Safe Speed Forums

Did anyone else catch Watchdog this evening? They ran an article on DVLA screwing up, mentioning the 30% dodgy record thing again but really concentrated on replacement licences. Bikers seem to be particularly prone to suffering when sending off their old licences to be replaced with the photocard variety. Ooops, DVLA send 'em back with no Cat A on. Some very cheesed off bikers about becuase the pencil pushing imbeciles are telling the bikers to go and do the bike test again at their own expense.

And if you think that's bad, they spoke to another driver who'd had the additional categories accidentally erased from his licence when he checked his photocard... but not a biker. The guy was an HGV driver, and it cost him a couple of grand to re-pass. I was impressed how calm he was - I'd have been farting sparks if it had happened to me.

But the icing on the cake was a guy who'd sent off for the photocard and got his licence back with more categories than he he'd passed tests for. Bike I think, and PSV He'd never driven a PSV in his natural - no test, no training, nothing. But he's now technically a PSV driver... worth a few bob to him if he wasn't the honest type. And the DVLA bloke they sent for the Beeb to interview obviously forgot that bit when he started wittering on. He said they had safety obligations to be sure road users didn't get driving entitlements they hadn't earned... not much comfort for the bikers and HGV drivers who've needlessly had to retake tests, and a load of crap as far as the non-PSV PSV driver goes.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

Crikey Had to have a fish in the old wallet (no spare cash identified ) to check my photocard licence. Cat A, and all the others, present and correct. Phew.

Can't say I'm surprised by this. DVLNI screwed up a friend's M/C licence a lot of years back. He was stonewalled for months until they eventually admitted (in response to a letter from our MP) to having prematurely destroyed the documentation because they were running out of cupboard space or something.

The net result, of course, was that he was screwed because they aren't accountable despite the fact that you actually have to pay them to be treated like this.

I can hardly wait for the National ID Card. People will probably end up having to disfigure themselves to match the bogus information on those cards - "Sorry Sir, your biometrics indicate that you have only one eye."

Now call me old fashioned, but - i love my old paper licence more now.

They should be able to scan in every single licence they receive and keep a copy without much problem for at least a year. Britannia building society do this with every bit of post they receive so it shouldn't be a problem in this day and age.

Yep - agree- but look at problems with other Government departments on systems - DSS/Jobcentres - are a good example.
My local council got a new accounting system - now if i pay a cheque in for rent i get a balance - trouble is i need another statement to tell me if it is credit or debit
Government departments get the system/software their accountants decide is right - not what is needed.

At least there's a solution. What if the biometrics said you were supposed to have three eyes?

I'm glad I'm not the only one hanging onto the old paper licence, though it's getting a bit dog-eared now. Okay, I don't have any extra categories to protect, but the level of ineptitude is such that I don't trust them not to make an error on it somewhere. On the other hand that bloke getting an unearnt PSV category on his licence makes me think maybe I could keep sending it back. Bit like a one armed bandit... play the game long enough and eventually you get all the categories you want.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

If this is a rant at technology - or lack of it, then I have mountains of evidence of the major hickup in every system - the failure of human and computer to integrate!!
I have previously documented two DVLA cock ups, but my most recent beef involved getting my phone cut off.
Thinking it was out of order, I phoned via mobile to report the fault, only to be told I was disconnected for non-payment of the bill. When I pointed out it WAS paid, the techy checked - and of course found nothing owing on my account.
24 hours later, I was reconnected, (on Sunday) only to receive a threatening letter from a debt recovery agency on the Tuesday for the outstanding amount I did'nt owe them!!

Needless to say in the course of getting old bills out to get the account details, I also discovered that I was being charged for services I had not asked for (£10.50 a quarter) and paying more than I should for my broadband connection!!
So far their best offer has been a £10 credit on my phone bill, £20 on my internet bill, and an allegation that they have had difficulties with my account for some time!!!

If you have not done so already, CHECK YOUR PHONE BILL for charges and services, and also see if you are paying more than they quote for new business!!!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

And from only a couple of large suppliers, who's employees tend to be smooth, wear nice suits and shiny shoes, drive new BMWs, "talk the talk"... And are hopelessly incompetent.

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"Politicians are the same the world over... We build bridges where there aren't any rivers." - Nikita Kruschev

Slightly off topic, but leading on from Ernest's problems of being overcharged by BT.
BT recently launched a privacy campaign -"Register and stop getting nuiscance calls" etc etc.
First thing they do is register you with Telephone preference service - its free any way.
Second thing they do is to give you "Calling line Identification " -for free.
Only thing they don't do is tell you that if you've got this and are paying for itthat you could get it for free, just by registering.
Only a few pounds a month, but the principle is there.
Ask them and see.

what happens to your insurance???

You've bee riding for years, built up so no claims then some unaccountable cock wipes your history and suddenly your an inexperienced driver.

as a side issue, me folks are in the proccess of buying their farm after umpteen years as tenants and the land registry are, shall we say, dragging their feet. They've cashed the cheque which is costing m&p £55 A DAY in interest and legaly mum and dad still don't own the place after 5 months. No body is taking any resposiblity, but then nor to the DVLA or any government bodies.