First step to becoming a HGV driver
Discussion
GC8 said:
you’ve provided what was required and someone is being difficult with you.
Not strictly true, GC8. Here´s what they want to unequivocally admit defeat.
"The law currently states that we can only CONSIDER (their caps, not mine) granting amending your full licence to show the category you are claiming if you can provide evidence of one or more of the following:
A vocational licence issued since 1st April 1986 by a Traffic Area Office in Great Britain or by the licensing authorities in Northern Ireland.
A certificate confirming that you have passed a vocational driving test in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, or Gibraltar within the last two years.
Documentary evidence showing that you have held a computer style DVLA licence which includes the entitlement you are querying. This must be a photocopy of your full licence from an employer, an insurance company, the Police, or courts etc."
If you look at that PDF you can see that it doesn´t meet ANY of those criteria. I´m just hoping that I can skid under the "etc" at the end, if you see what I mean.
The good news is that I haven´t hear a resounding "No" from them. That was a feature of out earliest correspondence.
It´s obviouslty been passed upstairs and that means that at least ONE minion is unsure of saying "No" and being backed up by management.
Not failed yet. Fingers crossed.
Skatty, and GC, waaaay ahead of you, dudes
Sent an e to my MP last week. Hopefully she´s not so busy that she can´t find time to sort me out.
Oh wait....it´s Dianne Abbot!
Well, her team will read it anyway.
Next step (if no joy) Newspapers.
Thanks for the interest, it keeps me motivated.
GC8 said:
To add is not the same as to correct their mistake. Clue being the 'two year' criteria which is to add a new entitlement after youve passed.
That IS true, but they haven´t admitted to making a mistake. They make it quite clear that they have never had, sorry that´s not right....that they have no record of me passing the test. Well now they do. The Army says so.
And this just in....
Dear Mr ******
Thank you for your email. Ms Abbott is able to write to the DVLA on your behalf for any assistance they are able to provide to address your concerns raised. She is also able to forward your email with her correspondence to the DVLA, please let me know if you are happy for her to do this?
Kind regards,
Umay Zahra Hussain
Caseworker to The Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP
Shadow Home Secretary
Labour Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
House of Commons
London | SW1A 0AA
Tel: 0207 219 4330
It´s a bummer I have to go this route when my brother in law chats to her regularly when they meet up at some Labour function.
Better to go official channels, I suppose
And it´s worth noting that in the early days of this stuff happening DVLA were very quick to respond with a flat denial, usually 3-4 days for an email.
This time I got an e saying that it had been booted to a higher paygrade, essentially. and not hear anything for over a week now. Things are stirring deep in the depths of DVLA, release the Kraken! Hahaha.
Heheh.
Welp, it ain´t looking good tbh.
I´m still spending at least 4 hours a day trawling the interweb for information about this crap.
I found out today that the document I posted earlier? From the Army? Already been tried by a guy in my exact same position. He got it denied by DVLA.
Someone applied to their MP for help. All the MP does is forawrd your letter to DVLA. Denied.
Although I haven´t had the official denial from DVLA regarding Army doc, I´m going to go for the next phase and steal a march on the effers.
Next step is not newspapers, it´s a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
You can only do this through an MP though. I´m going to reply to the email they sent asking for permission to go ahead and contact DVLA with a request that Ms Abbot put in a complaint on my behalf to the Parliametary Ombudsman (Hereby shortened to PO).
Apparently one guys MP was David Cameron. He wrote to DVLA 3 times. DVLA says no each time. WTF?
ANyways, just bringing you all up to date. And keeping an electronic record at the same time.
Welp, it ain´t looking good tbh.
I´m still spending at least 4 hours a day trawling the interweb for information about this crap.
I found out today that the document I posted earlier? From the Army? Already been tried by a guy in my exact same position. He got it denied by DVLA.
Someone applied to their MP for help. All the MP does is forawrd your letter to DVLA. Denied.
Although I haven´t had the official denial from DVLA regarding Army doc, I´m going to go for the next phase and steal a march on the effers.
