DVLA removing licence entitlements

Lost my bike licence like your story, even got my MP involved

I am aware of a case where DVLA revoked someone's licence 2 years and 3 months after a speeding offence under the new driver provisions. No room t negotiate with them whatsoever. They blamed the fixed penalty office, who in turn blamed the licence holder (who, in fact, did nothing wrong.

I lost my bike licence after losing it in a shredder! It came back without my bike bit on it. After a complaint i still got nowhere! I passed in 1983 so I have no records of the original pass certificate as i was a scrawny 19 year old and sent it in and never got it back!

DVLA = rubbish customer service!

Alan

This is about nothing other than incompetent civil servants.

Those civil servants are paid out of the public purse and are accountable. People should complain to their MPs and directly to the Audit Commission, demanding and investigation into how the DVLA works.

I suggest Watchdog invite the current Director of Operations, along with, say, Jim Fitzpatrick onto next week's show.

passed car test in may 1987 drove for 21 years with no problem tried to update my driving licence because of a name change was then informed in november 2008 that i had never held a license!!!
Had to re-take my test etc which was very unessary and could of been life changing because one of the conditions of my employment is that i have a driving license.
Like many of the people on your show.They were rude and very arrogant.And totally unmoveable in their decision.

Experience has taught me one thing when dealing with ANY government department.. if you are required to send any department any original documents, take them to a Solicitors, have them copied and signed as originals to keep them in case you never get the originals back or the dept claims not to have received them.

If the DVLA claim you never held a licence for a particular category and you know you have - think! Have you ever had a motoring conviction, if so, there are police records. If you have ever had to produce your licence at a police station - there are records... don't let the DVLA bully you..

sent lcence in 18 months ago and it came back with no bke entitlement class A had to resit the test passed originaly in 1982.this time CBT then Theory Then Practical total cost over £700.Dvla didn't want to know.

I sold my car in August 2007 - In January 2008, after an issue with my old insurance company, I contacted the DVLA for proof of ownership for my old car. They told me there was no record of me ever owning the car, even though they sent me tax renewal letters etc, and refused to look into the matter further. I was disgusted that such a large company could 'lose' this information and refuse to help. This issue led to me incurring a £300 fine from my old insurance company as I couldn't prove I had sold the car. How can the DVLA run their business like this - customer service is non existent.

I applied for a provisional licence and they gave me a full driving license by mistake! I had never sat in the driver's seat. I did return it but it's a bit worrying.

My Husband had the same 22 years in the army riding bikes driving tanks. Then the new photo license came and yep he lost the tank and his bike, he just redone the biketest at a cost at over £600, lucky for us we no longer need a Tank !!!!

Think I might be the opposite - I didn't apply to motorbike privileges, but I'm pretty sure they're on my licence. Always thought it was odd.

A related issue - i was about to post my photo renewal today, i have a bike licence too, now worried but have photocopied all documents.
Interesting that i wasn't even aware the photo needed renewing as didn't read the licence in honesty - BUT why isn't this made really clear when you apply for photo licence? £17.50 every 10 years - don't motorists pay enough already?

I applied asked for a european licence in 2003 and was told that I did not have a licence at all, ans was taken to court, which was not followed through. I had got 3 points for speeding (which i was guilty of), and this was when acording to them i did not have a licence at all. I had to resit my test and lost all of my 20 years of insurance history.

They told me that they do not make mistakes and my lawyers told me it was not worth proceeding.

If this happens to you, then you should try contacting your current and past insurance companies. Most normally require a copy of your licence (particularly for motorcycles) before issuing an insurance certificate.

This story is hardly surprising. I have had a lot of contact with DWP and they are just as unhelpful.
The idea that they cannot be wrong seems to be endemic within government departments.

2 Points

Firstly these drivers insurance will be increased or voided as they are classified as novice drivers

secondly are you aware that ALL photocards expire after 10 years if not renewed your licence is invalid. Also there is charge. Stealth tax me thinks!

After passing my full driving test 11 years ago, I've just discovered the DVLA have issued me with an automatic licence only. This appeared to happen when I swapped from the pink paper licence to the photocard licence. My request to amend the details was sent in to the DVLA last week with my licence. I'm very worried now after seeing this. As a disabled driver, my life could be severely disrupted, especially as I work for myself and my livelyhood depends on me driving to my clients.

Neil.

Re DVLC (now known as DVLA), Several years ago when I talked about this to a friend who had also been a motor cycle patrolman: he said that they had been warned when the new licences were issued to check that their Motor Cycle licence was included. This was because it was a deliberate policy by the DVLC to not include these as so many people had not ridden a bike for ages and that they did not want a lot of unprepared riders coming back onto the roads after many use of not riding. The view was that if you didn't check it at the time you didn't want it.
However, he also said that you will never get anybody to admit it!

