Well that’s a turn up for the books - DVLA

[Tonybvi]

Driving licence (C1) due to expire 18th April having previously lost several weeks/months at renewal time as it was dated 3 years from date of issue rather than date of expiry of old licence and I always applied early. So sent it off with relevant D4 form late February. Just checked status on line and apparently it has been renewed but here’s the best bit - date of issue 19th March 2026, date of expiry 18th April 2029!

So it seems that DVLA have reverted to renewing it up to 3 years from date of expiry, rather than date of issue.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Just tried to do mine online/app, what a farce, going to the post office to prove it's me, app is pure shite like everything DVLA.

 

[Tonybvi]

Unfortunately I’m over 70 and need C1 category so you can’t do it online.

 

[Wooie1958]

Not licence related but this does relate to the DVLA.

Recently changed vehicles and the new V5C took 3 weeks to come back after buying the vehicle from dealer and having to tax it at the post office who then sent it off for me because it was on " Disabled Tax " and needed changing back.

Once i got the V5C back i put our personal registration on it online and the new V5C arrived in 5 days

 

[Wooie1958]

Just tried to do mine online/app, what a farce, going to the post office to prove it's me, app is pure shite like everything DVLA.

Father-in-law who is 85 does his licence online no problem every 3 years.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Father-in-law who is 85 does his licence online no problem every 3 years.

OI, behave, It's changed this year, I normally do it online too.

The New app this year needs to take a picture of your passport or old licence to confirm it's you, you line it up and it's supposed to turn green and take the picture, no matter what I did it jsut didn't work, Liz tried it too, so I have to go to the damned post office, and there is only one locally that does it, I was going to do it yesterday but in too much pain.

 

[ricc]

I did mine 6 months ago on the ap to change address an it was a farce, then As im 70 at end of april had to do it again a couple of weeks ago...this time everything worked properly and licence arrived in a couple of days. When it works it's good. Wife not intending to drive again due to eye problem didn't bother to change address on hers.

 

[Wooie1958]

OI, behave, It's changed this year, I normally do it online too.

The New app this year needs to take a picture of your passport or old licence to confirm it's you, you line it up and it's supposed to turn green and take the picture, no matter what I did it jsut didn't work, Liz tried it too, so I have to go to the damned post office, and there is only one locally that does it, I was going to do it yesterday but in too much pain.

Wifey just had that same problem trying to pay a cheque into the TSB using the app.

No matter how she tried it would not turn green and take the picture i said ............. let me try dear ..... that made it worse

RIGHT OK YOU TRY IT ....... she barked at me , i tried it and it worked first time for me which got me in even more trouble

 

[Moonraker 2]

Just tried to do mine online/app, what a farce, going to the post office to prove it's me, app is pure shite like everything DVLA.

Oh yes, me too. Tried the government app, jumping through hoops, then had to photograph my passport ect. Gave up and once I had recovered from my hissy fit I just put my driving license in an envelope and posted it. Job done.
Sometimes the old ways are the best.

 

[colinm]

Wifey just had that same problem trying to pay a cheque into the TSB using the app.

No matter how she tried it would not turn green and take the picture i said ............. let me try dear ..... that made it worse

RIGHT OK YOU TRY IT ....... she barked at me , i tried it and it worked first time for me which got me in even more trouble

O dear, one of the most heinous crimes a husband can commit.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

OI, behave, It's changed this year, I normally do it online too.

The New app this year needs to take a picture of your passport or old licence to confirm it's you, you line it up and it's supposed to turn green and take the picture, no matter what I did it jsut didn't work, Liz tried it too, so I have to go to the damned post office, and there is only one locally that does it, I was going to do it yesterday but in too much pain.

Same happened to me last year, but I actually managed to get hold of a real human - shock! amazement! - on the end of a telephone and we eventually sorted it.

I stayed calm and polite, but, like @Moonraker 2, I'd had a massive hissy fit beforehand. License now sorted - until the next time.

On another - but could be related - topic, I have used an excellent local broker for all of our insurance needs for the last 7 years. This has saved me from several life-shortening hissy fits!!

