Give them a break!

DVLA are in a 1970's block on the outskirts of swansea where there is very little chance of reasonable social distacing, and have had a high percentage of covid positives and necessary isolation.

They have a dated computer IT system that is not compatible with working on unencrypted laptops at a distance. Youngrovergirl has to go into the hospital here to do telephone consultations because of the cost of encrypted laptops, so cannot work from home for some clinics. PPE is still mask, gloves and plastic apron.

DVLA don't have the gloves and aprons..

I did my 70 yrs of age driving licence application online and could track it as it happened. Overall got it in 4 weeks and that was including the medical declaration that I had a transient loss of consiousness (fainted and taken to hospital) 28 years ago, which showed on their records and I had to declare.

Track your application here

motoring.dvla.gov.uk/service/DvoConsumer.portal?_n...e

Edited by _ORB_ on 29/04/2021 at 16:29

It appears DVLA are in a serious predicament, but I understand the delays.

I applied for an over 70 license in February, before my birthday in April. I completed all the forms D2 and D4, as I needed to preserve my towing weights for our caravan; and everything posted recorded delivery.

The problem now is that you cannot communicate with DVLA by any means, and get a meaningful reply. It appears that they have a problem with my medical info, but I can't find out what the problem is. Emails arrive just quoting the number to phone, but this is never answered regardless of time of day.

Is my license still valid to drive as I can't see any info on licenses expiring in 2021? Has any extension been granted this year?

Hopefully I will receive a similar letter to RT.

Daft that nobody in Swansea made the IT connection of driving licences and car ownership.

Edited by Dogfuzz on 03/05/2021 at 14:00

I wonder if DVLA know of these "services" which if i may say so, look like they might well be taken to be scams?

I am sure most govt departments are aware of the many 'clone' websites that can trap the unwary. It is probably difficult for them to keep up with the supply. Most banks have lookalikes too. Every web user should never lose sight of this possibility.