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DVLA mixed my licence record up with someone else (of the same name). The other driver was disqualified and I got arrested and locked up for a whole weekend for driving whilst disqualified!!! After several adjourned court hearings, much frustration and embarrassment (I was arrested at the home of my then girlfriends parents) the Sherrif threw out the DVLAs case and charges were dropped. It took another 7 or 8 years before DVLA rectified their error. In the meantime the other driver was racking up more points and I was getting the court letters!

No apology for the DVLA at all - despite wrongful arrest and imprisonment! Disgusting!

I got a letter from the DVLA saying that I had been banned from driving! Which was a bit of a shock! Apparantly the driver they wanted to ban had the same name as myself but wasn't sure who it was so picked me and decided I was the guilty party - which is pretty shocking in itself however they knew this person lived in the south of england somewhere near Bournemouth, however I live in Birmingham!

Back in 2002, my insurance agent found out my license had the bike category removed. After long drawn out letters, had to take my test again. Got new license and guess what, I now have a full HGV license that I did not have before. Cost me a small fortune as well.
Regards
Ken

Maybe take a photo of your old license before sending it off or better still if your updating info, say you have lost your license and you want a replacement. Though why you should have to do this is silly, I agree with the advanced driver guest, you shouldn't need to send in your old license, DVLA wake up and move with todays technology!

Sent my licence off in Jan to change address with my partners Licence in the same envelope. 3 weeks later my partners arrives no sign of mine. Call up they tell me takes upto 6 weeks so wait and call back then they say they never recieved it must be lost in the post so will need to pay for another one. Explain that 2 licences were sent in one envelop and 1 found its way back home. They apologised and said they will replace it but I am still waiting nearly 3 months later!

Gemma From Norfolk

I had an accident 2 years ago and was told by the Police I only had an automatic licence and was driving illegally. I had been driving for nearly 12 years, and only sat in an automatic once (!) but had sent off my licence for an address update. I informed DVLA who had destroyed my test details and said they were never wrong so I couldn't have had a manual licence. I was lucky to find my original instructor who gave evidence for me, and after swearing an affidavit in court DVLA reinstated my manual licence, although they were keen to remind me they had no liability and still did not believe they were wrong. Unbelievable!

Just had a look and no bike on my licence, passed my test in 1988, changed licence 10 and 2 years ago so am now not sure how long I've been illegal. WHAT TO DO NOW ITS MY JOB!!!!!!!!!

How about putting up the DVLA phone number at the end of your programme then tomorrow we can jam their switchboard asking to have our records checked? Maybe they'll do something about it then.

having recently re applied for my licence I encountered the following problems, firstly the form I was sent by the dvla said £50 fee and this was duly sent along with evidence of my change of address and change of name. I called the dvla to check on progress and was told that they had written to me saying that the fee paid was not enough the charge was now £65 and my licence would not be sent until I had paid the extra amount. I sent in the extra amount and my licence duly arrived, However, on both sections my printed name was in my old name and my signature was in my new name.!!!!! This is despite having sent them a new photo with the authorisation on the reverse stating that I was in fact the person named !!! The address was the only part that was correct, I have returned the licence once more and await further news..

For some time now the authorities have been victimising law abiding motorcyclists in an attempt to reduce their numbers by harrassing them from our roads. They tell anyone who will listen that bikes are dangerous and accidents need to be reduced. In my opinion motorcyclists are some of the best motorists on our roads and are far better trained than the vast majority of us. This is just another way of trying to get some motorcyclists off our roads in the hope that they will just give up and not re-take their test again.The sharp end of a very big wedge I think.

In 1972 I passed mt car test, then over the next few years I did my motorcycle, Hackney and PSV tests. 1980 I changed addresses and filled out all the forms. DVLA stated that I had never had a licence of any kind ever so I have had to retake my car and bike tests but I have not bothered with the rest. When I retook my Car test and passed my licence took a long time to arrive, when I contacted them they stated there was a problem as the computer was trying to issue more catagories the I had just taken the test for.

See it is not a new problem

noticed my bike licence was missing in 2003 when i went to test drive a new bike. I passed my test in 1968 and the DVLA denied knowledge of this. I had to re take my bike test. The instructor told me of one acquaintance whom acquired a HGV licence when he sent off his bike licence for renewal. This is not a new story and it has been going on for years, but the DVLA does not seem to think there is a probleM.

