dvla and loss of motor cycle entitlement.

[chicago]

hi there, i passed my full motor cycle test back in 1992, i was told by the driving inspector after passing my test to send off the slip of compettence and the fee to the dvla which i did recorded delivery. i checked a couple of weeks later on the tracking info on the recorded delivery and it said it was delivered and signed for by the dvla, so i then stupidly thought that my motor cycle entitlement would be added to the dvla's and police's records and i would be legal to ride. i then rode regulary for around the next 7-8 years.
then in about 2002 i had to send in for a replacment car licence due to a address update and when i got my licence back it came with a letter from the dvla saying something like "we have been unable to add your motor cycle entitlement as you did not apply within two years of passing your motor cycle test" .
i have recently contacted the dvla via a letter (which was again sent recorded delivery & signed for as being received by them) to request that my entitlement be added to my licence and explaining all of the above about sending in my competance slip and fee and it was signed for by the dvla so i actually did nothing wrong and the fault lies with the dvla. well it had been over a month since i sent the letter and i had no replie from the dvla so i phoned them up and guess what, they have no record of any letter. while talking on the phone they still had on record that i passed my test in 92 so what are my chances of getting the entitlement put on my licence. all the best, chicago

[bsa-bill]

Hi chigago
a few years ago lots of people were caught out due to the DVLA not transferring their existing motorcycle group to new licences, seems like the madness is still ongoing, sorry to be of no help
Talking to a friend yesterday who has tried to contact the DVLA on phone, they're apparently shifting to a call centre in India, best we can hope for is more confusion and a lucky bead

[duTch]

don't you just love bureaucracy (had to look that one up!!)and call centres?? on the upside strange but good they still have the pass result- good luck

[Goldy]

Go to your local dvla centre the addresses are listed on the dvla website. You will have to wait for a while, but you will see someone face to face and it,s amazing the difference it makes. I had a problem and went to my local office, and after about an hour it was all sorted, well worth the time.

[iansoady]

Yes I've found them helpful as well.

However I believe they're all going to close next year......

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/25872

[bikerbob]

Hi there Chicago. A similar thing happened to my brother about 4years ago he delayed sending his slip in because he was going through a divorce at the time and was moving house but he did send it in with about 6 months to spare but what with everything going on at the time he forgot about  it and it was not until a year later when he got a speeding ticket that he realised the Dvla had his licence he contacted them and they said they had no record of him sending in his pass slip but admitted that they had a record of him passing his test but because they had no record of him sending his in  he would have to take his test again. He complained saying it was their fault even went and seen his MP but it seems that it is a legal requirement to send it in before 2 years and since the DVLA had no record of it he had to take his test again. I would be interested to hear how you get on with this the DVLA is a totally inefficient buisness I know from my own dealings with them when reclaiming a registration they forgot to put it in the post and when it came it was not for a motorcycle but a scooter combination and  had to be replaced, and over the phone when I told them of the error they said just destroy the wrong one and they would replace it but when the correct replacement came they said return the wrong one in the prepaid envelope provided but guess what no prepaid envelope was provided. When I criticize  the DVLA Iam talking of Swansea not the local offices where I have had nothing butgood information and help.

[chicago]

Hi chigago
a few years ago lots of people were caught out due to the DVLA not transferring their existing motorcycle group to new licences, seems like the madness is still ongoing, sorry to be of no help
Talking to a friend yesterday who has tried to contact the DVLA on phone, they're apparently shifting to a call centre in India, best we can hope for is more confusion and a lucky bead

hi there bsa bill, ive read quit a lot on the internet about loads of mistakes they have made, it wouldnt be so bad if they said, were sorry, our mistake and lets put it right, but they have the attitude that their a big official government agency and theres nothing you can do about it. its just lucky i never got a producer to take in my licence or i would have been stuffed. take care and all the best, chicago

[chicago]

don't you just love bureaucracy (had to look that one up!!)and call centres?? on the upside strange but good they still have the pass result- good luck

hi there dutch, i must admit i doubt having the pass result on their record will make any difference, i believe its going to be test time again for me (i did want a crying smiley but didnt have one so angry will have to do). all the best dutch, chicago

[chicago]

Go to your local dvla centre the addresses are listed on the dvla website. You will have to wait for a while, but you will see someone face to face and it,s amazing the difference it makes. I had a problem and went to my local office, and after about an hour it was all sorted, well worth the time.

hi there goldy, good idea, i live 2 mins away from the chester road one. i'll be in there first thing tuesday dinner time. my wife did suggest it but i thought they could only deal with tax and logbooks there. nice one. take care and all the best, chicargo

[chicago]

Yes I've found them helpful as well.

However I believe they're all going to close next year......

