily surrendered you can?

DD just got her provisional back within a couple of weeks. I was surprised to see it so soon but it certainly sounds like she was very fortunate.

We surprisingly had the opposite experience. Dd passed her test 6 weeks ago and received her full license a week later.

Their services are a shit show when it came to booking tests etc You'd think that the need for HGV drivers would make ministers put a rocket up their arses.

It's a fucking disgrace and they are not fit for purpose.

well its all we've got so i guess patience is called for!

We are trying to book driving tests and the wait/delays are massive. DD's was cancelled at the start of the pandemic and the second one cancelled due inspector having to isolate.
She's now living at university so needs a test over there, so having to have booster lessons in the new location and new car. Had to wait 7 months on waiting lists just to restart lessons!

Her theory test runs out in February but getting a test by then is looking increasingly unlikely. So looks like we will be paying for another theory test as well!

@GrandTheftWalrus

It's the passport office I'm annoyed with. I applied for my passport in June and it only went to processing in August. And still sitting on processing. Dh passport was back within a week and we applied on same day.

I'm also awaiting a passport due to losing the added months and needing 3-6 months left valid within that time.

Only sent in August, when I realised, though it is now processing. Initial holiday booking has been cancelled but I daren't rebook October half term as no way of knowing if it'll be back in time.

@Abraxan

We are trying to book driving tests and the wait/delays are massive. DD's was cancelled at the start of the pandemic and the second one cancelled due inspector having to isolate. She's now living at university so needs a test over there, so having to have booster lessons in the new location and new car. Had to wait 7 months on waiting lists just to restart lessons!

Her theory test runs out in February but getting a test by then is looking increasingly unlikely. So looks like we will be paying for another theory test as well!

It’s such a hassle just now. Hope your daughter manages to get her practical test soon.

Dd has tried booking her theory for months and in July eventually got one for the end of November., goodness knows when we will be able to get her a driving test booked! She had hoped to be driving properly by now .

Oh, and I thought I'd waited a long time for my renewal (few weeks). My partner's came within days but he could do his online. Looks like I've got a long wait ahead then.

@Fairyliz

Aren’t you finding the same thing with every organisation you deal with, I am. Not just the DVLA but the council, bank, solicitors, tax office etc. There was a thread recently about people being unmotivated wfh. It obvious that lots of people are doing very little.

And yet some employers have found WFH works better for them, my niece has gone from daily trips into London to only going in twice a week, every other day she WFH and the service they provide has been more efficient if anything,

If you’re trying to book a driving test through the DVLA, that would explain why you’ve encountered delays. DVSA administer testing, not the DVLA.

I can’t lie, I had some details that needed amending on my license. Did it all online and was back to me in less than 10 days. Does seem to be inconsistent but I’m sure they are trying their best. Didn’t they have their own outbreaks and the public health had to step in?

@NameChangeforMoneyThings At teh time the DVLA told him it would be easier to get it back if he voluntarily surrendered it rather that it being revoked so that's what he did. But he's just had to fill out a form with various questions on about his condition the aptly named DIZ1 form (the dizzy form)

However your link does seem to imply that he can drive (he did have a telephone consultation with the GP before applying for it back)

I needed a name change on my licence and they had my marriage licence for months and months without any possible communication avenue. I thought we'd lost it forever.
In the end it arrived in a flimsy torn hand-written letter envelope and no explanation.
It's just not good enough.

@RWeatherwax

If you’re trying to book a driving test through the DVLA, that would explain why you’ve encountered delays. DVSA administer testing, not the DVLA.

I can’t lie, I had some details that needed amending on my license. Did it all online and was back to me in less than 10 days. Does seem to be inconsistent but I’m sure they are trying their best. Didn’t they have their own outbreaks and the public health had to step in?

Which is great if you can do the changes on line. Some things can't be done on line and it is those people who are being impacted the most.

Dh was not able to apply for his licence back online possibly as it required input from his GP.