Took my motor bike test early 1980.
Rode only for a few years but now I want to ride my entitlement has been removed.
I contacted the dvla and they told me to prove when I took the test.
I have since moved and cant prove anything.
The dvla are not interested and told me to take another test, but with the current work situation I cant afford to do this.

evening all... refering to DVLA and entitlements... I have been riding 21 years and found out 4 weeks ago that following an address update that my entitlement to ride had been removed... having to re take all modules again at a cost of £380.00 ... i would like to know who will reimburse me for this and where was a rep from DVLA tonight... hiding behind their telephones again i suppose... great report on this subject tonight... another show of this countrys incompetence at running official bodies... thank you... [Personal details removed by Moderator]

I bought a personalised registration plate to use. I visited the 'local' DVLA office to apply for the registration to be applied to my Vespa scooter. Imagine my suprise when they told me it had been exported, despite putting the same vehicle through its MOT in March. I then made an appointment for the scooter to be inspected by a police vehicle examiner. He confirmed that all was correct with the various index numbers on the scooter. Despite this they still insist that I will have to 're-apply' to have my vehicle taken off the export list. They will not admit it is a clerical error, despite all of the evidence to the contrary!!!

My wife has had her motorbike entitlement removed, when she married me. Although she passed within the last 10 years the DVLA deny all knowledge.

I also know someone (the wife of a driving tester, natch) who had a CAR driving entitlement ADDED when she passed her motorbike test. She now drives a car for her job!

It's disgusting and as the IAM guy said - astoundingly arrogant.

Registering and scrapping cars the DVLA are just as bad - they screw up relentlessly and the SORN scheme has become a major money-spinner for them - why would you possibly EVER send out a reminder to someone with a vehicle off the road when you can just bill them instead?

Dreadful, dreadful 'service'.

My motorcycle entitlement disappeared from my licence after i changed address. theysaid that I would have to re-take my test. luckily my insurance company had a photocopy of my old licence.

Colin [Personal details removed by Moderator]

Its clearly stated to all that within two years of passing any given test you have to inform DVLA off your pass. Upon doing that you have the entitlement. I dont know how long this has been the case but certainly the last 8years or so.

I support DVLA's stance, but do understand that it is fustrating do be caught out like this.

My husband was told falsly he had to surrender his license after someone from medical told him his condition wasnt controled with a machine (they were not a doctor and it was controlled from the first use) he was then told he would get all of his grandad rights back eg C1, D1 etc. when he eventually got his license back (after a year) he didnt get his entitlements back and was told he would have to take a test to qualify for his old entitlements and also pay £40 for a medical to see if he was fit enough to drive under those entitlements.

i am a director of a recruitment agency that employs HGV drivers. we regularly check our drivers licences with the DVLA to make sure that our drivers are still entitled to drive. i sent my licence away following a recent medical for my HGV 1 licence renewal(i am now the wrong side of 45!) i check my own licence with the DVLA and was told that records showed i had NO licence, and no entitlent to drive, not even my car let alone a Articulated Lorry! i have held my licence since i was 18! luckily after 12 days all was put right but if i had been stopped by the police my car or lorry would have been empounded!

This story is old, it started when photolicenses were introduced. I checked my license then and found out that I aqm now allowed to drive everything except tanks (tracked vehicles). Thanks DVLA

I passed my test in 1986 and when I sent my licence off to have my motorbike entitlement added to it the DVLA reduced entitlement down to 8.5 tonne and not the original permitted weight. As my job required the higher weight limit my job was on the line. The DVLA have refused to correct this and subsequently I lost my job. This entitlement was taken away with no warning or explanation. I have since been told that all I need to do is ring the DVLA and they will correct it. Bahh!!!

Sent my paper license to the DVLA 5 years ago for a new photocard license. Ive looked at it properly after watching the report and my motorbike qualification has disappeared! What shall I do?

I have lost my H cat and no one could help me when I rang!!!!!!!!!!

i hope all the info i gave you about my ongoing situation contributed to your item about the DVLA and licence issues

i have been told i have not had a licence prior to 1995.

i passed my bike test 26 june 1986 yet they have no record of it, they still keep sending me other peoples licence details with motorcycle entitlements.

so DVLA what do we do now, i want my licence sorted out so i can ride a motorbike again. and i dont see why i should have to re-take my driving test which is very expensive just because the DVLA cant admit their staff are incompetent
micky dungey

In the 70s I ran a motorcycle shop and rode a Norton Commando to work.
We donated a motorcycle to the local school and the beat Mororcycle policeman, a friend asked me to help with teaching the pupils roadcraft.
On checking my licence for insurance purposes He told me I had no motorcycle entitlement.
I produced my old red licence and got my solicitor involved, I was told by the DVLC the licence could be fake and I had to use one of the shops 125s to get to work.
cost me o lot of cash and inconvienience.

I passed my bike test in 1978, car in 1983. I have deliberatly kept my old paper license, issued on moving house in 1991, as I have been aware of this problem for some time.

