DVLA Swansea have lost my licence
Discussion
I find myself in a bit of a pickle as the DVLA in Swansea have lost my licence.
Background is that my driving licence was issued in Northern Ireland but I am now resident in 'mainland' GB. It's a routine thing to exchange an NI licence for a GB licence by sending it to Swansea with a D1 form. My wife did the same thing earlier in the year and had a shiny new GB licence within 3 weeks.
So I duly sent mine off (recorded delivery, thankfully) and it was received at the DVLA on 1 May. As I heard nothing after four weeks I called to see what was up. They acknowledged it had been signed for on delivery, but had no idea where it went after being signed for.They advise it will be 4 weeks before they initiate any internal investigation.
This is where the fun starts. For ID purposes, they asked me a bunch of questions, address, DOB etc. and apparently one or other of these (they won't say which) doesn't match what is on their records, and so they refuse to answer any questions or provide any further assistance. For those unaware, it is obvious that my personal details won't match anything on their records as they have no prior record of me at all, as my record is on the NI system, to which they have no access. So it seems they are comparing me with the record of a GB namesake. While they understand the predicament, they refuse to provide any more info, and have apparently sent me a letter to further the process...so it seems that some dude who shares my name somewhere in GB is going to get a letter about his (my) lost licence
Meanwhile, DVLA Northern Ireland can't help me as I'm resident in mainland UK and no longer have my 'old' NI address.
Meanwhile, I need a licence urgenty as my work involves travel and I need to hire cars frequently. All I have is a photocopy of my lost licence and I doubt that will be enough.
While some detailed aspects might differ, I can't be the only one to have had this experience with the DVLA so any advice or inspiring ideas would be appreciated and welcomed.
Thank you for reading this far. And yes, I have made a typo with "Swansea" in the tread title
Background is that my driving licence was issued in Northern Ireland but I am now resident in 'mainland' GB. It's a routine thing to exchange an NI licence for a GB licence by sending it to Swansea with a D1 form. My wife did the same thing earlier in the year and had a shiny new GB licence within 3 weeks.
So I duly sent mine off (recorded delivery, thankfully) and it was received at the DVLA on 1 May. As I heard nothing after four weeks I called to see what was up. They acknowledged it had been signed for on delivery, but had no idea where it went after being signed for.They advise it will be 4 weeks before they initiate any internal investigation.
This is where the fun starts. For ID purposes, they asked me a bunch of questions, address, DOB etc. and apparently one or other of these (they won't say which) doesn't match what is on their records, and so they refuse to answer any questions or provide any further assistance. For those unaware, it is obvious that my personal details won't match anything on their records as they have no prior record of me at all, as my record is on the NI system, to which they have no access. So it seems they are comparing me with the record of a GB namesake. While they understand the predicament, they refuse to provide any more info, and have apparently sent me a letter to further the process...so it seems that some dude who shares my name somewhere in GB is going to get a letter about his (my) lost licence
Meanwhile, DVLA Northern Ireland can't help me as I'm resident in mainland UK and no longer have my 'old' NI address.
Meanwhile, I need a licence urgenty as my work involves travel and I need to hire cars frequently. All I have is a photocopy of my lost licence and I doubt that will be enough.
While some detailed aspects might differ, I can't be the only one to have had this experience with the DVLA so any advice or inspiring ideas would be appreciated and welcomed.
Thank you for reading this far. And yes, I have made a typo with "Swansea" in the tread title
You don't say whether you photocopied your licence before sending it off. Don't know if it will help in any way, but could you then apply for a replacement of your 'lost' licence and start again? You'd at least have your licence number etc. Then again, I might just be talking out of my ****! 
Short Grain said:
You don't say whether you photocopied your licence before sending it off. Don't know if it will help in any way, but could you then apply for a replacement of your 'lost' licence and start again? You'd at least have your licence number etc. Then again, I might just be talking out of my ****!
JuniorD said:
All I have is a photocopy of my lost licence and I doubt that will be enough.
View or share your NI driving licence information
Use this service to view your Northern Ireland driving record, for example vehicles you can drive. You can also check your penalty points or disqualifications and create a licence ‘check code’ to share your driving record with someone.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/view-or-share...
Use this service to view your Northern Ireland driving record, for example vehicles you can drive. You can also check your penalty points or disqualifications and create a licence ‘check code’ to share your driving record with someone.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/view-or-share...
