An apology from the DVLA
Discussion
Well I never, after 3 years of fighting I finally got an apology from the DVLA.
Its a bit lackluster but it is a start and all comes off the back of the Independent Complaints Assessor getting involved in my case. I have to say the guy at the I C A has been excellent from the start and his report on my case was very thorough. It is amazing what he has achieved in a very short time, considering I have fought this for just over 3 years now.
As well as the apology I am also getting a consolatory payment and have been told by the DVLA that if the medical executives decision goes in my favour, and I am given my LGV entitlement back I can then make a claim for compensation.
Obviously I still have to get that entitlement back but this certainly seems like a step in the right direction, and the I C A report made some very valid points as to why my case is so strong and why the DVLA should deal with this both swiftly and fairly based on the evidence given.
The ICA recommend that should my entitlement be given back I should be awarded a years salary as compensation based on all the evidence that has been put forward.
Now I'm obviously not going to get excited on any of the latter just yet, and it probably doesn't mean much to anybody else, but after a pretty challenging 3 years today certainly felt like a small victory to me.
Its a bit lackluster but it is a start and all comes off the back of the Independent Complaints Assessor getting involved in my case. I have to say the guy at the I C A has been excellent from the start and his report on my case was very thorough. It is amazing what he has achieved in a very short time, considering I have fought this for just over 3 years now.
As well as the apology I am also getting a consolatory payment and have been told by the DVLA that if the medical executives decision goes in my favour, and I am given my LGV entitlement back I can then make a claim for compensation.
Obviously I still have to get that entitlement back but this certainly seems like a step in the right direction, and the I C A report made some very valid points as to why my case is so strong and why the DVLA should deal with this both swiftly and fairly based on the evidence given.
The ICA recommend that should my entitlement be given back I should be awarded a years salary as compensation based on all the evidence that has been put forward.
Now I'm obviously not going to get excited on any of the latter just yet, and it probably doesn't mean much to anybody else, but after a pretty challenging 3 years today certainly felt like a small victory to me.
Good luck OP. I had to surrender my licence after epilepsy, about 10 years ago. It was a 3 year surrender. The seizures were nighttime only. Now, the wait would only be 1 year. I managed to work still. I have been seizure-free for 6 years now.
Driving is truly a privilege, nobody should forget that nor abuse it.
Driving is truly a privilege, nobody should forget that nor abuse it.
Thanks all, much appreciated.
Obviously still a little way to go yet and I'd be a liar if I said the money didn't matter, as some form of proper compensation would certainly help although it would never repair the damage that has been done in other ways.
What doesn't kill you....and all that.
Still amazes me that I spent 2 and a half years fighting them with everything I had and got absolutely no where, I'd virtually given up and then in October last year the Public Health Service Ombudsman's report came out and I thought I'd have another go as the DVLA/DMG and all its failings had been exposed.
At least this time they couldn't sweep me under the carpet, and yet a year down the line I am still waiting that final decision, (apparently due anytime now but I won't hold my breath.)
The guy from the I C A only got involved 8 weeks ago and from the start he made a huge difference I can't praise him highly enough. He stressed that he would remain impartial throughout but did say after reading the 300 page report on my case it was one of the more unusual ones he had seen. He spent a great deal of time going through the timeline, key issues etc and asking what I wanted to achieve?
His involvement in my case is finished now as his report is finished and his recommendations have been put forward. I really, really enjoyed reading his report
Still a way to go yet, but getting that somewhat hollow apology today did put a wry smile on my face
Obviously still a little way to go yet and I'd be a liar if I said the money didn't matter, as some form of proper compensation would certainly help although it would never repair the damage that has been done in other ways.
What doesn't kill you....and all that.
Still amazes me that I spent 2 and a half years fighting them with everything I had and got absolutely no where, I'd virtually given up and then in October last year the Public Health Service Ombudsman's report came out and I thought I'd have another go as the DVLA/DMG and all its failings had been exposed.
At least this time they couldn't sweep me under the carpet, and yet a year down the line I am still waiting that final decision, (apparently due anytime now but I won't hold my breath.)
The guy from the I C A only got involved 8 weeks ago and from the start he made a huge difference I can't praise him highly enough. He stressed that he would remain impartial throughout but did say after reading the 300 page report on my case it was one of the more unusual ones he had seen. He spent a great deal of time going through the timeline, key issues etc and asking what I wanted to achieve?