In the old days, I would have gone to the local Police station and asked a constable to sign a colour photocopy but with the politicition on the police, I am reluctant to do that.

How about a colour photocopy signed by a magistrate?

Hi, watching the programme tonight, my husband also had his motorbike entitlement removed! He passed his test about 1965 and does not have any proof, we too are disgusted! Is there a way to get it reinstated without taking the test again?

After your previous stories and stories from other drivers that we had heard about we were reluctant to send in my husbands damaged drivers licence for replacement.
Have found out that you can now request a replacement drivers licence online and return the old one afterwards. This way you can check whether the new one has the correct details on it before sending the old one back. Be aware though that the photocard licence shows all the entitlements on it but the paper copy doesnt have any details at all so you might want to copy the card licence to keep in a safe place in case of loss of the card.

if DVLA only keep records for 10 years what happens if like me your hgv & psv licence were removed for 10 years because of a siezure ?DVLA,S apparent law does that mean i have to re-take my tests ?

Hello,

I have moved a few times over the years, and have sent my licence to the DVLA for renewal, I got my latest one back, only to find that I can now drive a manual car, great! considering I passed in an automatic.

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Good item!.
I was interested in touring europe this summer, but i found out that some countries only accept the photo id cards now, so as i still have the OLD type licence & in view of the numerous DVLA "errors" I darent take the risk and send my old one off to get changed!.
Oddly if had just wanted to change my address it would be free of charge-otherwise its £19.00 !.

I passed my driving test (car) in 1979 and the category on my paper driving licence is A which at that time was for a car and E (for a moped up to 50cc). I wonder if the muddle is occurring because DVLA have changed the lettering of the categories?

I want to get a new plastic licence but wonder if I would also lose my entitlement.

Hi I have just watched your news on DVLA I went through the same
thing in 2002 I have been riding for 36yrs now, but in 2001 I went to my local bike dealer to try a new bike out, they asked for my licence and went photocopy it, thats when I found out that I could not ride a bike, after phone calls and letters to the DVLA they said there was nothing I could do, apart from retaking my test which I did in 2002 at a cost of about £400 not happy

Hi,
I am a retired Driving Standards Agency Driving Examiner.
During my time as an Examiner I had quite a few calls to my office from drivers almost in tears.....they had sent their licence to DVLA for some form of update and on returning the licence the DVLA had omitted to include their 'Heavy Goods' entitlement.
When they queried this omission the DVLA said it was up to them to prove that they had passed their LGV or PCV driving test.
(The training and subsequent test for these catorgeries of vehicles is very expensive....eg:- a total of around £1500 for both parts of the LGV licence)
These days, if the candidates Provisional licence is in order, then on passing the approproiate test, the Examiner will retain (and destroy) the licence and then a new 'full entitlement' is automatically sent to the candidate.
I always emphasised to the candidate that if they chose to send off their licence themselves.... then be sure to take a photocopy of it.
These pass certificates bear the Examiners signature and should be useful if things go wrong in the future!!

DVLA are not just difficult with driving licenses - I work for a plant hire company who regularly need to tax vehicles for the road. DVLA make many mistakes with the documentation but it is our company who then have to prove the correct information and provide the documentary evidence (even though this has already been provided). When we provide all the necessary documents to a local DVLA office, they still write for verification and further proof! This is because the paperwork is separated when it gets to Swansea but no one knows why and of course they are NEVER wrong. We tax dozens of vehicles but letters arrive on an almost daily basis requesting info that has already been provided. We sometimes have to pay fines because of their errors but they will never consider the customer at any time. This would not be allowed to happen if it was a private business. In our case, the problem is often due to inadequate forms which do not really cater for our needs - when I suggested they modify the forms or produce a new one - the answer was that they have recently been reviewed and it will probably be a few years before that is done again.

Hi, Talk about mistakes. A friend of mine applied for a provisional car licence, and was sent a full car licence without taking a test. He is not complaining................

Me too! Wrote letters, made phone calls. Their response was always the same - arrogance, we cannot possibly be wrong.
I passed my test in the 60s, however, I cannot prove it. Had I not discovered THEIR error I would be riding without a licence now!
Arrogance personified!

Going through exactly the same just now, sent my licence when i got married to change my name, mislaid my licence or maybe threw it out when having a clear out not exactly sure, applied for another licence came back a provisional, contacted dvla said that they had no record of me ever passing a test that i would have to sit test etc again, which im in the middle of doing right now, money making scheme i think, very hard to fight the goverment

Hey Ho its Christmas! Its not often I get something for nothing but following your programme I checked my license and what a pleasant surprise. Im covered for groups A, B, BE, B1, C1, C1E, D1, D1E AND A MYSTERIOUS F,K,L,N,P! I SHOULD JUST HAVE A AND B.Anyone looking for a Bus or HGV driver? (no previous experience however)
Sounds like DVLA need a makeover.

just watched the programme, we think its totally disgusting! The DVLA are mean't to be there to protect us and they are letting everyone down! It's hard to have faith in them! there is enough people on the roads who don't have licences for real!!! The police have to trust them, its not much support! Why should the genuine people of this world have to prove how honest they are, when its all their mistake.

