[Ronnie1234]

I was involved in an accident thursday, I contacted my insurance company, gave them all the accident details and was put through to another division, help hire who again took all my details, they then pursued a three way call with DVLA to check licence details. To my utter shock & disbelief, the lady at the DVLA said that I was only on a provisional licence & gave me another number to call - the enquiry line. Called the enquiry line and the lady there said that they had never received my full application and I was still on a provisional licence. I am utterly shocked by this. The lady said I would have received a letter six months after my test pass explaining that I hadn't applied for my licence. I never received this letter, but that is probably due to the fact I had applied for my licence.

I then worriedly embarked on delving through all my paperwork, and found a letter from DVLA dated one month after my practical test. The letter from yourselves says thank you for your recent application / correspondence which I have to return to you. Please sign the D750 form. Please supply photocopy of your passport that has not been enlarged.

I have a copy of the signed and dated passport photo I then sent to DVLA.

Therefore, they must have received my initial application form, to then write to me requiring additional information.

I thought I had lost my licence during a recent move and was about to change my address with yourselves.

I have now contacted DVLA with copy of theory pass, practical pass, correspondence received & sent to them.
I am so worried now.

[Rolebama]

I have read your post twice, and still don't understand it fully. It looks like you applied for a license, then had all paperwork returned, and you haven't returned it. Is that right?
If so, I would advise seeking legal advice. It is one thing to be entitled to a license, but another to be in possession of it.
There was a program on TV last year where people had been issued wrong entitlements on their licenses. It was mainly motorcyclists who were issued car licenses. A spokesman for DVLA stated that if they did not return the wrong licenses within three months, they lost the entitlement to their full licenses, and would have to retake the Motorcycle Driving Test. I assume this may well apply to a car license.

[Ronnie1234]

It is a bit confusing I know.

The DVLA are saying they never received my application for a full licence.

But I trawled through my paperwork & they must have received my application, because they asked for further information, this further information I then sent to them. I have the copies of that.

I have read many horror stories regarding licence problems & fear they are going to tell me I do not have a full licence. Though I don't understand why this has not come to light previously, as I've always taken out insurance, and had two accidents previously.


Am so worried now.

[smudger]

Geez! and to think that it was mentioned on another thread in here, that the DVLA take over car insurance as well as licenses:eek:
I hope you get it all sorted in the end, good luck.
Cheers, Smudger.

[Ronnie1234]

Thanks. Judging by watchdog website, there are a lot of people in similar boat to myself. I suppose I just sit, wait & hope now

[Ronnie1234]

No response from DVLA as yet, thought they may have called. Do these things take a while?
I seem to remember having a letter through the post a few years back for a speeding offence at which time I asked for a photograph, photo came back of me in car on my own. I completed the document then with my driver number - would this licence problem not have been picked up then?

[wagolynn]

Have you thought of starting from the other end? Test centre records, driving instructor. Ask local MP. Have you got access to legal help on insurance/RAC or other? Citizens Advise may fix you up with a free session with a solicitor. Good luck.

[Rolebama]

I would write to the DVLA and get their comments in black and white.
With regard to the Driver Number, if this was from a Provisional License, I would have hoped they would pick up on it, as, assumingly, you were not displaying 'L' plates, either.
I would again suggest getting legal advice, as it does seem that you could be in trouble, and in the present climate regarding unlicensed or uninsured drivers, you really do need professional advice.

[Ronnie1234]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

Have you thought of starting from the other end? Test centre records, driving instructor. Ask local MP. Have you got access to legal help on insurance/RAC or other? Citizens Advise may fix you up with a free session with a solicitor. Good luck.

I sent to the DVLA a copy of my practical test confirmation with the other information I sent. Should I wait for response from DVLA before contacting local MP, or contact while I wait? I do have legal assistance on my insurance, but will this be void, if my licence isn't a full licence? Yes, think I may contact citizens advice-though they only seem to be open when I'm in work

[wagolynn]

Originally Posted by Ronnie1234

I sent to the DVLA a copy of my practical test confirmation with the other information I sent. Should I wait for response from DVLA before contacting local MP, or contact while I wait? I do have legal assistance on my insurance, but will this be void, if my licence isn't a full licence? Yes, think I may contact citizens advice-though they only seem to be open when I'm in work

Contacting local MP will take time, but take him copies of whatever you have.

Citizen’s advice in some areas can be contacted by phone.

Your insurers will have to know sometime, again copies of whatever you have to support your case.

The driving test centre, for the practical, may keep records. Your instructor may know if this is so, but being civil servants I would be surprised if they do not have some sort of record. I see you have that ok.

Reviewing this, perhaps Test centre should be first then the rest in any order.

I would be sick with worry just waiting.