His involvement in my case is finished now as his report is finished and his recommendations have been put forward. I really, really enjoyed reading his report
Still a way to go yet, but getting that somewhat hollow apology today did put a wry smile on my face
chilistrucker said:
Well I never, after 3 years of fighting I finally got an apology from the DVLA.
chilistrucker said:
Its a bit lackluster
Now why am I not surprised...? 
chilistrucker said:
but it is a start and all comes off the back of the Independent Complaints Assessor getting involved in my case. I have to say the guy at the I C A has been excellent from the start and his report on my case was very thorough. It is amazing what he has achieved in a very short time, considering I have fought this for just over 3 years now.
I'm sure you will have seen this - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...Interesting comment in the Foreward about compensation. Also the one about the PHSO in paragraph 1.14 on page 8.
The DMG comes under fire on page 24. I reckon the last sentence of paragraph 3.21 will resonate with you.
Paragraph 1.10 on page 7 suggests that the DVLA, far from improving is getting worse.
If a further annual report is issued for 2016-2017 it will be interesting to see if the caseload reduces.
The stand out aspect of the report imo though is the astonishingly high percentage of upheld/partially upheld complaints against the DVLA.
I have long believed that the Agency has a siege mentality regarding its shortcomings and the DMG in particular has an arrogant and insular attitude.
Experts other than those on its panel are simply dismissed with a 'we know best' response.
chilistrucker said:
As well as the apology I am also getting a consolatory payment and have been told by the DVLA that if the medical executives decision goes in my favour, and I am given my LGV entitlement back I can then make a claim for compensation.
Obviously I still have to get that entitlement back but this certainly seems like a step in the right direction, and the I C A report made some very valid points as to why my case is so strong and why the DVLA should deal with this both swiftly and fairly based on the evidence given.
The ICA recommend that should my entitlement be given back I should be awarded a years salary as compensation based on all the evidence that has been put forward.
Now I'm obviously not going to get excited on any of the latter just yet, and it probably doesn't mean much to anybody else, but after a pretty challenging 3 years today certainly felt like a small victory to me.
Hope it all works out for you and it won't take another 3 years for the DVLA to get off its a**e, restore your entitements, and put its hand in its pocket.Obviously I still have to get that entitlement back but this certainly seems like a step in the right direction, and the I C A report made some very valid points as to why my case is so strong and why the DVLA should deal with this both swiftly and fairly based on the evidence given.
The ICA recommend that should my entitlement be given back I should be awarded a years salary as compensation based on all the evidence that has been put forward.
Now I'm obviously not going to get excited on any of the latter just yet, and it probably doesn't mean much to anybody else, but after a pretty challenging 3 years today certainly felt like a small victory to me.
Thanks again all.
GCH, I doubt it but never say never. I have got used to being at home too much now and it wouldn't be fair on the Mrs, especially as she has stuck by me throughout all of this. I may go and do the odd double drive now and then on the tour for mates just to keep my hand in.
Red Devil. Thanks for the link, I had indeed seen it as the guy at the ICA sent it through to me and said I should read it through. He also sent me links to cases he has dealt with that were similar to mine and I am very impressed with their success rate.
Had some long detailed chats with him on the phone from the start, and as I mentioned I can't praise their work highly enough. He told me exactly what he was going to do, and how he was going to go about it and kept me regularly informed throughout. His final report was excellent and has obviously touched a nerve at the DVLA as they were very quick to write to me after receiving the ICA report.
I'll be very interested to see what happens next and what the final decision is from the Chief Medical Officer at the DMG,especially as I'm sure he has been made aware of the ICA's findings and conclusion from its report on my case.
I still refuse to get hopeful at the mo, but have to admit it does feel like the tables are turning just a little bit.
Its about time the DVLA/DMG were made to clean their mess up as they can no longer hide from the truth, as their huge failings are now out there in black and white for all to see.
GCH, I doubt it but never say never. I have got used to being at home too much now and it wouldn't be fair on the Mrs, especially as she has stuck by me throughout all of this. I may go and do the odd double drive now and then on the tour for mates just to keep my hand in.
Red Devil. Thanks for the link, I had indeed seen it as the guy at the ICA sent it through to me and said I should read it through. He also sent me links to cases he has dealt with that were similar to mine and I am very impressed with their success rate.
Had some long detailed chats with him on the phone from the start, and as I mentioned I can't praise their work highly enough. He told me exactly what he was going to do, and how he was going to go about it and kept me regularly informed throughout. His final report was excellent and has obviously touched a nerve at the DVLA as they were very quick to write to me after receiving the ICA report.
I'll be very interested to see what happens next and what the final decision is from the Chief Medical Officer at the DMG,especially as I'm sure he has been made aware of the ICA's findings and conclusion from its report on my case.
I still refuse to get hopeful at the mo, but have to admit it does feel like the tables are turning just a little bit.
Its about time the DVLA/DMG were made to clean their mess up as they can no longer hide from the truth, as their huge failings are now out there in black and white for all to see.
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