The DVLA have been makeing huge mistakes for nearly a decade. My brother in law's brother had to send his provisional licence back to get a new card one instead of the paper one. The DVLA sent him a full uk licence back, what idiots. I didnt agree to him keeping it but he did. This has got to be worse than removing part of your entitlement, as he was a danger to every other road user.

I lost my bike licence when I moved house 3 years ago, when I got in touch with the DVLA they asked for proof. The only proof I had was my old licence which I had sent to them. They really need to sort this out.

Additional to this is car tax.

I have several vehicles that are parked up in my garage awaiting restoration and each one was declared SORN at the same time. When I received a fine for not taxing one of the cars I enquired why was this as I had not received a letter to re-tax or re-declare SORN. The response was to blame the computer and not every request for Tax is sent out for renewal. I paid the and I now provide them double the paperwork but sending off the SORN declaration for six cars twice a year.

So, they do this with SORN, what about vehicles that have Road fund licences, are some of those renewals not sent?

I am lucky with my licence that I have the original and prior to renewal I'll scan it into a PDF file so as to ensure that I have a record of the information

Diggers
Bristol

It's not just licences. After changing address they converted a rare 1958 landrover 2 wheel drive to a 1967 4x4. Took months to get them to correct it including getting Landrover to confirm the date of production

Hi, lost my licence for dangerous driving in oct 2006, then got another 6 month ban for driving whilst disq, With the dangerous driving i was ordered to take an extended driving test. When I was due to get my licence back jan 2007 the dvla informed me of this. I sent a cheque to them for my driving licence. When I recieved my licence they sent though a FULL driving licence. I drove on this licence and in aug 08 I took a class c (hgv) driving test and passed. In Sept o8 the dvla wrote to me and informed me that I was disq from driving and had to take an extended retest. There was no point in fighting it so I took the test and passed. but when my licence came though, i'd lost my class c. I also noticed that on the paper part it has a provisional class b which is car. I phoned up to find out what this ment and they informed that I took my test in a automatic which was incorrect. They told me to send the licence back while they investigate. There way, not the easy way of phoning up the test centre. anyway 2 weeks later they phoned and confirmed i took my test in a automatic. Which was wrong. So even there own system failed them. It was then sorted within 24hrs. I think everyone reading this should check there licence, because i only noticed bacause I needed the provisional class c to retake that test. And the normal joe public would never have noticed this error.

Recently whilst arranging car insurance i was given the news that my driving licence had been suspended in 1999. As this was news to me i contacted the DVLA. They confirmed that my licence was indeed suspended in 1999 yet they could and still cannot give me a reason why. As my bike licence was part of my original licence it would seem that i now have neither and have been told that i must take both tests again. Not impressed.

When we moved to the Netherlands in 1998, we were told that we had to get Dutch driving licences, which we did. The Dutch authorities kept our UK licences (the old paper ones). Three years later we were told that it was a mistake, and we could use our UK licences until expiry.

Our local council here said that they had sent them to the Dutch Dept. Transport, who assured us that they had been sent to DVLA at Swansea.

Swansea deny any knowledge, but said that in any case they couldn't return them to us, as they cannot 'issue' paper licences any more. But they could send us application forms for replacements, which would cost us £5 each. Goodness only knows what would happen if we returned to Oxford.

Just saw the show and thought we'd check our licences as a result. I got married in March 08, and my wife applied to change her licence shortly afterwards to reflect her change of surname. Have now discovered that the new licence that was issued apparently expired the day before it began...This from the department whose records are 100% accurate and don't make mistakes!! Disgraceful!!

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Funny, I have received my license back today from the DVLA as I passed my full Direct Access Motorcycle test just over a week ago on a 500cc bike, the license states that I am limited to a bike under 25kw even though I am 31 years old and did the full test. I contacted the DVLA and they have stated they will look into it but will probably require me to send my certificate to tehm to prove I have passed. I have refused given the number on the top right of the certificate and told the they have a copy of the certificate at the test center and that they have been sent a copy by my examiner, I know this as he explained to me after the test was completed.

I am awaiting a phone call tomorrow now to see if they are going to correct this, fingers crossed but after the show tonight I am somewhat worried to say the least, it's cost me in the region of £500 to complete the CBT test and Theory.