This happened to me, It took 6 months of phone calls to sort before admitting someone else was actually on my licence number., They actually told me the one I had in my had was counterfeit even thought they issued it. They found the paperwork of me passing my test but not the computer part or visa versa. Caused me a right headache as they just wouldn't sort it even after loads of requests to allow me to apply for a provisional and start again. As a laugh in the end they gave me a provisional "as a gesture of goodwill". Nearly cost me a job to.
I know of one other who this happened to and he found out when her got caught speeding. He got a court summons for driving with no licence and speeding but as he had a previous driving offence the just requested the documents which showed he had one so both was thrown out. He also had to resit his test.
Brace yourself to resit. Its a nightmare dealing with anyone at the dvla as no one will take ownership. Good luck to you.
I know of one other who this happened to and he found out when her got caught speeding. He got a court summons for driving with no licence and speeding but as he had a previous driving offence the just requested the documents which showed he had one so both was thrown out. He also had to resit his test.
Brace yourself to resit. Its a nightmare dealing with anyone at the dvla as no one will take ownership. Good luck to you.
gareth_r said:
View or share your NI driving licence information
Use this service to view your Northern Ireland driving record, for example vehicles you can drive. You can also check your penalty points or disqualifications and create a licence ‘check code’ to share your driving record with someone.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/view-or-share...
Thank you, that's potentially an avenue for me, even if merely adds an extra layer of veracity to my photocopy licence. I didn't realise that NI licence details can be accessed online in similar as manner as GB ones. Either that's a new development or I've be under a rock for too long. Use this service to view your Northern Ireland driving record, for example vehicles you can drive. You can also check your penalty points or disqualifications and create a licence ‘check code’ to share your driving record with someone.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/view-or-share...
bazza white said:
This happened to me, It took 6 months of phone calls to sort before admitting someone else was actually on my licence number., They actually told me the one I had in my had was counterfeit even thought they issued it. They found the paperwork of me passing my test but not the computer part or visa versa. Caused me a right headache as they just wouldn't sort it even after loads of requests to allow me to apply for a provisional and start again. As a laugh in the end they gave me a provisional "as a gesture of goodwill". Nearly cost me a job to.
I know of one other who this happened to and he found out when her got caught speeding. He got a court summons for driving with no licence and speeding but as he had a previous driving offence the just requested the documents which showed he had one so both was thrown out. He also had to resit his test.
Brace yourself to resit. Its a nightmare dealing with anyone at the dvla as no one will take ownership. Good luck to you.
Oh dear, that sounds like a right nightmare you had. And a worse one for your acquaintance. I did ask the DVLA whether I could just apply for a new licence but they shot that down. I know of one other who this happened to and he found out when her got caught speeding. He got a court summons for driving with no licence and speeding but as he had a previous driving offence the just requested the documents which showed he had one so both was thrown out. He also had to resit his test.
Brace yourself to resit. Its a nightmare dealing with anyone at the dvla as no one will take ownership. Good luck to you.
For me, a dodgy back up plan would be to apply to the NI DVLA for a replacement for a lost licence, which they might issue my old NI address without question, and it would then be a matter or retrieving it somehow...potentially by invoking the input of my old next door neighbour who I remain in contact with. That would be a very Northern Irish approach with its questionable legality though, and the kind of risk that I'm no longer quite as bullish about taking.
I think a few prayers to the St Jude the patron saint of lost causes and / or St Christoper (patron of the traveller) are in order
JuniorD said:
For me, a dodgy back up plan would be to apply to the NI DVLA for a replacement for a lost licence, which they might issue my old NI address without question, and it would then be a matter or retrieving it somehow...potentially by invoking the input of my old next door neighbour who I remain in contact with.
I honestly think this is your best approach.DVLA have lost your NI licence. That, at the moment, is the valid one that you (used to) posess. So that's the one you need replacing.
Yes it's slightly dodgy, but it's also morally not unreasonable - DVLA are refusing to talk to you as they're incompetent and won't investigate for 4 weeks, meanwhile you're risking loss of earnings/livelihood.
If needed, take a trip back to NI to retrieve your replacement NI licence in person from your old address (actually - there's another thought - can you rock up at the NI offices to request a replacement in-person?)
Thanks for all the comments. @Havoc I like the cut of your jib!
