Published on 12, July, 2020
I currently in a large depot of a well-known multi-national road haulier, specialising in transporting hazardous chemicals and other palletised goods. My day-to-day duties include: minor fitting jobs on tractor units and trailers (such as changing headlamp bulbs and retorquing wheel-nuts), yard maintenance, checking the condition of chemical delivery hoses and operating a fork-lift truck.
But in the last year or so, due to the loss of several major contracts, I have become increasingly fed up of my current job, so I decided to apply for a class 2 HGV licence. Here is the story so far:
I went for a D4 medical with a doctor who specialises in HGV medicals on 17th March this year and passed it with flying colours and he was confident that I would get my licence back within a fortnight of sending it off.
Sent off the licence on the following day (via recorded post) back to the DVLA in Swansea, and then waited for the brown envelope with my licence to return through my letterbox. But less than a fortnight later, I recieved a letter from the DVLA stating that needed more information about my ASD from my GP and a consultant at my local hospital. So after a fortnight of frustrating phone calls, the DVLA sent me another letter saying that they now have the info they need to process my licence and one of their doctors to make a decision.
However, since the end of April when that letter was sent, there has been no progress whatsoever regarding my licence. I am ringing them at least once a week for a sitrep, but their advisors keep saying that my documents are on a "priority" list, so I don't know whether they are just trying to "fob me" off.
I feel like that my life is stuck in neutral at the moment, and am becoming extremely angry about the lack of progress. I'm also extremely worried that my licence might fall in the hands of a doctor on an ego trip and prolong the process even further.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Next time you ring ask them how to make a complaint about the long time this is taking. Ask them to give you a definite timetable for the licence to be processed. Get the name and direct dial number of who you are speaking to, and say you want to call them back if there is further need to discuss the process.
Here is their complaints procedure
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency/about/complaints-procedure
Thing is, if you are polite and ask about complaining they will likely try to divert the complaint by prioritising your license (yes, it's a NT game). Speaking to one person makes it THEIR responsibility.
If you can't do this (and none of my little family can without a meltdown) ask if someone can be your agent dealing with the DVLA and do things like this. I'm agent for my stepkids and their Dad with 4 government agencies and 2 health authorities!
It might seem like a cop-out but today at work I spent 40 minutes helping an NT guy who couldn't read well complete a form. As someone employed (indirectly) by the government it is my job to help clients and it is no shame if someone can't do it for yourself
I will give that a bash within the next couple of days and inform you about the outcome of this.
Thanks for the advice.
Just to inform you that my licence has returned today!!
Woohoo! I'm pleased for you.
I joke sometimes it's enough to think about complaining