[Ronnie1234]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

The driving test centre, for the practical, may keep records. Your instructor may know if this is so, but being civil servants I would be surprised if they do not have some sort of record. I see you have that ok.

Reviewing this, perhaps Test centre should be first then the rest in any order.

I would be sick with worry just waiting.

I already have a copy of the practical test - I have sent this to DVLA, with other information. So what else do I require from Test Centre?

I am sick with worry, it's the waiting thing as well. I think they will advise me to take both my theory & practical again-this is what I fear. I know they have received my letter, but wonder how long they take to deal with it, will they call, mail, e-mail!

[wagolynn]

Sorry I messed that up a bit, it looks as though you have got proof from the test centre that you took your test and passed. So the rest of the stuff is aimed at being ready to counter them saying, do it all again. I am sure they will, if you look to be on your own but MP/legal support will help to make them think again, I hope. Think about insurers, especially if you have legal cover, the longer they are in the dark the worse it looks.
DVLC. Yes the wait is awful, they will probably not rush but in one way it lets you get ahead as above.

[Ronnie1234]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

So the rest of the stuff is aimed at being ready to counter them saying, do it all again. I am sure they will, if you look to be on your own but MP/legal support will help to make them think again, I hope. Think about insurers, especially if you have legal cover, the longer they are in the dark the worse it looks.
DVLC. Yes the wait is awful, they will probably not rush but in one way it lets you get ahead as above.

So, I will find out my local MP and send him a copy of everything along with a cover letter explaining the situation and the same thing to the insurance company. Recorded delivery to both. As this situation is quite long winded (you will see from my first post) I hope it doesn't confuse these persons too much! Am unsure as to whether I should or shouldn't be driving at present

[wagolynn]

In the case of the MP I would try and meet him face to face take as much factual evidence as you have. If you check he/she will probably have a website, from there you will be able find details of his/her local office and when he/she holds his/her surgeries. (Isn’t political correctness fun? :))

On the insurance front, you must think this through yourself first: what will the insurance company say/do? If you decide to contact them I would approach the legal help first. Again have all your facts assembled, ask for their advice. (My thought here is if you have fully comp they may drop this to minimum legal requirement third party)

You may decide to go the Citizens advice (CAB) route first, (solicitors are supposed to give you a half hour session free but I have known people who have been charged but never with CAB) on the grounds that the solicitor is neutral.

I hear that the head of DVLA was on Watchdog last night, (I did not see it) it may be worth looking on the BBC iplayer thing. You may get a clue as to how they are going to deal with these mistakes.

The DVLA are likely to say they never received the second lot of stuff you sent, but if they are having stick from the media they may be more helpful.

Of course all of the above is just my opinion nothing more. Sit down with a sensible friend/partner and talk through what may happen for each choice.

I am sure that others will be interested in how it all works out, post if you need any clarification.

[Rolebama]

I'm sorry to say it, but I think you are muddying the water a little with reference to MPs and the like. You are possibly looking at being prosecuted for driving without a license. As I say entitlement and possession are not the same. (A person who is disqualified, has entitlement to a license, but not possession.) You need proper, solid legal advice. You should not have any problem finding a solicitor locally, who will give you an initial consultation for a very low cost.

[Ronnie1234]

I have e-mailed MP to see when the hold clinics as it is not publicised on his website, you need to call or e-mail the office.

I have got legal cover on my policy, am trying to decide whether to contact them regarding this now, or give it a few days?

I have now e-mailed CAB to see their thoughts on the situation and if they would like me to visit office with documents.

I watched last weeks & this weeks on iplayer, read the blog on their website also. Some cases successful, some not it seems. Though they did visit the DVLA in Swansea in person to resolve two cases.

This is what I fear they are going to say, that they never received the second lot of information required - how should I react to this?

I have spoken with my partner about it, he seems quite baffled by the whole situation, keeps saying I should ring DVLA for update, this is easier said than done to get through to person dealing with this case.

I am also now fearing I will be prosecuted for driving without posession of a licence. Like it says above, it's one thing to be entitled, but another to be in posession - is this how the DVLA will look at it?

[wagolynn]

Right technically you currently hold a provisional licence and all that follows from that.
Morally your licence should be a full driving licence. Previous posts have been aimed at developing the moral aspect, (A.) To put pressure on the DVLA to try again should they come back with the wrong answer and (B.) If the worst comes to the worst you are in a position to show that you did not knowingly commit a crime. Rolebama is correct here but I assume you are doing the provisional licence things already, if not, it is a big gamble.

[Ronnie1234]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

Morally your licence should be a full driving licence. Previous posts have been aimed at developing the moral aspect, (A.) To put pressure on the DVLA to try again should they come back with the wrong answer and (B.) If the worst comes to the worst you are in a position to show that you did not knowingly commit a crime.