All this on the day the test changes to get more difficult too.

on the program tonight it was "mentioned" that the dvla only keep records for 10 years. this appears not to be "correct" to me as i informed the dvla after 25 years or so of a change of address yet they managed to send me a new licence even though i didn't send them an old one. i filled in a "lost" licence form which i think was no cost because of the change of address. unfortunately they did make some minor errors as concerning the catagory of trailer which i am allowed to tow but apart from that it was almost correct after a 25 year plus gap in records. as i have now found my original licence i might one day be tempted to put "egg" on their face about this as i have other more serious issues with them as regarding "sorns" and "personal" registrations amongst other things, some of them,in fact, being more than incompetence on behalf of the dvla but actually verging on fraud and criminal behaviour and even possibly theft.

I checked my licence because I replaced my paper one for a card one due to change of address I just found out that instead of running out in 2020 it runs out in 2016 so I have just sent a e-mail to dvla, CHECK DATES as well

I passed my test in 1998 for a car licence. In november 2008 i was pulled over by police only to be told that apparently my licence had been revoked by dvla in 2001,I did get 6 points at that time but was never told that my licence was revoked,and this was never stamped on my licence. I also have been pulled over many times and produced at police stations, over the years and nothing has come to light with my licence.. After paying for solicitors ect... The dvla wouldnt admit there mistakes, i had to re take my driving test in jan 2009,after applying for new provisional, taking theory test and paying for instructors. I have just been at court and got 3 penalty points and fined ! only because my insurance company backed me. I think the DVLA are all corrupt and out to make peoples life a misery and make as much money as possible !!!

This may be worth a mention when you update re the DVLA as there is also another serious problem facing thousands of motorists that have the photo licences.
I got mine in January 2000 having changed my address and I fully expected it to go on to my 70th Birthday (as my old green licence had) but to my surprise this licence expires in January 2010, yet only 6 years later I will be at that magic age - No-one informed me that when I surrendered my old green licence for a New Picture licence that this would be necessary.
I wonder how many folk who got their new style licence in 1999 realize that their licence is either coming up for renewal this year or is out of date ! Meaning they are therefore driving illegaly.
Hope this helps as you do a marvellous job sorting out those who screw up the management of businesses and the country.

after driving 6 years I had to change my address so i sent my license away ( as you do), totally forgot to chase it up for the new license due to new baby that was on the way who is now here.. a month and a half a go got stopped for not wearing a seat belt at the end of my street, fair enough! but on checking my details the police officer said i was only on a provisional, who then in turn said this could be a mistake. of coarse this was incorrect so i phoned the DVLA explaining my story. They inturn said Yes I had passed my test but I never had a full license, obviously I was dumbfounded by this. since then I have had no luck with the DVLA got 3 points on my licence and having to resit my test. just to add insult to injury i receive a letter from the DSA saying due to unforseen circumstances my test date has been posponed by nearly 2 weeks.
From my experiance the majority of call handlers i have spoken make feel like I am on little Briton ''Computer says No''

After driving HGV1's for over 30 years. Had medical as required every 5 years, sent paper and photo licence back to DVLA for renewal. When I received back my licence, on checking it I had HGV2 & HGV3 but only PROVISIONAL entitlement for HGV1. After phone calls to DVLA was told if I didn't have any proof of passing HGV1 test I had to re-take my test at a cost of up to £1k. I now have no class1 HGV licence and no job, as I was employed as a class1 driver. So am now unemployed at 60 through no fault of my own, and no means to pay for a re-test. All thanks to the DVLA.

same thing happened to my daughter last year. she passed her driving test when she was 18, i was there ! even her driving instructor could verify it BUT when she was stopped for a random vehicle check 4 years later and asked to show her documents. no problem , she took in her driving licence, insuarance document,mot etc they were checked and was told her licence was invalid . . . . . . . dvla had no record of her passing her test, even though she had her licence.She had to go to court and was prosecuted ! for not having a licence (even though she did have one !) also fined for having no insuarance, tax, mot as they said it was all invalid as she didnt have a driving licence !

Having just whached the bbc programme "Watch Dog" I would be interested to know, if the DVLA had your vehicle licence, would it not be possible to verify whether you had the necessary catageries on your licence.
trapper64

I passed my motorcycle test in 1968 and my car test in 1970. I continue to drive a car every day, sometimes with a trailer (which I can reverse) and occassionally a panel van. I haven't ridden a motorbike since 1973 BUT my photo-licence, renewed 4 years ago, still says I'm licensed to drive 'A', a motorbike! (It also has listed B,BE,B1,C1,C1E,D1,D1E, fklnp)

I certainly would even contemplate it without having lessons first!
Diana

Hi everyone I would like to say about DVLA removing the entilements is this could be people getting confused. When you take a test you are given a pass certificate on which it states you must apply for your full lience within the first two years of pass date. Othewise you will have take the test again. If a person forget to apply for the full lience and continues to drive after the two year period then that lience on DVLA computer with read void. Simly they have held a full lience.
How if a person has passed their test 20 years ago or they cannot remember then they can contact the Driving Standards Agency who should have a record on your driving lience number when you passed your test and which category you have.
Finally when you send in for a change for what ever reason always make a copy of it.