There is no escape from the technological hoops we are forced to jump through. I know it's excellent to keep the little grey cells challenged and active, and that aspects of new technologies are amazing and useful, but, personally speaking, I think life is way too short to be dealing with all this uncontrolled tech-bro nonsense we're bombarded with all the time.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I agree, but sometimes the tech is flawed, badly thought out or just doesn't work. I'm not good at written instructions anyway; tie that to tiny worms on a tiny screen, and it may as well be in Greek.

 

[ricc]

Wife has been interfacing with the NHS ap since Xmas......she doesn't bother telling me when it's not behaving, we see daughter at least once a week an she normally sorts it with a couple of pokes at the phone.

NHS here in Kent seems to be working well , right through from GP to hospital outpatients. Only let down by the chemist. GP sent a prescription round on Monday....now friday and the chemist still hasn't got the pills.....perhaps they should try selling rubber footwear instead.

 

[Wooie1958]

We`ve found the NHS app to be great and our new GP / Health Centre / local chemist are fantastic and in a differnet universe to the last shambles we had.

Ordered repeat prescription last sunday afternoon, approved by 10.00 monday morning and text message from chemist by 12.00 saying ready to collect.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Ours is slow, two days to get actioned, then it goes to Asda, then eventually I get a text message, but if a Doctor prescribes anything, it's there next day.

 

[colinm]

NHS here in Kent seems to be working well , right through from GP to hospital outpatients. Only let down by the chemist. GP sent a prescription round on Monday....now friday and the chemist still hasn't got the pills.....perhaps they should try selling rubber footwear instead.

The problem many pharmacists have at the moment is shortages of many drugs, sometimes it's just a matter of luck if you can get them, the NHS list drugs that are in short supply with a warning to GP's to issue alternatives, but that list is not always up to date, and/or not take into account local shortages.

 

[trevskoda]

3 days from doctor script to chem shop, that is if and when you get to talk see a doc, all on ph, you are 113 in the que.

 

[trevskoda]

Same happened to me last year, but I actually managed to get hold of a real human - shock! amazement! - on the end of a telephone and we eventually sorted it.

I stayed calm and polite, but, like @Moonraker 2, I'd had a massive hissy fit beforehand. License now sorted - until the next time.

On another - but could be related - topic, I have used an excellent local broker for all of our insurance needs for the last 7 years. This has saved me from several life-shortening hissy fits!!

There is no escape from the technological hoops we are forced to jump through. I know it's excellent to keep the little grey cells challenged and active, and that aspects of new technologies are amazing and useful, but, personally speaking, I think life is way too short to be dealing with all this uncontrolled tech-bro nonsense we're bombarded with all the time.

Many older folk here go into shops which only take card or mobile swipe, they just leave the goods in the trolly and walk out.

 

[Wooie1958]

Ours is slow, two days to get actioned, then it goes to Asda, then eventually I get a text message, but if a Doctor prescribes anything, it's there next day.

Our last place was worse than that and could be nearly 2 weeks, not helped by the Gestapo / Waffen SS trained reception staff

Their first line of defence was " have you ordered it yet / when did you order it " then they blamed the chemist who in turn blamed them and so on ........

They would not take prescription requests over the phone and insisted on either the NHS app or by using the prescription request form that comes with the current order and it had to be posted in the little box at the side of the reception desk, the reception desk staff would not accept it and just pointed to the box on the wall.

It got to the stage of us ordering a repeat 3 - 4 weeks before the present one ran out and sometimes it would be refused for ordering too early.

This new place is unbelieveably friendly and helpful from the security who wander about to the reception staff and GP `s who all greet you with ..........

" good morning / hello / hi " which in turn puts you in a better frame of mind to be nice to them as well

If the GP prescribes anything it`s at the chemist within a minute or two and i`ve even had the text message saying it ready to pick up on the way home so i just go straight to the chemist. There`s been once or twice when the meassage has said please collect after 3pm and that`s because they`ve had to order it in from their supplier who delivers twice a day to them.

45 years we was with our previous health centre and we watched it go from a great little local doctors to a monster of a health centre who didn`t give a shyte.