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/25872

hi there iansoady, government cuts and bl**dy tax on everything, it makes you sick to the back teeth. i'll be sure to sign the epetition,  although i did signed and got everybody i know to sign the epetition about fuel costs/tax on petrol and everybody's still paying way to much for petrol (takes the mick). but its better than doing nothing. take care and all the best, chicago

[chicago]

Hi there Chicago. A similar thing happened to my brother about 4years ago he delayed sending his slip in because he was going through a divorce at the time and was moving house but he did send it in with about 6 months to spare but what with everything going on at the time he forgot about  it and it was not until a year later when he got a speeding ticket that he realised the Dvla had his licence he contacted them and they said they had no record of him sending in his pass slip but admitted that they had a record of him passing his test but because they had no record of him sending his in  he would have to take his test again. He complained saying it was their fault even went and seen his MP but it seems that it is a legal requirement to send it in before 2 years and since the DVLA had no record of it he had to take his test again. I would be interested to hear how you get on with this the DVLA is a totally inefficient buisness I know from my own dealings with them when reclaiming a registration they forgot to put it in the post and when it came it was not for a motorcycle but a scooter combination and  had to be replaced, and over the phone when I told them of the error they said just destroy the wrong one and they would replace it but when the correct replacement came they said return the wrong one in the prepaid envelope provided but guess what no prepaid envelope was provided. When I criticize  the DVLA Iam talking of Swansea not the local offices where I have had nothing butgood information and help.

hi there bikerbob, before this happened to me i would have said, make sure you send it in recorded delivery, but even that wont work because as with me they just still deny they've received it. i was reading on the internet about a guy who held his licence for 15 years, he had built up his insurance no claims bonus for that time and everything was good in the world untill he decided to send for a new licence to have his spent points removed from it, well he sent it off, then six weeks later still no new licence from the dvla so he decides to phone them up to ask whats happening and dvla said we have no record of you ever passing a test, so this poor guy had to re-take his test and start all over again to build up his no claims bonus.
ive also read that this is a very common problem with the dvla so if anybody who reads this and they are about to send their licence to dvla for any reason at all, the only safe way is to have a solicitor to witness and send the licence in on your behalf. all the best fella, chicago

[chicago]

just type this into google....loss of motor cycle entitlement... and i'll bet you'll be suprised about how many people this has happened to.

[bsa-bill]

Thanks iansoady - I just siqned the petition,  I've probably now attained anarchist status in the Cameron/Osborne old boys club - oh but it's nice to walk on the wild side again

[duTch]

B-Bill, I bet you were that Guy Fawkes in another life (remember, remember the 4th of november) can just picture you in one of those funny hats he (supposedly)wore-

Chicargo, you should have a well esteemed riding style by now-NO bad habits, hey? good luck

Could be a different related topic, but I have a query about Licensing and Vehicle registration (MOT)?? in other countries, and how those with a menagerie of bikes+ a 4wheeler or 2 get on with multi-rego
    When in the UK early '80s we had to go through a different process to what I'm familiar.

--><--begins-Here in Oz (I assume it's the same in all states), we pay a nominal fee(about $15/yr? was free when I started- wink2) per 1 or 5 years for a license to ride/drive, and away we go jump on/in anything and away we go-ok all good  -till we have our own vehicle(s) for which in order of process, FOR EACH VEHICLE
 
Step 1/2 > If confident that it'll pass a safety check,(if not,trailer it and save hassle.), go to Insurance office and get CTP (compulsory third party/personal) cover, necessary to ride/drive to Inspection centre, (if it fails, sucko, but you can still use the CTP to go between home & inspection-limited, also 'citation needed'),
          
3>Then take safety certificate, (even on bikes these days) to Transport office and pay all the various vehicle licensing fees, get your plate and away you go.
 Simple enough, but for every vehicle we have to pay CTP (bike ~$140ea.,+ van,ute ~$190ea.), which allows anyone to drive(vehicle has the insurance for which any driver is covered) so long as they are appropriately licensed, fair enough, but I can only use one at a time =severly ripped off

Question: I had the notion in UK the process is you pay CTP insurance as part of your license? but can only use nominated vehicles?? What's the go everywhere else??

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                                 Have a nice day, duTch


  

[iansoady]

Question: I had the notion in UK the process is you pay CTP insurance as part of your license? but can only use nominated vehicles?? What's the go everywhere else??

No - although it might be a good idea. Insurance is entirely separate from both road tax and driving licence, hence being relatively easy for people to dodge.

Mind you at the rates I've seen quoted for young drivers (well over £1,000 / year) I can understand the temptation.... At less than £80 a year fully comp for my A10 (and that includes full UK & EU breakdown cover) it's not really an issue for me.

I've always thought that both road tax and basic third party insurance should be put on the price of fuel - far more sensible than road pricing etc - but I can just imagine the uproar.