That is why I always make copies,put date and time on them when I send off any documents to any organization. I even still have my license from when I passed it in 1988. Don't even hold your breath if they tell you "We will call you back", yeah right. The UK has the worst customer service that I have ever experienced.

same thing happened to my daughter last year. she passed her driving test when she was 18, i was there ! even her driving instructor could verify it BUT when she was stopped for a random vehicle check 4 years later and asked to show her documents. no problem , she took in her driving licence, insuarance document,mot etc they were checked and was told her licence was invalid . . . . . . . dvla had no record of her passing her test, even though she had her licence.She had to go to court and was prosecuted ! for not having a licence (even though she did have one !) also fined for having no insuarance, tax, mot as they said it was all invalid as she didnt have a driving licence ! she lost her job and cant afford to retake her test as she had to sell her car to pay her fine ! can you believe it !!!!!!

just been involved in a crash now the police tell me i dont have licence aparently it expired yet the dvla admit i passed the test in the year 2000 in alot of mess now cant do my job guese what the dvla say they 100 percent right but i did have a full licence glad i am not the only one fighting the dvla

There is a more basic problem about the DVLA (and many other Government Departments) in that they have a culture of always being right - underscored by much recent legislation and supported from the very top. It is summed up by the law saying that they are always right - even when wrong. It is now the law that the status of anyone's licence, car tax, car registration or whatever is the status of the computer record, thus assuming that the "system" is infallible. If there is a mistake there then the mistake is legally correct and it is up to the individual to correct it, which your viewers are finding to be difficult because the organisation (and the people who work there and their bosses) believe that they are always right.

It is this culture that inevitably leads to such issues. It assumes computers are never wrong (whereas it is always true that the people who run the computer are fallible - even if the machine isn't). It will need a change of culture, driven from the top, to change it - and don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen because it would be hard and expensive to achieve.

And it will be true of the ID card system. If you think that suddenly losing your bike licence is annoying, just think what the impact of not being a person any more would be.

Having got a new passport last week (via a one-day service, which went flawlessly), I thought I'd take the opportunity to finally get a photo-licence - knowing that my new passport photo would be used automatically for my licence. Interesting then that having tried on Friday, and failed, and being told by DVLA that changes are happening to the system over the weekend, I still can't update my licence because the system is still completely down...

When I returned to the UK in 2007 from Spain - having lived there for 14 years - I sent my Spanish licence to the DVLA to be changed back into a UK one. Having watched "Watchdog" tonight I decided to check to see what I can drive or ride - and I couldn't believe what I saw!!

My licence allows me to use categories A, B, BE, BE1, C1, CIE, D1 and D1E - and probably a steam engine, too, if I look close enough. I have only passed a test to drive a car and ride a motorbike!

Anybody want to buy a licence?

Stan in Hartlepool.

another case against being an honest subject.
I have the same problem and was advised to re-take the test as the cheapest option by a solicitor. I sent my license in for the new plastic one, a change of address, and to add my bike license past 18 months before.
they still have the evidence at the DSA so Ive had trouble booking a new test because they think I've passed already.
I'm completely sick of the way I'm treated in this country (born and breed here.) and this was nearly the straw that broke the camels back.
I have contemplated may coarses of action the latest being to deduct the retest costs from my tax bill

i pas my hgv test in the royal air force and i was stopped in june by the police for something else ,i was told that my hgv was not valid and i was charged with falsifying my licence and taken to court and found guilty, a person from dvla said that they had no record of this and they did not have my documents eg,my forces licence or my pass certificate ,i try to get hold of details from RAF but my file from my old base had been distroyed as my old unit had been disbanded,so i had no proof to show the courts and got 8 points on my licence and £265 pound fine ,which has left me with not being able to get as hgv driver or a van driver i would like some help with this and what to do

I have been a full uk licence holder since 1996 and driving for a living for the last 10 years. In october last year i applied for and successfully got myself a job as a courier driver. My new employer did a licence check with the dvla. my employer contacted me to tell me there was a problem with my licence and to contact the dvla this i did. the dvla then told me that they had negeted my driving test as i had been disqualified from driving some time in the early 90s so the provisional licence i sat my test on was not valid so i would have to resit the test. I lost my job and was forced onto benifits i have never been disqualified from driving in my life i told them several times they had made a mistake several times they told me they dont make mistakes.I Asked them for the details court & dates ECT they said they no longer had the details. After 6 monthes of letter writing numerous phone calls i eventualy contacted my MP who looked into it for me they told him the dates he passed them to me so i was able to go to the courts with these dates who said i have no convictions but there was another person with the same name as me who was disqualified on the date in question in the youth courts i was 35 at the time. God only knows how they made this mistake i sent all this infomation to the dvla 3 weeks ago and they have given me my driving licence back i asked how could this have happend they just said they cant comment on it iv had no explanation or even a simple sorry 6 monthes ago i had a nice life and a good job. I have just had 6 monthes of hell and lies of them. ok got my licence back still got no job and im about £10.000 down not even had a sorry of them.