Highly unexpectedly, there has been a tentatively positive development. I called Swansea this morning in a last ditch attempt to reach someone with authority and more than half a brain cell. The beaurocrat who took my call advised with complete nonchalance that my new licence was in the post, and should be with me within 2 weeks. What a turn up for the books! f
k knows what domestic postal service takes two weeks, but I will have to take their word for it and see what comes. Maybe it's a rouse to buy them time and keep me of the scent for a while? The potential two-week wait leaves me slightly in limbo as I intended to to implement a back up plan as discussed without further delay.
I'll keep you all posted...
Highly unexpectedly, there has been a tentatively positive development. I called Swansea this morning in a last ditch attempt to reach someone with authority and more than half a brain cell. The beaurocrat who took my call advised with complete nonchalance that my new licence was in the post, and should be with me within 2 weeks. What a turn up for the books! f
k knows what domestic postal service takes two weeks, but I will have to take their word for it and see what comes. Maybe it's a rouse to buy them time and keep me of the scent for a while? The potential two-week wait leaves me slightly in limbo as I intended to to implement a back up plan as discussed without further delay. I'll keep you all posted...
Hi, For future info and for others the best way to get DVLA to action is to become a pain to them, phone daily, ask to speak to the EO/HEO responsible for the clerk, write/email the Chief Exec. This usually results in you being classed a 'persistent caller' and being bounced to the front of the queue. For really problematic cases getting the MP/MS/MSP involved is usually the best way as they have to respond to these complaints.
An yup, 2 weeks would be about right for the mail, a 'routine' mailing will be sent out second class which the Post Office happily informed us could take 10 days to get to you. Cost reasons. The licences are also processed between 2 sites, one for the paperwork and another secure site for printing, it's not the quickest at all.
An yup, 2 weeks would be about right for the mail, a 'routine' mailing will be sent out second class which the Post Office happily informed us could take 10 days to get to you. Cost reasons. The licences are also processed between 2 sites, one for the paperwork and another secure site for printing, it's not the quickest at all.
JuniorD said:
The potential two-week wait leaves me slightly in limbo as I intended to to implement a back up plan as discussed without further delay.
1) Do you trust this unknown bureaucrat from an organisation known to be useless, feckless and great at fobbing people off.2) If you end up with a copy of your old NI licence AS WELL AS your GB licence, is that a big problem? I mean, if you were unscrupulous (and I'm sure you're not), it could be considered an opportunity...bit like 2 passports, maybe?
(I am not advising you to break any laws. I'm just throwing out random thoughts as it's late and I've had a couple of drinks.)
Thanks for the recent comments.
Updates and a happy ending.
Checked my email last night, to find a message from DVLA Swansea earlier in the day yesterday:
" Subject: Driving Licence Application
Good morning, Mr. XXXX,
Your licence was issued on 31/05/2024. If you haven’t already, you should receive it in the next few days.
The address stipulated on your application form is XXXXX. Can you please confirm this is correct as our
previous correspondence with you was sent to a different address."
So the letter they sent to progress the lost licence issue mentioned previously went to a namesake, just as I had thought.
And lo and behold this morning the postie arrived, with my new GB licence. Just like that!
Thanks PHers for all the input. Hopefully this thread is useful to anyone in the same or similar predicament.
For completeness, in case it's any use...if your old NI licence has bus and lorry categories, Swansea will write to you asking do you wish to retain them in your new GB licence, in which case you will be asked to fill out application form D2 (instead of the D1 you submitted), with all the attendant medical questionnaires and checks. To avoid the delay of this correspondence, I added a letter with my D1 confirming that I did not wish to retain any Bus or Lorry categories.
Updates and a happy ending.
Checked my email last night, to find a message from DVLA Swansea earlier in the day yesterday:
" Subject: Driving Licence Application
Good morning, Mr. XXXX,
Your licence was issued on 31/05/2024. If you haven’t already, you should receive it in the next few days.
The address stipulated on your application form is XXXXX. Can you please confirm this is correct as our
previous correspondence with you was sent to a different address."
So the letter they sent to progress the lost licence issue mentioned previously went to a namesake, just as I had thought.
And lo and behold this morning the postie arrived, with my new GB licence. Just like that!
Thanks PHers for all the input. Hopefully this thread is useful to anyone in the same or similar predicament.
For completeness, in case it's any use...if your old NI licence has bus and lorry categories, Swansea will write to you asking do you wish to retain them in your new GB licence, in which case you will be asked to fill out application form D2 (instead of the D1 you submitted), with all the attendant medical questionnaires and checks. To avoid the delay of this correspondence, I added a letter with my D1 confirming that I did not wish to retain any Bus or Lorry categories.
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