Click above to see the reminder they sent me complete with threat of £1,000 fine if I don't go over the sea to Skye
Maybe we should not be too surprised about the planned closures of DVLA offices. The ones that are there now are a disgrace with late reminders, lost paperwork and attempts to cover up by blaming other people.
The latest person to be targeted by the useless DVLA dingbats is me. They have decided I need to update the photo on my driving licence. Fair enough. But they insist I can only do it - in Kyle of Lochalsh.
Let me get this right – I am expected to travel 100 miles, take a day or maybe two off work including a four-hour return ferry journey, just to change the photo on my licence? Yep. Will they reimburse me the estimated travel costs £140 plus loss of earnings which this will cost me? Nope.
My own photos won’t do, apparently, because I don’t have a passport issued in the last five years. Pfft?
Helpfully, DVLA has listed my “nearest participating Post Office branches” – in other words with staff who know how to use a camera. They have sent me a list of two – both of them which are Skyeways in Kyle. What about the two Stornoway post offices? Nah, not good enough, they say. Staff in Stornoway must be too shaky.
I called DVLA and asked them to help me. They would get back to me. That was weeks ago and I’ve heard nothing. My existing photo will “expire” next week.
And our MP wants to stop the DVLA closures? Why? DVLA is currently proving itself to be as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
A troupe of monkeys could do better than what DVLA has done to resolve the needless problems which that agency is now causing me. I only hope our elected representatives will do something to address DVLA’s failings before they make a final decision on its future. I hope you’ll put my thoughts in your consultation, Mr Macneil.
So, to sum up. As well as a £20 upgrade fee, DVLA has also warned me that I will be fined £1,000 and be banned from the road if I do not comply with their barmy instructions which I estimate will cost me about £140 – plus a day or two’s loss of earnings. And I am being asked to support the organisation responsible for this fiasco? It is time for a clear out, methinks and get it back to basics.
PS – DVLA must be thinking of throwing me in jail. The reminder is from Nadine Davies from its Central Capture Unit.
Totally agree!
I wish you wold go to Kyle of Lochalsh Maciver. Gie us piece .
It could be worth asking the post office why this service isn’t being provided at Stornoway. They’re the ones responsible for providing services at particular branches and not having the ability to renew a driving licence on the island does seem to be madness.
Its not so bad, you can go on a mon/wed/friday, get up at 5.30 am to be in Tarbert before 7.00am, nice breakfast on ferry, scenic cruise to Uig, in at 9.10am then a nice drive thru Skye and over the bridge(free) to Kyle of Lochalsh about 10.30am, only five hours gone and 114 miles travelled.
Better allow 30mins or half an hour for post office duties.
Would recommend a visit to the excellent public facilities in Kyle and a short walk around to stretch the legs.
So its 11.30 and no need to be in Uig till 3.30pm allow an hour and a half for the driving so two and a half hours to do what you like and you will be home for seven.
All for £140.00. ish
Nearly as good as having sunday at home in your pj’s.
Some would pay for the privilege.
You forgot to mention the bit about having to pay £20 for the privilege of obeying their orders and getting a new mugshot. I was fuming when I got this ‘reminder’ last year, having been assured many years previously that renewal of photocards (complying with yet more EU rules) would be free. Its probably more than 20 quid now. Then there’s the added risk of having to send your passport in the post with the good chance it will be next used by some bearded geezer from Uldittystan in order to gain entry to Worksop. And, as you mention, you are then threatened with life imprisonment, death, Calum Kennedy, all for a flaming photograph. I am even more annoyed now than I was last year!
Weather Warning, you are right. They want me to pay them another £20 for them to do their job.
To make matters worse: Having gone to the trouble of obtaining a photo that is the right shade of green, the right size, the correct hairstyle and grin, endorsed by someone you have never met before in your life, the finished card looks nothing like you at all. A grainy, 1cm square picture is printed onto the plastic that quite frankly could be Dame Judy Dench.
As it will be the Police who apparently find these cards so useful, perhaps the local nick should be the first port of call to get them renewed and not the Post Office or the Kyle of Lochalsh.
I rest my case.
I had a photocard and all i had to do was send a photo to dvla and that was it. Just get a passport type photo done in a photo booth.Not sure what the fuss is about.
Ever seen an elephant try to get into a phone box?Now that is a fuss.probably trying to make a trunk call.
I got the same reminder about 6 weeks ago. Just went to a local establishment to get my portrait taken, sent it away 2nd class post and received my new photo licence within 2 weeks
There is an option to renew online – if you have renewed your passport in the last five years or subscribe to the Government Gateway doings. I just renewed mine that way- no big deal and di it from the same armchair as I’m posting this……………
Hi John. Yes, you can renew online if you meet their conditions. But I don’t. No, I have not had a passport in last five years and I do not subscribe to the government. At the moment, unless I want to risk the £1,000 fine, I have been told I must go to Kyle. Swansea HQ was considering my account of my plight today but they have still to get back to me. At the moment, they offer me no alternatives. May I put your name down as a guarantor if they do try and get a grand out of me?
I have exactly the same problem, as I don’t have a UK passport. I’m presuming that having it done in Inverness is an option, though that’s hardly convenient either.
You don’t have to go to a post office. You tick the boxes on the form sign it and put a photo on it and put it in one of those red post boxes that are on most streets. Then as if by magic a post man takes the mail and delivers it to DVLA for you.
“trouepe” of monkey’ indeed from a man who prides himself on being taught Higher English by Mary MacCormack.
Going by his current literacy he’d have been taught Maths by Mary and English by Angus
None of which would have made it any better !
Regards Seonaidh
Mr X wrote “troupe of monkeys”. What’s wrong with that? Get your dictionary, Mr Seonaidh.
WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM
WE SHOULD ALL GET ON OUR BIKES
Regards
ALEX DAN
Mary used her charm and intelect when she taught Iain,Gum and I and she could spell her name properly at that time .
Either she’s lost the munificent senses the Lord gave her….or….Iain X has taken to impersionating her !
I don’t believe I taught anyone who can mis-spell both “intellect” and “impersonating”.
O yes you did
Those of us from the godly side of “loch cean a’tuath” -BACK – feel it necessary to comment on the blatant commercialism of your web-site and Promotion of Cycling on a Sunday.
This issue was brought up at this afternoon’s presbytery meeting of :-
THE ASSOCIATED,CONTINUING,PRESBYTERIAN,NOT CLOSED BUT FREE TO EVERYONE ,BUT THOSE WE DECIDE CAN BE WITH US CHURCH session
…and the elders RD. ,Maqcleod Macaulay and I have decided we’re against it
……that is until the three of us seperate into other new churches
If I was a betting man ,which I’m not,[except for Royal Ascot ] I would put a few quid on us having 8 Protestant churches [not including the Semenary] before 2013
BLESS YOU ALL
POPE BENEDICT
NEVER MIND THE CYCLING – GET BACK TO WORK IN THE VATICAN AND STOP PRETENDING YOU’RE FROM BACK
MERRY CHRISTMAS
GAWK – the wiser one
P.S If any of ewe are looking for mutton over the festive ceason – come to Macneils
It’s DVLA Swansea(HQ) that send you the renewal for your driving licence not the Local office. The Local Offices deal with Cherisshed Transfers, Imports, Inspections etc. They act as a pox box for driving licences.