When I last changed my car I sent the DVLA the part of the V5 saying I had done so. They claimed they never got it, fined me £30.00 and were unspeakably arrogant, outlining an administration procedure that is archaic and also claiming that none of their post ever gets lost or misdirected. It was, apparently, up to me to prove that they had never received it. They used to be fairer to witches
I got my MP involved and to his utter discredit the minister responsible sent me a letter stating that the DVLA is infallible. If they're so good why aren't they running the banks?

My husband passed his car test in 1978 and applied for a new licence after losing his paper copy in 2004. The DVLA claimed they had no record of him despite an appeal and providing as many details as possible. They said he could appeal to the Secretary of State but it would take 12 months and he would still not be entitled to drive during that time. So he opted to take the test again and passed but we are still left fuming at being left out of pocket. The insurance company he was with were sympathetic as his wasn't the first case they had encountered but the policy still increased until the no-claims bonus was built back up again, plus the cost of refresher lessons, a provisional license, the test and added costs of not being able to drive for months.

All the contact we had from them suggested that their system was infallable.

Can you draft an appropriate form letter for us to send to DVLA requesting confirmation of the details they hold on us please. If we swamp them maybe they may get the message about quality control.

The DVLA doesn't have any legitimate right to ask for proof of passing the test again after it has already issued a licence which showed the correct details. That's like denying a receipt is valid after you've issued it. The licence is, effectively, a receipt that confirms that you have provided adequate proof for the licence to have been issued.

Is the DVLA now saying it can't access its own records of licences issued?

Or is it saying that its own records can't be trusted and are unreliable?

Whichever one, it is a public scandal and needs to be dealt with.

Whichever one, it proves the Department to be unfit for purpose with senior civil servants that need to sacked for poor performance. (Or perhaps DVLA was where they dumped the useless ones from the Home Office, when it 'lost' all those foreign criminals a while back.)

A tip: scan both sides of your photocard licence and counterpart - before you send them back to DVLA - into a .pdf file as evidence that the licence you send back to them DID have the correct entitlements.

You can then print off or email these umpteen times (if needed) without losing your own copy of it.

And complain to Sir Gus O'Connell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service. It's his job to make sure his Departmental Managers are preforming adequately.

The item about mix-ups with driving licences is astonishing and outrageous. I am both a car driver and a motorcyclist. I have ridden my bikes almost daily for about fifty years and hope to continue to do so. How can a Government department consider itself unaccountable? We pay these people's salaries. I shall be writing to my MP (also a car and motorbike man) and demanding an assurance that this situation is investigated and sorted out. Well done Watchdog!

when you know your right and the dvla keep saying they dont make mistakes? (we all know they do) never give up keep phoning them keep writing letters till you become a pain in the backside to them I did!

A lot of people also do not realise that "photocard" licences require renewing every ten years with a new photo, mine is up in October and I am determined not to lose my motorcycle entitle which was achieved with a lot of hard work not to mention the cost. The arrogance of the DVLA is breath taking. Surely there must be some re-course in law regarding this, if people take litigation against the DVLA for their mistakes then maybe this would help us. I have electronic copies of my licence and test pass certificates but I understand that not even this is acceptable proof of entitlement. I shall be lobbying my MP for action!

Government Dept. incompetence yet AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!
This typifies the poor customer service that is destroying confidenace in the standards of service we should expect but these days rarely get.

In 2007 my son in law sent his licence to be updated following a change of address - when it came back they had removed his motorbike licence.
no matter how many phone calls or letter they would not budge.
it cost me £500 to put him through his bike training & test again, because like most young family's they could not afford this sort of cost themselves & he needed his bike licence to travel to work.

At the time of contacting a training centre, they said - O NO, not another one.
How can the DVLA keep getting away with this.
It's like giving them a licence to print money.

Hi, can't believe it but mine and my dads bike cat A have both been removed, passed test in 1976 but thats all I remember. Never thought to check until we saw the programe changed my licence when photo ones came out and its been sitting in my wallet ever since. This can't be right there must be something we can do.