My quest for a Northern Ireland driving license continues!

Dear Sir,

Following my letter dated 05/11/2012, I am happy to inform you that I have now received a Northern Ireland driving license (driver no xxxxxxx) from DVA.

Regrettably, upon examination, this license was found to be missing some of my driving entitlements.

I contacted DVA and they examined the D737 from DVLA and informed me that the categories were missing from the D737.

I contacted DVLA and they have confirmed that the D737 issued was in error and they have issued a corrected D737.

For your records, I have enclosed copies of

1) Correspondence to DVA,

2) New D737 entitlement for exchange purposes.

I am now awaiting a corrected license from DVA.

Thank you for your ongoing patience.

Here is the text of a letter I am currently writing to West Yorkshire police – I missed out the bit where my initial application to DVLNI was rejected as my passport was deemed to be damaged (it went through the wash with my driving license) and not good enough for ID – I had to find a birth certificate.  I did point out the same passport was good enough to fly to Spain and London in the previous few weeks.  I guess DVA/DVLNI (they wont even tell you what there called) could not talk to the Passport office just down the road.

Anyway, here’s the letter.

RE FIXED PENALTY NUMBER: C17691656

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have been advised by HMCTS to keep you advised on this matter (see enc. 2).

Following receipt of a fixed penalty notice, I sent my driving license and payment to HMCTS, North East. However, due to the license being damaged and the address being wrong, they were unable to process payment (enc 2).

I then contacted DVLA for a replacement licence. Unfortunately, they cannot issue me with a new license as I now reside in Northern Ireland.

I then applied to DVA (NI)/DVLNI for an exchange license (enc. 3). In an unfortunate, if not ironic turn of events, this application was rejected as the GB license I tried to exchange was “damaged” (see enc. 3).

I have now obtained a D737 letter of entitlement from DVLA and forwarded to DVA (NI) /DVLNI and I am awaiting a new NI driving license to send to HMCTS, who, in this strange world of licensing, will, I believe, issue me with a GB counterfoil to my NI license and put points on this!

Enclosed

1) Correspondence from HMCTS rejecting driving licence,

2) Correspondence from HMCTS advising to contact yourselves and that DVLNI license would be acceptable

3) Acknowledgement of driving licence application (DVA),

4) Rejection of driving license application (DVA),

5) Confirmation of GB Driving license details (DVLA).

Thank you for your patience in this matter.

Sincerely

Stuart McLean

I find it pretty bizarre that we event need a driving licence – surely just the number should do!