Driving licence application

kinkine

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can advise me. Cutting a long story short, I haven't been able to work or earn money since August. For my daughters Christmas I decided to buy her a provisional driving licence. £50 was taken from my bank account on 25th November, and DVLA have just written telling me that they cannot send the licence as I have not paid the fee. Apparently I used a "third-party check and send" service.

I certainly was not aware of that at the time, and am wondering where to go from here. Feeling sick and tearful at the thought of losing £50.

Thanks in advance.

System

you need to contact the check and send service and explain your mistake and hope they offer a refund.


However I think they will probably say no as it was a few weeks ago and they have done their job in checking and sending.


You have to be careful with these services as they prey on the unprepared

kinkine

The letter from the DVLA says "you may wish to first seek advice from Trading Standards or your local Citizens Advice Bureau in order to avoid additional costs".

I am so upset at myself because it's not like me and I can ill afford £50.

wealdroam

kinkine wrote: »

The letter from the DVLA says "you may wish to first seek advice from Trading Standards or your local Citizens Advice Bureau in order to avoid additional costs".

I am so upset at myself because it's not like me and I can ill afford £50.

What's the name of the website you used?

kinkine

It was https://www.drivinglicence.uk.com. I checked my browser history and I had googled "apply for a provisional driving licence in Scotland". I didn't want to name it in case I got into trouble!

wealdroam

kinkine wrote: »

It was https://www.drivinglicence.uk.com. I checked my browser history and I had googled "apply for a provisional driving licence in Scotland". I didn't want to name it in case I got into trouble!

OK, on their home page in bold it says:

We are not affiliated with DVLA, the UK government or any official body. The checking service we provide can be obtained from the DVLA directly at a reduced fee or you can apply without a checking service where there will be no checking fee payable.

In their T&Cs it says:

11.4 Due to the nature of the Services that we provide, we will begin to provide the Service to you with immediate effect upon the completed submission of your application.
11.5 By making your order with us and completing the Application form you are therefore providing your authority to us to begin providing our service straight away which means that you will not have the right to cancel your contract with us once you have made your order.
11.6 You will not be entitled to any refund of the money you have paid to us in accordance with these conditions unless we have been unable to deliver the Service to you in which case we may refund all or part of the money paid in our absolute discretion

This is in line with The Distance Selling regulations.

Im sorry to say it's not looking good for a refund, is it?

kinkine

I know it's not looking good Wealdoroam, I just had to try and see if there was anything I could do! In my defence, I have been in and out of hospital since August, four major operations. My head was obviously all over the place, but I still cannot believe they charge £50 for this. My husband has told me to be glad it wasn't more, and to move on but I am quite upset.

I have e-mailed them outlining my circumstances and appealing to their better nature, but I'm not hopeful. Hard lesson learned.

HiToAll

sorry to hear you have paid out money unnecessarily and unlikely to get it back, but also on their front home page they detail the additional costs payable to the DVLA on application.
I think it is a lesson in reading a website (just the home page in this instance) and realising what you are getting for your money. Your post may stop someone else from making the same mistake at the least.

kinkine

Thanks HiToAll, I am usually clued up and think I feel stupid that I fell for it. Like you say, if it stops someone else then that's great. I just keep thinking "Fifty quid. For what?".

Widelats

Can you not just pay the DVLA the fee they want? If they already have your application i don't see the problem.

Sharon87

Well the check and send service didn't do their job as they didn't realise no payment to the DVLA was made, so that may give the OP some stance in a refund because obviously they didn't spot that!