Cannot get through to DVLA - they have my daughter's passport!

[Ceci03]

So I helped dd apply for a provisional licence back in June, but they asked me to send in her passport - the original. We couldn't then, as she was going away and needed it. So we sent it in October, with the original application number etc, as I did manage to speak to them in about August about it.
So now DD is booked to go away after xmas, but they still have her passport. I've emailed, and phoned, and tried to do webchat, but cannot get through to anyone. I don't even care about the licence at this stage, we just need the passport back :( Does anyone have any tips as to how you can speak to someone.

I paid for flights (different ones in August), and we couldnt go due to testing positive for covid. If I lose these flights at xmas as well because of that I'm going to lose my S.

Anyone know anyone who works there, or anyone managed to get through?
I looked up applying for a new passport, but the wait times are 8 weeks, so that's too late now as well.

Write to your MP. The DVLA are a joke throughout covid and it's like everyone is working from home with no-one checking the mail. Similarly for all such government departments. I had to write to my MP for both my son's NI card and his provisional licence.

Lack of lorry drivers??? Licences held up for 3 months at DVLA. The more people who write complaining the quicker it'll get sorted out. I despair over people who have greater urgency about things than we did.

I agree that the DVLA have been shocking since Covid started, especially when it comes to paperwork/stuff sent through the post...

My DH had to have a new driving licence in June (as it had been 10 years since his last one, and he needed a new photo,) and we did it via the post office. It was back within 3 days.

But when it comes to having to send paperwork off - which you have to do if it's a medical issue, for example re-applying for your licence after a 2 year block because of an epileptic fit or suchlike - then it's taking MONTHS. Like 5-8 months. Or more! Bastard farcical.

Can someone link to the rules or the thread will go round in circles which wont help the OP

I already did, as have others.

Are your flights with Ryanair? Can you re-book her onto an Aerlingus flight with roughly the same flight times? That way it's only one flight you lose the price of. Are photos on national insurance cards?

www.aerlingus.com/travel-information/passports-and-visas/travel-to-from-britain/#:~:text=Acceptable%20Identification&text=Valid%20passport%20or%20Irish%20passport,Government%20issued%20photo%20ID%20cards

You need to write to your MP, giving as many details of the application as you can. There will be a special person or department at the DVLA MPs are told to contact for this sort of thing. It should hopefully sort it out in time.

Sorry to hear about this OP. When my MIL had to travel to Dublin for a funeral a couple of years ago and didn't have her passport at the time, she was advised that coach and ferry was the best way to go (which she did, and it was fine - I think she used her bus pass).

One thing to be aware of is that they have just changes the COVID rules for Ireland. You will need to take a COVID test before going- lateral flow if vaccinated, PCR if not.it doesn’t matter if you go directly to Ireland or fly to the North first and then drive down, it’s still a legal requirement. You will also need to complete a passenger locator form.

It’s really frustrating, the rules just changed from today and all my family are going to a wedding just over the border at the weekend, so we are all running about trying to get our tests booked!

Anyway, the point is that she would need some form of photo ID for the COVID test too.

My now exh is from NI, we used to travel to Scotland and get the ferry over several times. I didnt even have a passport and was never asked to show any ID in either NI or Scotland.

You might be able to rebook the flights for a subsequent journey.

Hire a car and do the ferry thing.

So many different IDs are acceptable, I'm sure that something can be sorted pretty quickly. Just make up a work one of you have to, places like PIP can laminate.

The ferry won't care they just have to glance at something.

Happy Christmas.

Sorry posted too soon.

Dh, myself and Ds all got our new driving licences back.
Dd didn’t
In the meantime Dd got caught speeding. She has paid the fine but needed to give her driving licence in to the police.
She explained that she didn’t have it back from the DVLA so they gave her a couple of weeks extension

She still hasn’t got it back.
No one at the DVLA can give her any idea of how long it is going to take.

The police have said she has until a certain date to give them the driving licence otherwise they are going to prosecute her.

It looks more and more likely that she will end up in court

It doesn’t help that a friend of mine has said it took 5 months for them to do her change of address.

I would go for a new passport and say her passport is lost

It might as well be as I don’t hold out much hope if the dvla have it.

They have lost documentation of mine and they have registered cars that I don’t own in my name.

It is always a surprise when companies or government departments actually do what they say they will do in a timely manner without losing anything or you having to do their job for them.

@GetTheFlockOutOfHere I finally managed to get through to them a few weeks ago and ‘they have my application and are processing it.’ 🤔

They’re a nightmare. They’ve had my licence and marriage certificate since September for a name update which hasn’t materialised.
They advised 10 weeks and it’s now been longer than that.
All we can do is wait, apparently, but YANBU to be frustrated with them.