Next step is not newspapers, it´s a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
You can only do this through an MP though. I´m going to reply to the email they sent asking for permission to go ahead and contact DVLA with a request that Ms Abbot put in a complaint on my behalf to the Parliametary Ombudsman (Hereby shortened to PO).
Apparently one guys MP was David Cameron. He wrote to DVLA 3 times. DVLA says no each time. WTF?
ANyways, just bringing you all up to date. And keeping an electronic record at the same time.
I´m not convinced MS Abbots aides are a full shilling. Mebbe I got the 17 year old work placement.
Here´s what they asked today.....
"Thank you, can you please confirm your first name? Your name appears as Stewart Downie on your email however you are singing off with W Downie."
My reply....
" *inserted here, full name, address, DOB etc*
My family have called me Stewart since I was a baby, but Govt computers and people who see those records/files assume i´m called William as it is the first name.
I sign off with WIlliam as, just recently, I have done some courses at which they assumed I was William and not Stewart, I just went along with it. Got used to it.
Hundreds of people have suffered the loss of an entitlement through DVLAs refusal to acknowledge that there is a problem in the system, some of them vocational, lost jobs, livelihood, like me.
Can I pre-empt the expected negative response from DVLA with a request that Ms Abbott make a complaint, on my behalf, to the Parliamentary Ombudsman regarding DVLAs ignoring of facts?
The Army says I have passed the HGV 2 test and has provided the date and qualification on an official document, If it´s good enough for them why not for DVLA?"
I declined to comment about the *singin* bit.
Here´s what they asked today.....
"Thank you, can you please confirm your first name? Your name appears as Stewart Downie on your email however you are singing off with W Downie."
My reply....
" *inserted here, full name, address, DOB etc*
My family have called me Stewart since I was a baby, but Govt computers and people who see those records/files assume i´m called William as it is the first name.
I sign off with WIlliam as, just recently, I have done some courses at which they assumed I was William and not Stewart, I just went along with it. Got used to it.
Hundreds of people have suffered the loss of an entitlement through DVLAs refusal to acknowledge that there is a problem in the system, some of them vocational, lost jobs, livelihood, like me.
Can I pre-empt the expected negative response from DVLA with a request that Ms Abbott make a complaint, on my behalf, to the Parliamentary Ombudsman regarding DVLAs ignoring of facts?
The Army says I have passed the HGV 2 test and has provided the date and qualification on an official document, If it´s good enough for them why not for DVLA?"
I declined to comment about the *singin* bit.
TommoAE86 said:
Going to a couple of LGV/HGV open days at Trailer Training UK Ltd in October, could anyone let me know what to expect?
I'm thinking it's about time for me to stop coming into the office now so any other recommendation for other schools around Hampshire at all?
I’ve just done all mine with Bypass, who are a small family owned outfit based near Fairoak. They also have a good relationship with the driving agency above them, which may help get your face through the door when you’re starting out.I'm thinking it's about time for me to stop coming into the office now so any other recommendation for other schools around Hampshire at all?
Check out these people. Not Hampshire, but worth a look.
I have seen nothing but good to great recommendations for this place.
And he has a very high pass rate too. The big seller for me is the free accommodation, proper hotel, while on the course
http://www.petersmythe.co.uk/
I have seen nothing but good to great recommendations for this place.
And he has a very high pass rate too. The big seller for me is the free accommodation, proper hotel, while on the course
http://www.petersmythe.co.uk/
red_slr said:
Out of interest how does that handle when you have 3 cars up top like that?
As you would expect, to be frank!Obviously it's better to have heaviest on the bottom rear, but often there is a lot of weight above your head.
I just take my time, especially on roundabout or tight junctions.
It makes me jump now and then when a rut on motorway grabs the wheels and the whole body wobbles a bit. All trucks will do it of course but the pendulum effect of the weight up there makes it feel worse.
