PARTIAL SUCCESS AGAINST DVLA - A disabled tale

[please return my money]

I had an accident at work and dvla said no problems with your licence just let us know when/if injuries are permanent.

So eventually, once it had been confirmed, I did. So after various communications, the dvla revoked my full driving licence so I was left still disabled and now transportless. My father was terminally ill with cancer and without a car I couldnt visit and help etc etc.

On the documents the only appeal process was through magistrates Court - and believe it or not, I was not listed as plaintiff but as defendant. This was embarrassing.

So DVLA failed to turn up so Magistrates rescheduled an early full hearing due to family circumstances.

The DVLA tried every trick in the book. They actually issued me with a temporary licence not long before the court date (a partial success because it meant I could drive) but then said, that if I continued with the case, there would be very expensive legal charges, and they are always awarded and insinuated there was no way my appeal would be successful.

Well, I dont like being intimidated, so I prepared very well. At court, there was little old me, and finally when they arrived, a top Barrister turned up and a DVLA medical expert all the way from Swansea who had a very pleasant overnight stay at a London Hotel so he told me.

At the end the DVLA stated they wanted Costs just under 1,000 pounds if I remember correctly.

I explained to the Magistrates, that the paperwork sent to me gave me a right of appeal and I had exercised that right, that if the DVLA had not revoked my full permanent driving licence and left me without any licence, or had sent me for a mobility test, which they are able to do, the Court appearance would not have been necessary. I also pointed out that my application was in no way malicious.

The Magistrates suggested the DVLA look into giving me a mobility test, which I am still awaiting and NO COSTS WERE AWARDED and the Magistrates gave the DVLA words of advice.

It was great to see the look of shock when costs were not awarded. Just remember if you are honest, its not always necessary to pay fortunes to get justice.

I believe this to be a success story, because it only cost my time and printing money to prepare for the case, I got back a driving licence albeit a temporary one, and I didnt have to pay costs.

[citizenB]

Congratulations. I hope you manage to get a your full licence back soon.

[please return my money]

many thanks citizen B

[citizenB]

[Tom87]

Congratulations! They are real monsters sometimes, it's brilliant to hear no damages were awarded. Best of wishes with getting your full licence back.

[Conniff]

Congratulations from me too.

In future you should only renew your tax on line or communicate via recorded post as they will have no doubt flagged you up as a target to get even with.

[mintychill]

I wouldn't have believed that people at the DVLA would set out to 'get even', but in my case there is definitely some closing of ranks. As for their professionalism, well, it doesn't exist. They have far too much power and they use it badly. It is time that someone turned the whole rotten system upside down. Hopefully that will be me.

[mintychill]

I despise the way these people use their power. I am willing to use anything I have to bring their hamfisted and unethical working methods to public attention. I have now had another letter from my MP, who is going to approach the Minister. I think they are being especially tough on me because I have given them hell from Day 1, to the extent that they did not one, but two reviews and came up with an entirely different reason to their original decision as to why I cannot drive.

One strong objection I have, apart from their taking my driving licence away, is to their persistent use of an 0870 number followed by multi menus. This is a nice little earner for them, as they make more money the longer they have you on the phone. When I queried this, I was told by a Dr. Boyd (who really shouldn't be involving himself in day to day administration, but that was where the buck stopped that day) that the DVLA did not set the tariff, the service provider did. Ah, but who gets to choose the service provider? I was also told, and have in writing, that the decision was made back in 1999 to charge a premium rate for callers, to cover costs of staffing, admin etc. This is absurd! It is beyond belief! Dr. Boyd went on to bleat that all information is in the public domain already, so the requirement that it be available in some form other than by telephone has been fulfilled. Well, a) there is only general information in the public domain. b) it takes the DVLA between 5 and 17 days to open a letter and scan it into their system before actioning it. c) they do not give specific information in emails. So desperate people like me, and a lot of others who have been disadvantaged and stunned by licence withdrawal, call the only number available and end up paying the DVLA wages! This is shocking and not legally permitted in the case of a Government department, but they have been getting away with it for nine years!

I have a private medical to assess my fitness to drive on Saturday, but I don't even know if it's about my fitness any more. They are using the fact that I had medication privately prescribed by e-Med (a perfectly legal British service) in an attempt at labelling me a drug abuser.

I cannot believe that this corruption is ongoing and permitted. My investigations will continue long after I get my licence back.

[patdavies]

Originally Posted by mintychill

I was also told, and have in writing, that the decision was made back in 1999 to charge a premium rate for callers, to cover costs of staffing, admin etc. This is absurd! It is beyond belief!

Well another example where the DVLA are simply wrong.

0870 is not premium rate - it is national rate.

Premium rate numbers start 09...

Originally, the 08.... numbers were set up to provide non-geographical numbers for national organisations.

0870 meant that all calls were charged to the caller at a national call rate
0845 meant that all calls were charged to the caller at a local call rate
0800 meant that all calls were charged to the caller at zero rate.

[mintychill]

I stand corrected. Yes, it 0870 used to be the national rate, but the DVLA use it so that they can take a portion of the call cost. Also, in these days when many people have an all-inclusive tariff, the 0870 number is not included. So, when you are already staggering from financial loss (in my case my part time business collapsed when I could not drive) you have to listen to multi-menu after multi menu. When finally you get to speak to someone, they have limited access to your records and will tell you very little. The frustration is immense. Dr. Boyd 'estimated' that the average call cost is that of a stamp - when did he last buy a stamp? One call, during which I spent about four minutes actually talking to an adviser and the rest listening to multi menus, came up at a cost of 2.70.

These people are such inept, thieving, corrupt liars that their continuing to function is beyond belief.

[Tom87]

Try this:

SAYNOTO0870.COM - Non-Geographical Alternative Telephone Numbers

It is a large database of 0870 numbers, and it tells you the proper, normal phone number that you can also use to contact them. It doesn't always work but it's worth a try and will (i) save you money, and (ii) give them less money!