Big
so dont bother reading unless you want to, just needed to type this out, if anything, to annoy myself more at the stupid, pedantic, money grabbing DVLA.
Ive moved house and thought I would be a 'responsible citizen'/'do it by the book' and update my licence details, I was even going to send a new picture to make it more up-to-date.
Went on to the DVLA website and used their online updating service.. So i put the new house details in and old one along with most of my details but then it kept reaching a screen where it said it could not match my details
When you try it 3 times it locks you out and asks you to call customer services.
So I call customer services (ON an 0870 national rate number
) and explain the situation. They say that their database can not find the new house as its a newish build. OK well not my problem.. So im told instead I have to send my licence with a form from the post office..
Right, fine. But heres the issue. She says I need to send my photocard licence and the paper counterpart. Well Ive just moved and I havent got my counter part, I cant even remember the last time I saw it. So the DVLA go on to say I still need to send the photocard and form from the post office AND a cheque for £22 quid to change my address and get a new licence. I said why do I now have to pay for something which was free a second ago, they explained that I have to send both parts back to be considered a whole licence and qualify for a free one. I then asked if they change the address on the old counter part and photocard and send me the same ones back, they said no they would be destroyed and completly new ones sent out.
SO why the F^ck do I have to pay 22 quid to replace my old licence when they are sending me a completly new one anyway, which is free???
Can they not see how stupid this is?? If you LOOSE your licence and want to apply for a replacement, they charge 22 quid for a duplicate licence- fair enough, it makes people be more carefull with it. BUT if you want to change your address which means a completly NEW licence, its free. The old parts of your licence are not used, they are thrown in the bin and a totally new licence is sent back. SO what difference does it make if I only have one part of the licence?
??
The only reason I can see that would justify this kind of stupidity is perhaps they are concerened that people would find someone's photocard and purposly change the address for some kind of identiy theft reason or to be a skum POS. So maby they ask for both bits to confirm its the right person who needs to change it as most people dont leave the parts together. However I know alot of people who do leave the parts together.
OR maby, the real reason is just a way to get yet MORE money out of us poor motorists by using 'red tape' excuses. I can see why people just dont bother if they are making it so hard to update details.. All I was trying to do was be legal and up-to-date. You think most of the fkin pols/Lituanin/Romain over here have proper licences, with taxed and mot'd cars that have been properly registered??
NO!!!!!!!!!!!! SO its the same as always, the people that have been living here for ages, middle class so to speak, trying to do things properly, again, get, screwed, over. Its not so much its £22 quid, its more the fact I have already given them £180 something this year for my car tax and the system is stupid and doesnt encourages people to update their details. Ok some people will say car tax is for roads and not for the DVLA, but we all know it doesnt even go on the roads. Road tax imho should go on any service that is involved with your vehicle and the road.