Just gonna drop this in here. I don't know if this is allowed. If not, please delete. Thanks
The ongoing battle with DVLA to get my licence back....
http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=5&...
The ongoing battle with DVLA to get my licence back....
http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=5&...
[quote=StevieSpain]Just gonna drop this in here. I don't know if this is allowed. If not, please delete. Thanks
The ongoing battle with DVLA to get my licence back....
http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=5&...
Just catching up on PH and stumbled on this. Stevie I wish you all the best with your fight against the clowns at the DVLA.
I've had my own issues with them which was medical related, but it seems that you are being treated by them in a similar way as I was myself.
It took me 3 years to get their wrongs put right and I tried everything along the way, phone calls, letters, emails, my MP, The useless head of the DVLA, 1 Oliver Morley, The Minister of Transport, Downing Street and a truck magazine. All of this was to no avail, until the Public Health Service Ombudsman released a very interesting report, its called Driven To Despair. Well worth a google as the full report is available there, I think from memory it came out in October 2016.
It still took me till November 2017 to get my LGV licence reinstated as the DVLA still made me jump through every hoop you can think of, but with some help from the PHSO and the excellent report on my case from the ICA who investigated my case I finally won my battle with these f
king clowns.
The ICA also recommended in their very detailed and damning report of the DVLA that I should be entitled to compensation. The DVLA sent me the forms, with a very lack lustre apology and I submitted my claim in January this year, I am still waiting their first offer.
They are experts at flannel, bullst, waffle and stalling the whole process, but I constantly remind them that I'm still here and won't be going away anytime soon.
Good luck, and hassle the fk out of them.
I have never been a violent man, but if you put me in an office with Oliver Morley and the heads of the Drivers Medical Group I'd only ever be leaving there in handcuffs such is my hatred towards them all.
The ongoing battle with DVLA to get my licence back....
http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=5&...
Just catching up on PH and stumbled on this. Stevie I wish you all the best with your fight against the clowns at the DVLA.
I've had my own issues with them which was medical related, but it seems that you are being treated by them in a similar way as I was myself.
It took me 3 years to get their wrongs put right and I tried everything along the way, phone calls, letters, emails, my MP, The useless head of the DVLA, 1 Oliver Morley, The Minister of Transport, Downing Street and a truck magazine. All of this was to no avail, until the Public Health Service Ombudsman released a very interesting report, its called Driven To Despair. Well worth a google as the full report is available there, I think from memory it came out in October 2016.
It still took me till November 2017 to get my LGV licence reinstated as the DVLA still made me jump through every hoop you can think of, but with some help from the PHSO and the excellent report on my case from the ICA who investigated my case I finally won my battle with these f
king clowns.The ICA also recommended in their very detailed and damning report of the DVLA that I should be entitled to compensation. The DVLA sent me the forms, with a very lack lustre apology and I submitted my claim in January this year, I am still waiting their first offer.
They are experts at flannel, bulls
t, waffle and stalling the whole process, but I constantly remind them that I'm still here and won't be going away anytime soon.Good luck, and hassle the f
k out of them.I have never been a violent man, but if you put me in an office with Oliver Morley and the heads of the Drivers Medical Group I'd only ever be leaving there in handcuffs such is my hatred towards them all.
Edited by chilistrucker on Friday 5th October 12:30
Neil, PM me if you need an alibi.
Steve, I see that they are now falsifying reasons as to why your entitlement is missing, rather than continuing to argue that you didnt have the entitlement in the first place. Bide your time and research your facts carefully. Remembering which licences you have had and what they had on them and when will be very important. Give them enough rope to hang themselves.
To the best of my knowledge an entitlement can only be removed by a court (eg driving ban and extended retest).
Steve, I see that they are now falsifying reasons as to why your entitlement is missing, rather than continuing to argue that you didnt have the entitlement in the first place. Bide your time and research your facts carefully. Remembering which licences you have had and what they had on them and when will be very important. Give them enough rope to hang themselves.
