Passport chaos

[greeny]

Or perhaps those that are in a hurry should use the online forms which are more efficient. If choosing to go paper and snail mail, then expect a snail pace and plan ahead.
And what the Minister for the Victorian Era and other luddites probably don’t realise, for most large operations the first thing that happens to any inbound paper is it gets scanned onto computer, so it can be dealt with anywhere - any office or work from home.
Properly managed WFH can be far more efficient than old style central paper factories aka offices.

I think you'll find that a lot of the things that are in backlog are things that can't be done online. That's what the DVLA man said on the telly when interviewed last week. Apart from that, if you have a system that accepts paperwork it should work efficiently. Maybe not as fast as online but certainly not with the delays we're hearing about.

 

[mjcoon]

I think you'll find that a lot of the things that are in backlog are things that can't be done online. That's what the DVLA man said on the telly when interviewed last week. Apart from that, if you have a system that accepts paperwork it should work efficiently. Maybe not as fast as online but certainly not with the delays we're hearing about.

I wonder what the problem is with my licence at DVLA, then. They've already made a fuss about which sort of pacemaker I have implanted...

 

[Irish Rover]

In Ireland, the initial over-70m licences are for three years only. When I got my first one, I discovered that while I could still drive mopeds, farm tractors and cars with twin-axle trailers, I could only drive commercials up to three tons, not seven tons as before, which disappointed me. When I got my second one, to my delight I discovered that I was now entitled to drive Category A motorcycles. However when I looked more closely, I found that that line included a code which meant that only tricycles were included!
Renewal was a simple online application with no return of the old licence required, and no updated photograph. I did have to have an eye test and a visit to the GP to have a form filled in, which certified that I did not suffer from any of a long list of incapacitating conditions.
I'm taking my tricycle limitation as a provocation and intend applying for a Category A Driving Test!

Licence renewals in Ireland are being handled by a private company which is an unmitigated disaster. I had to travel to Ireland recently to apply in person for renewal of my licence which, as a non resident, I'm not legally entitled to have. My appointment was cancelled twice with a couple of hours notice due to staffing issues and when I turned up half an hour early for the third appointment the only staff member present was literally painting her nails. She made me wait to my appointed time even though no one else showed up. I waited around for another 20 minutes after I finished before someone else arrived.
The only good news was that I was expecting a 2.5 year licence to take me to 70 and medical report requirements only to learn that the government changed the regulations that same week deferring medical report requirements until age 75 meaning I got 7.5 year licence.

 

[Boathook]

My wife just applied for a renewal of her driving license arrived 1 working day after.

Ive heard that online is ok. Its when the online can't be used that the problems arise.

 

[PlanB]

I wonder what the problem is with my licence at DVLA, then. They've already made a fuss about which sort of pacemaker I have implanted...

There was an article in the press over the weekend (can't now find) which said that all medical renewals are dealt with by a team of 40 medically qualified staff who liaise with drivers' doctors (who also are overwhelmed). They don't expect to be back on track till September.

 

[dgadee]

Check your EHIC card, too. That can be forgotten.

 

[mjcoon]

There was an article in the press over the weekend (can't now find) which said that all medical renewals are dealt with by a team of 40 medically qualified staff who liaise with drivers' doctors (who also are overwhelmed). They don't expect to be back on track till September.

Ah, if they have to re-verify at each renewal that must increase the work-load considerably...

 

[Stork_III]

I think if it is a straight forward online renewal it can happen.

Last July (2001) I sent a handwritten letter to the DVLA and a number of photocopies of various documents requesting a tax refund. This was sent first class post. I have never heard a thing since .

I had some success though last night with British Gas with a boiler problem. I actually conversed with a humanoid. Not directly over the phone but via computer chat. Things are looking up

HMRC would probably deal with a tax refund quicker?

 

[Bilgediver]

My wife just applied for a renewal of her driving license arrived 1 working day after.

It seems that if can be done on line it just happens. Is this a problem of too many distractions and poor productivity when working from home?

 

[Stork_III]

It seems that if can be done on line it just happens. Is this a problem of too many distractions and poor productivity when working from home?

No, paper applications are dealt with by office staff, not enough are in office.

 

[Smartie27]

It amazes me that a number of regulatory bodies put out warnings to the private sector on planning for such issue yet it takes such public bodies by surprise . Anyway if you do encounter difficulties I’m told lots of other fora with info and I’m sure the absence of any jobless people in Durham for HMPO has provided benefits to those in Slough. I think in the past I have never really produced all the passports in say cherbourg but would now seem to be required I guess

 

[Smartie27]

Myself and a lot of my friends got emails during the covid lockdown to say that the passport of where not closed during lockdown .and it may be a good idea to apply for your passport not rather than wait till the busy period when we are allowed to travel again. I heeded thier warning and have my passpot ready for my travel next week .

 

[syvictoria]

Myself and a lot of my friends got emails during the covid lockdown to say that the passport of where not closed during lockdown .and it may be a good idea to apply for your passport not rather than wait till the busy period when we are allowed to travel again. I heeded thier warning and have my passpot ready for my travel next week .

I hope that it's a genuine passport, as I wasn't aware that the passport office routinely touted for business by email during quiet periods!

 

[mjcoon]

I hope that it's a genuine passport, as I wasn't aware that the passport office routinely touted for business by email during quiet periods!

Given we usually contact them every 10 years, it would be a presumption on their part to guess you still had the same email address; even if having used it in a previous application. Not really believable. Would be jolly amusing to have a passport ready for use in good time only to find it was rejected for being fake!

Renewing at www.gov.uk on-line costs £75; is that enough to be worth a scam?

 

[LONG_KEELER]

HMRC would probably deal with a tax refund quicker?

It's rather frustrating when you cant contact the DVLA by phone, email or computer chat after trying zillions of times . You then have to write letters, copies of things, post them, and after 9 months you still don't hear anything . Thanks for the above tip but it's for a car disk tax refund so I would not expect it comes under their control. I would recommend always to pay car tax in one lump.

 

[mjcoon]

It's rather frustrating when you cant contact the DVLA by phone, email or computer chat after trying zillions of times . You then have to write letters, copies of things, post them, and after 9 months you still don't hear anything . Thanks for the above tip but it's for a car disk tax refund so I would not expect it comes under their control. I would recommend always to pay car tax in one lump.

If you're waiting to receive a tax disk in the post you'll have a long wait...

 

[Smartie27]

I hope that it's a genuine passport, as I wasn't aware that the passport office routinely touted for business by email during quiet periods!

 

[Smartie27]

Touting for business quite a strong statement.I thought they realised what would happen when we where all allowed to travel again and decided to prepare for this .

 

[Daydream believer]

Should anyone be thinking after the lockout of last year of returning to France for a summer cruise do remember to check the validity and months left on your uk passport as there seems to be some serious staffing issues at HMPO . Clearly it’s not just a shortage of chefs at £22 per hour,bin men and lorry drivers currently but also civil servants I guess.

No it is not a shortage of civil servants. There are plenty of those. It is a shortage of people in govt offices who are willing to do a days work that is the problem

 

[dunedin]

No it is not a shortage of civil servants. There are plenty of those. It is a shortage of people in govt offices who are willing to do a days work that is the problem

You have visited there and checked productivity have you ? Or are you just spouting your prejudices?

And an efficient system can be worked efficiently from any location - indeed work from home can get higher quality staff working more productively than people wasting hours a day stuck on a commute.