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Fed up with DVLA

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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suziepoo

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Was on a restricted licence due to being T1 on insulin. Then last May I had a night-time seizure and had to return my licence for a year.
Following their rules, I sent my forms off 8 weeks before I was due to get my licence back. Still waiting for the epileptic consultant to return their form (he claims he's sent it weeks ago but they haven't got it and is refusing to fax it through).
Then I got a letter today to say they're now writing to my diabetic consultant and they give him 6 weeks to reply. Plus 2 weeks to scan the response into their system and a further 2 weeks to determine what they're going to do! Then time to send it to me.
As the reason I lost my licence is due to epilepsy (which I no longer have to declare night-time seizures to them) why are they writing to my diabetic consultant? As I lost my licence due to a night-time seizure, which they no longer require me to declare, why haven't I got my licence back??
I'm worried about my hubby's health but he won't get his back sorted until I get my licence back. We can't get to work without one of us driving!
Was bad enough surrendering my licence for 12 months but this will be at least 14 months by the time I get it back.
Then I'll be scared to drive as I haven't driven on the country roads here coz I lost my licence a week after we moved here. So that's not going to go down well (me sticking to low speeds) with the speeding Audis up here!!
Sorry, but am really fed up and annoyed with DVLA. Won't tell them anything in a hurry!
 
Hi Suziepoo

No idea about how DVLA works. Sometimes, seizures can be connected to hypsoglycaemia, in someone withe diabetes, but not epilepsy, so perhaps that's what's being considered. Not that that helps to speed the process for you.

A couple of practical suggestions for when you get your licence back (let's be positive and say when, not if) and regaining confidence on country roads would be to book a lesson or two with a local driving instructor - they can teach for reasons other than passing tests, although not often asked to do so. Although you're not a new driver, you might find it helpful to have a green P sticker on back of your car - might placate the Audi drivers?
 
Hi Suzi,
I suspect what the DVLA are doing is treating you as a new driver so are making all the checks they do for a first time application.
If the epilepsy consultant wont fax through the required form again, it's your right to have a copy of the original. It might cost you a tenner but you are entitled to see your notes and have copies 🙂
From reading other forums and comments on here DVLA will take there time and nothing will shift em, so do not make any plans for getting behind the wheel just yet.
Also once you have your licence back do go out with an instructor for a few refresher lessons so you regain your confidence.
 
Hi Copepod
The consultants I've seen for epilepsy say it's absolutely nothing to do with my diabetes!!

Hi Pumper Sue
The consultant didn't keep a copy of the report because I've already asked about it!! I wanted to see what he had said coz he's a moron and I don't trust him! Will be good to see what their lawyers say about having no evidence of the information they've provided to DVLA!!

Having had a clean licence for nearly 23 years (not even points for speeding etc) I think it's really unfair that they're processing my application as for a first-timer!
Sadly, I can't afford refresher lessons thanks to losing my licence.

Well, the longer it takes DVLA to give me my licence back, the more I will resist telling them anything in the future!!
 
Hope you can get the necessary reports - as Sue says, you may have to pay for copies, but at least you'll have them.

I appreciate that your epilepsy consultant says that the seizure had nothing to do with your diabetes, and s/he should know, for goodness sake, but I'm trying to second guess how the DVLA might consider the situation. Consultant should also know about how DVLA works, as writing reports about patients trying to get / retain / regain driving licences is a significant part of their job.

Do be aware that with-holding or giving inaccurate information about health on driving licence forms is a serious offence, with knock on effects to potentially invalidate insurance etc.
 
Finally, after lots of nasty calls to DVLA, my licence is in the post!!!

They are totally useless and failed to keep a record of the conversation between my hubby and one of their senior managers (he complained about their staff talking down to him and talking over him!!). So he ended up having to chase them again rather than them emailing to confirm it had been dealt with.

Fingers crossed tonight's drive home goes well!! :D
 
Sounds like all your persistance has paid off. Very happy for you.

It's always important to keep records of all communications with official bodies - photocopies of forms, certificate of posting / signed for delivery, notes of phone call times and people involved.
 
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