To the best of my knowledge an entitlement can only be removed by a court (eg driving ban and extended retest).
StevieSpain said:
Just gonna drop this in here. I don't know if this is allowed. If not, please delete. Thanks
The ongoing battle with DVLA to get my licence back....
http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=5&...
Great thread.The ongoing battle with DVLA to get my licence back....
http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=5&...
Stevie have you tried asking any of the veteran's organisations for help. Not quite sure how that would work, but in my head this is an insult to the forces, and I can't believe there isnt someone who cares enough to help
on the other hand you seem to be doing OK by yourself
Thanks everyone.
Chillistrucker, well done mate, very well done. Yep, I saw that report a few months ago but, as it was dealing with medical problems/DVL, I put it to one side. I agree wholeheartedly mate, they are a bunch of tossers.
GC8, well they're not falsifying reasons, they just moved the goalposts a bit.
Originally they said that they had no record of me passing a test and it was up to me to prove I did.
So I did, with that Army Records form I sent them
NOW they are saying that (Sorry, just got a letter yesterday), while they now accept that I did pass my test, because I didn't change my old style licence to the new style, by April 1st 86, they won't re-issue my licence.
Legal advice says this is a misuse/misinterpretation of their powers and is contestable, maybe in court, because I received no notification of either the need to change over, or the consequences of NOT changing over. Further, the legal language used to deny my claim in the latest letter is not up to standard and leaves openings.
And Traffic Commissioner can remover your vocational licence because they just don't like your face
Next step is ask MP to put a complaint in to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
To do this I first must have:
Raised a complaint with DVLA and been unhappy with the outcome. Done.
Asked my MP to help, and they agree. Done
They get in touch with DVLA and not get a good result. Well, she's written to them, not expecting a result though. So...done.
Ask MP to raise the issue as a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Done.
Next is research into how to go about getting a Judicial Hearing.
Which is....
Judicial review (JR) is the process of challenging the lawfulness of decisions of public authorities, usually local or central government. The court has a "supervisory" role - making sure the decision maker acts lawfully. It is important to understand that a JR is not a re-run on the merits of the decision but a challenge to the lawfulness of the decision that was made
Mark, good idea, I'll look into that, thanks
...and the trucker magazines/newspapers/tv etc.
Many thanks to all, as always.
xxx
Chillistrucker, well done mate, very well done. Yep, I saw that report a few months ago but, as it was dealing with medical problems/DVL, I put it to one side. I agree wholeheartedly mate, they are a bunch of tossers.
GC8, well they're not falsifying reasons, they just moved the goalposts a bit.
Originally they said that they had no record of me passing a test and it was up to me to prove I did.
So I did, with that Army Records form I sent them
NOW they are saying that (Sorry, just got a letter yesterday), while they now accept that I did pass my test, because I didn't change my old style licence to the new style, by April 1st 86, they won't re-issue my licence.
Legal advice says this is a misuse/misinterpretation of their powers and is contestable, maybe in court, because I received no notification of either the need to change over, or the consequences of NOT changing over. Further, the legal language used to deny my claim in the latest letter is not up to standard and leaves openings.
And Traffic Commissioner can remover your vocational licence because they just don't like your face
Next step is ask MP to put a complaint in to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
To do this I first must have:
Raised a complaint with DVLA and been unhappy with the outcome. Done.
Asked my MP to help, and they agree. Done
They get in touch with DVLA and not get a good result. Well, she's written to them, not expecting a result though. So...done.
Ask MP to raise the issue as a complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Done.
Next is research into how to go about getting a Judicial Hearing.
Which is....
Judicial review (JR) is the process of challenging the lawfulness of decisions of public authorities, usually local or central government. The court has a "supervisory" role - making sure the decision maker acts lawfully. It is important to understand that a JR is not a re-run on the merits of the decision but a challenge to the lawfulness of the decision that was made
Mark, good idea, I'll look into that, thanks
...and the trucker magazines/newspapers/tv etc.
Many thanks to all, as always.
xxx
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