How not to save money

[wotnobivvy]

I had to renew my car tax (formerly known as road fund licence) and did it all online, saving money for the exchequer by no longer having a piece of paper to stick in my windscreen. At the same time I am approaching 70 and had to renew my driving licence online, which I thought meant goodbye to my carefully kept paper one, and hallo to a nice new plastic one, all free. However I received a letter in the post containing both a shiny plastic one and a piece of paper and was informed I had to carry both at all times. What a waste of the money I had just saved. If a plastic one is needed with a photo on (culled from my passport) why the hell should a piece of paper be necessary, especially as all the information is held on a DVLA database accessible by the Police.

[Vagabond]

All this info on database keeps a number of zombies occupied in staring at computer screens and pushing buttons.

 

"Progress" means the era of the "pen-pusher" is over. However, every pen-pusher has been replaced by at least three button-pushers. Keeps the unemployment figures down Its called economics.

[Steve Walker]

The paper counterpart's doom will soon be upon it;

 

http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/public-sector/3531711/paper-driving-licence-to-be-abolished-in-january-2015/

[Rusty]

The paper counterpart's doom will soon be upon it;

 

http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/public-sector/3531711/paper-driving-licence-to-be-abolished-in-january-2015/

 

This'll be interesting. I still have the old green paper licence issued to me in 1996 when I passed my bike test, it's valid until 2030. The reason I've never sent it off for the new type licence is that a few years ago there was a spate of motorcyclists updating their licences only to find that when they received the new one back their entitlement to ride a bike had vanished. Producing photocopies of the old document didn't help and they were forced to take their bike test again.

 

I'll be able to check if they've got their records straight before I send off for a posh new photo licence.

[chesters1]

 

This'll be interesting. I still have the old green paper licence issued to me in 1996 when I passed my bike test, it's valid until 2030. The reason I've never sent it off for the new type licence is that a few years ago there was a spate of motorcyclists updating their licences only to find that when they received the new one back their entitlement to ride a bike had vanished. Producing photocopies of the old document didn't help and they were forced to take their bike test again.

 

I'll be able to check if they've got their records straight before I send off for a posh new photo licence.

Caught me out ,i changed address on mine in 2001 ,then in 2005 i saw the program where the entitlement has disappeared, i looked at mine and it had gone from my licence .

I phoned the dvla and was told if i had the pass certificate then it would be reinstated ,i had passed in 1972 the paperwork was long gone .

No way of getting it put back on without proof because the only proof was sent in 2001! I had been drivibg my honda in essence illegally for 5 years !

Unfortunately nowadays if computer "says" its believed ,i now copy everything and send the copy with copy written on it in highlighter showing it a copy ,i have the proof so its not worth trying it on!

 

I now have lost my car licence it seems the doctor had to inform dvla when my sleep apnea was diagnose and a letter from dvla arrived saying the licence was invalid until i could prove my machine cured the condition but how you prove you dont fall asleep is beyond me ?

Got used to buses now but living in the sticks is expensive it costs 3.50 just to get to the shop!

Edited October 24, 2014 by chesters1