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.

The DVLA are an absolute bloody shambles at the moment. There's no excuse they need to get their shit together and go on a big recruitment drive

DVLA management reached an agreement with the union about Covid safety measures in the summer, but it was suddenly withdrawn and no reason was given. There's widespread suspicion that the government blocked it. If there's any truth in that, it's a bloody scandal.

I don't blame the staff at all, I wouldn't go to work in an environment that I considered unsafe.

I'm sorry that you have had some shitty answers from posters completely lacking in empathy. The situation is stressful enough for someone who has been an adult for several years let alone an 18 year old.

Yet again I see that there have been unhelpful posts from posters who have assumed that the minute a young person turns 18 they become mature, responsible and confident adults.

Why do they do this other than to criticise your parenting skills?

I hope you get this sorted. The DVLA are shockingly inefficient and badly managed. Covid is just an excuse.

ColinTheKoala

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

Well if the DVLA have it, the court will just have a go at the police for wasting their time. How stupid

We know it is stupid and a waste of time and it is hardly a secret that the DVLA can take 5 months to do a change of address but this particular police jurisdiction seem to be working on the assumption that the DVLA are a functioning government department and no way would it take this long to do a change of address and Dd is just being obstructive and threatening her with court action is somehow going to get dd to produce her driving licence.

@ElftonWednesday
They haven’t lost her documents. They said it would be 8-12 weeks

If only it was 8-12 weeks.
What they say and the reality in a lot of cases is just so far adrift.

@daimbarsatemydogsbone unfortunately we need some way of identifying people… if it wasn’t state issues ID it would be bank cards do similar which are controlled by private companies 😂😂

Or worse a microchip, or thumbprint which I donf want there to be a large database of