New driving licence

[Darrell]

My driving licence (the card) expired in 2018 and we moved house the same month so at the end of May this year I applied for a new one. Don’t ask.

It was received on June 11 but I’ve heard nothing since. I called their numbers and I just get a recorded message telling me to call back later!!
If I go onto the webchat the message tells me that their staff are very busy.

I going for an interview with Pimlico Plumbing soon and I don’t want a lack of license to screw up my chances.

Any ideas??

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Can you do one of those online certificates you sometimes had to do when hiring a car?

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Can you do one of those online certificates you sometimes had to do when hiring a car?

Hiring a vehicle

it says you can then check a license online using the code?

 

[Darrell]

Cheers guys. I’ll try that after my dinner.

 

[Darrell]

Whatever I do or wherever I sign in, ends up here.

 

[ChrisHGTV]

Hmm not sure. I guess the only thing is to keep trying them. Unless you have a friendly Police station that could check it and print something out? I hate it when you get stuck in a system like this!

 

[Darrell]

Hmm not sure. I guess the only thing is to keep trying them. Unless you have a friendly Police station that could check it and print something out? I hate it when you get stuck in a system like this!

It’s so annoying and I’m going around in circles.
I tried to get a new one online and it just threw it back at me which is why I decided to get the forms from the post office and do it the old fashioned way.

The photo card has expired and the paper counterpart got lost years ago.

 

[Teego]

If you can't organise your stuff I don't think Charlie will want to take you on anyway.

 

[TeddyRuxpin]

I had to renew my license a couple of months ago, and I had to physically walk into a post office and do it, including get a new picture (even though they should be able to take my passport pic). The person that served me said that the website doesn't work for lots of people.

(The new one with the union jack on it looks like it was designed as a GCSE project in comparison to my older one)

 

[Deleted member 150136]

The photo card that has expired doesn't mean your driving licence has expired though does it.

Maybe if you showed PP it and explained that due to covid you've had issues renewing it and getting answers.

Sometimes people are understanding.

No help otherwise apart from write to them at the address stated?

 

[Darrell]

If you can't organise your stuff I don't think Charlie will want to take you on anyway.

He’s retired. Scott runs the show.

 

[Darrell]

The photo card that has expired doesn't mean your driving licence has expired though does it.

It doesn’t but I can’t prove it. Using the link that Chris HGTV gave me draws a blank yet it works fine for my wife. She actually applied online for her one when we lived in Greece and put my dads address on it as her home address.

 

[jdrrco]

Duplicate post

 

[jdrrco]

The photo card that has expired doesn't mean your driving licence has expired though does it.

Keep trying the phone number. The OP cannot drive until it is resolved. Nothing to do with the photocard, but you face a potential £1,000 fine for driving without having updated your address from three years ago and probably your insurance would be invalid too in the event of any accident.

 

[Darrell]

Keep trying the phone number. The OP cannot drive until it is resolved. Nothing to do with the photocard, but you face a potential £1,000 fine for driving without having updated your address from three years ago and probably your insurance would be invalid too in the event of any accident.

What I thought. Why is it taking so long though?

 

[jdrrco]

What I thought. Why is it taking so long though?

Covid is being used as the goto excuse for all sorts of delays at the moment. Some companies and govt departments still have staff on furlough, but I suspect the truth is that it is a convenient response to cover general inefficiency.

We bought a car for Mrs jdrrco in June and the V5C only arrived last week.

 

[Darrell]

Covid is being used as the excuse for all sorts of delays at the moment. Some companies and govt departments still have staff on furlough, but I suspect it is a convenient answer to explain general inefficiency.

We bought a car for Mrs jdrrco in June and the V5C only arrived last week.

I’m putting it down to furlough and that could also explain why the link doesn’t work.

Problem is though that I’m very distrustful of companies using Covid or furloughed staff as an excuse. We applied for a new passport for my daughter in April and it came back in 8 days!

How long would one normally wait for a new V5C?

 

[jdrrco]

I’m putting it down to furlough and that could also explain why the link doesn’t work.

Problem is though that I’m very distrustful of companies using Covid or furloughed staff as an excuse. We applied for a new passport for my daughter in April and it came back in 8 days!

I couldn't agree more, but the DVLA is the only source who can answer your query, so you have no choice but to chase them.

 

[Darrell]

I couldn't agree more, but the DVLA is the only source who can answer your query, so you have no choice but to chase them.

When I call them I can’t even get into a queue. The message is just to call again later.

 

[jdrrco]

When I call them I can’t even get into a queue. The message is just to call again later.

In which case you call again later. I really do sympathise, but I don't know what else you think anyone can tell you.

Ultimately, you are the one who forgot to change your address for over three years, then, when you did remember, the world was coming out of a completely unprecedented global crisis and now you feel aggrieved that this department isn't correcting your mistake as quickly as you'd like.

I'm sorry if that sounds brutal, but it is what it is.

I had to contact my GP surgery about a relatively serious health issue and constantly got booted off the call, but it's not even as if we have to turn a finger round a dial for eleven digits to try again these days, we just press the red button then click the green one again.

I'm not excusing it, but it's the world we live in.