Do you think I should take a different approach?
Should I call DVLA to see what is happening, or should I just wait?

[wagolynn]

If you feel it would help you with the frustration, then I would use E-mail until I could get a name to talk to at the DVLA. Only other thing I can think of is your legal help, yes I know they may precipitate the insurance company making a move, but the insurers have to decide anyway, I feel delay eats away at the moral argument. This may not be your style, as you may have gathered I tend to prepare to attack, because I hate waiting for the bomb to go off. If there is no known escape I will go and pull the pin. I am still alive. I think if you LOOK to be organised and in control it often tips the scales your way. But if you choose that route you must really do it. Hence the face to face with MP it is almost impossible for anyone not to have sympathy for your case. The MP is more likely to know who to tip the wink to than anyone we know. It costs you nothing, it does not make the situation any worse if MP cannot help; in subsequent dealings with the authorities you can mention MP’s name, it may just tip the balance......
I hope this helps a bit and good luck.

[Ronnie1234]

I forwarded my original letter to DVLA, by e-mail to them also, on the day I posted it, so maybe I will forward that e-mail again, asking them if anyone has looked at it?
I hate waiting also - if I am going to have to go down the whole taking test again route, I would rather know sooner. But if the matter can be resolved before, so much the better.
Maybe I should send copies of everything I have to legal dept of insurance then, like you say insurance will need to know eventually. My insurance company did say they were ringing me today for update, so if they call I could ask them then.
I still haven't heard from MP office as to when he holds surgeries.
Not heard from CAB either
Seems I haven't heard from a lot of people, which isn't calming my nerves!

[wagolynn]

I think you will find that the legal and insurance side are different offices. Talk to the legal lot before you send anything to them. The insurance side may be able to advise you on what cover you have now. After that it looks like waiting and waiting and waiting.........
I would expect the legal boys/girls (off we go again - PC) and others will eventually want it all in writing that should keep you busy for a looooong time.....

[Ronnie1234]

MP office e-mailed me back asking if they could help via e-mail, rather than an actual meeting. I explained the circumstances, to MP assistant. She came back to me and advised that the MP was happy to help pursue my case with the DVLA. She wanted my address and driving licence number, so have provided her with both current and past address and asked if she wanted copies of what I sent the DVLA faxed to her, she said yes, and I will fax these to her tomorrow.

[wagolynn]

Originally Posted by Ronnie1234

MP office e-mailed me back asking if they could help via e-mail, rather than an actual meeting. I explained the circumstances, to MP assistant. She came back to me and advised that the MP was happy to help pursue my case with the DVLA. She wanted my address and driving licence number, so have provided her with both current and past address and asked if she wanted copies of what I sent the DVLA faxed to her, she said yes, and I will fax these to her tomorrow.

Sounds like some sort of progress I have everything crossed here. Makes typing hard though!

[Ronnie1234]

I can imagine!

Hopefully MP knows how to speak to the right people at DVLA, rather than going through the call centre as I would. It does give me a glimmer of hope that this will be sorted shortly.
Hopefully the way I want it to turn out.

[wagolynn]

I assume no news is good news, still all crossed up though.:)

[Ronnie1234]

Glad to hear it! :)

Received letter from MP office today, with a copy of the letter they have sent to Chief Executive of DVLA. The letter they have sent basically expresses my concern & worry and reiterating what has occurred.

My fear now is the DVLA will respond to the letter I have sent, before we get a response from letter MP has sent, they may have contrasting views!

[wagolynn]

Thanks, has anything happened with Insurance Company yet? Only post if you want to.

[Ronnie1234]

Originally Posted by wagolynn

Thanks, has anything happened with Insurance Company yet? Only post if you want to.

Insurance not contacted me as such. Only the Help Hire Centre which organises courtesy car and the repairs. I told them on Wednesday that I was still waiting for the DVLA, they said fine they would call me today. But if nothing comes in post, I have nothing to update them on as yet

[wagolynn]

I am not sure that the courtesy car provider – it is effectively a car hire – will not let you have a car until the DL issue is resolved.

Looking at my small print; my insurer would reduce cover to minimum legal straight 3rd party if I supplied, knowingly or un-knowingly, incorrect information, licence, convictions, address etc. I would want to get this sorted, certainly before you get involved in what may be the cost of a hire car – under 3rd party cover they will not pay -. It all hinges on someone thinking you have had some bad luck or a jobsworth. Of course the jobsworth will save them a lot of money!

[Ronnie1234]

Nothing arrived in post.

I don't want to go ahead with the Help Hire thing until I know if the licence has been resolved - otherwise I could be left with a hefty bill. Therefore when they call, I will tell them am still waiting for DVLA.

The insurance company haven't contacted me, just this Help Hire Centre. I think there must be money in this help hire centre thing, as they want to ring every day / every other day