Stolen licence and DVLA problems

[honeybee13]

Hello guys, I hope you can help me here please.

 

As I said above, my licence was stolen so I applied online for a new one. I have a digital passport and it seems the systems can talk to each other so I don't have to send the DVLA the photo that makes me look like a serial killer .

 

They say they sent me something to say they couldn't get their system to speak to the passport office, which I never got. When I rang, it seems that there is a hyphen missing from my name that stops the two systems speaking and it's wrong on the DVLA system. I wrote last week and asked them to change my name, as they suggested I should do, and I've heard nothing since.

 

How long should this alteration take please, or am I better sticking with a new paper application and my horrible photo?

 

Any comments very welcome.

 

HB

[totiesquoties]

hi honeybee,

 

sorry to hear you had your licence stolen, my advice would be to ring the dvla, and ask all your questions, the letter you sent last week it is not long enough yet i would thinkfor them to reply to you, as the normal business replies are usually about three weeks, also the paper licence i would go for every time, as you can feel it, touch it, see it, also i hope you sent your letter by recorded delivery, hope this is helpful. totiesquoties.

[Somebody Told Me]

Yeah I'd second that. Ring them up and I'm sure they'll be able to get this sorted for you.

Not to make you paranoid but has a form of your ID is now missing you may be more susceptable to ID fraud.

Maybe worth keeping an eye on your credit file for a few months to make sure you get no nasty surprises.

[honeybee13]

Thank you, Somebody told me, I'm doing that. It's all been a bit of a pain. They got my credit cards too, but I managed to cancel those before any transactions happened.

 

I wrote to the DVLA following a phone call to them when they told me to do this. The lady told me they can only add the hyphen to my name if I write in, and then the system will talk to the passport office if I apply again online.

 

Or would you suggest I start again with a paper application? My last online one lapsed because they took nearly a week to send me the paperwork to make this alteration. By the time it arrived, I'd gone away and when I got back they had lapsed my online application.

 

The lady on the phone was very fierce about it being my responsibility to inform them of the error. I have to say at the time, I assumed that their system couldn't cope with hyphens and as my names were spelled right, I left it. I never dreamed it would cause all this later on.

 

Thanks for your comments, guys.

 

HB

[Somebody Told Me]

If your online application has lapsed that it may be worth starting afresh via a paper one.

I know it's major pain in the rear end; I remember when my dad had his wallet stolen years ago and had to renew all his cards and license.

Luckily he only had a fiver in it so the thief would've felt a little disappointed when they opened it up...and they say crime pays!

[honeybee13]

Thank you. I'll wait until they reply about my name and then start again. Unless you think I should reapply now? I appreciate your help.

 

HB

[Somebody Told Me]

I'd double check first with the DVLA and see what they say.

[honeybee13]

Thank you STM, I'll try. They weren't very good last time, but I might find someone better if I try again.

 

My best, HB

[Somebody Told Me]

Hey HB, How you getting on with this?

Like you say sometimes speaking to someone different can reap the necessary rewards to get you to where you need to.

Fingers crossed for some good news soon.

STM

[honeybee13]

Thank you STM, I'll keep you posted. Nothing in the post yet, I thought I'd give them the 3 weeks. At least they're not on strike like their French counterparts.

 

HB

[Somebody Told Me]

Touch wood we'll be postal strike free for a good while.

The year wouldn't be complete without a French workers strike would it?

[honeybee13]

As a friend of mine from the Antipodes said, it's their national sport!

 

HB

[Somebody Told Me]

I'd tend to agree especially after watching their awful showing at the World Cup.