These sorts of posts are always so frustrating. Lots of options given to OP who claims to be crying her eyes out over this catastrophe and every reasonable option to get her to Ireland is met with 'yes but'. Like going to NI and driving - would prefer not to etc.

Just cancel then.

[quote girlsyearapart]@GetTheFlockOutOfHere I finally managed to get through to them a few weeks ago and ‘they have my application and are processing it.’ 🤔[/quote]
How annoying!

@claymodels

She has an Irish passport but cannot get another as the wait time is currently 8 weeks. It has to go through the Irish embassy/postal system since she can't get to Dublin to show up in the passport office!

She is entitled to a British passport but must provide her Irish passport alongside the application. Which she doesn't have.

It's not as simple as not sending in your Irish passport to apply for a British one - fine if you are a dual national born here but as one who moved here you need it to show settled status. Also if both parents are Irish, the OP would have to provide all her documentation (passport) too and first-time passport applications take longer. I remember the anxious wait for my Irish passport to be returned to me after going to get my children's British passports. I had an in-person appointment but they still had to take my documents and post them back separately.

(I am an Irish mum living in the UK - it's difficult to manage the admin remotely to begin with and Covid hasn't helped!)

[quote YerWanIsGettinNotions]@claymodels

She has an Irish passport but cannot get another as the wait time is currently 8 weeks. It has to go through the Irish embassy/postal system since she can't get to Dublin to show up in the passport office!

She is entitled to a British passport but must provide her Irish passport alongside the application. Which she doesn't have.

It's not as simple as not sending in your Irish passport to apply for a British one - fine if you are a dual national born here but as one who moved here you need it to show settled status. Also if both parents are Irish, the OP would have to provide all her documentation (passport) too and first-time passport applications take longer. I remember the anxious wait for my Irish passport to be returned to me after going to get my children's British passports. I had an in-person appointment but they still had to take my documents and post them back separately.

(I am an Irish mum living in the UK - it's difficult to manage the admin remotely to begin with and Covid hasn't helped!) [/quote]

Thanks, I was definitely missing something there!!

What happens if you have lost the Irish passport?

Contact the airline and check if they accept passport card, they probably will. If not, contact other airlines and find one that will, then book just her for the different flight.

I sent off for DD's provisional licence in August, it took 9 weeks and her licence and ID arrived the same day in different envelopes, so fingers crossed there's still time.

thanks everyone. I'm seeing if I can get her Irish passport replaced but it's unclear as she turned 18 in September, so I'm not sure if it can all be done online. Also it's 90 pounds!!! When she already has a perfectly good passport.

For the ferry - yes you can use a driving licence but she DOESNT HAVE ONE LOL Does nobody understand the price or the cost - I've paid for flights. If we got the ferry I'd have to pay to bring the car over, and petrol etc etc, plus driving on my own. I don't think I'd be alone in saying that I'd be nervous driving that far in december?

To get a UK Passport she has to provide her Irish passport - I cant see a way around that.

I think I'll try getting a new Irish passport and hope it comes in time It seems the cheapest option - still 90 pound though,

I mean this thing of needing to post original documents is very risky isnt it. I felt very nervous posting off her passport in the first place. And they won't do registered post to return it. I think they should return the documents at least, even if they dont process the license. Or else accept a scan, or a certified photocopy. There must be a way around it

For the ferry - yes you can use a driving licence but she DOESNT HAVE ONE

WE KNOW! I posted a list of all the other forms of ID that are acceptable.

And the chances of snow in Ireland are minimal, surely?

Here you are - again. Obviously ignore the first two.

Valid passport
Photographic Driving License
International Student Card
Government issued photographic ID cards
Health insurance/social security photographic ID cards
Photographic bus/train pass
Place of work photographic ID
Birth certificates (for under 18’s with no photo ID)

Why can you not still go to visit your family? She's 18yo. She can stay at home then go another time. Or their father can come over to see them.

When she already has a perfectly good passport.

She doesn't. She physically does not have a perfectly good passport.

Are you saying your daughter has no bus pass for college, no college ID, no student ID, nothing at all with her photo and name on?

It's fine that you don't want to drive. Plenty of people do. And it's an option for your catastrophic 'what if her grandparents were about to DIE!' scenario.

Either it's life or death, in which case ferry, or fly Aer Lingus (I've never done the latter without a passport, so I would ring them to check first). Or reschedule, or buy a new passport. Shit happens.