Don't be Left Stranded by the New Car Hire Law

DaybreakGirl

Glad you all find it so hilarious, just proves how rude and ill mannered the great English public are. I was not aware of having given my NI number to get a provisional license as it was some nearly 50 years ago and not something I would have kept in my memory banks especially as I have never had any points on my license so therefore have not had to look at it very often. Still hope your amusement brightened your day.

AdrianC

DaybreakGirl wrote: »

I was not aware of having given my NI number to get a provisional license

You were very adamant earlier...

But, seriously, why on earth did you think the government wouldn't know about your NI number?

DaybreakGirl

As I stated it's been a long, long time since applying for that provisional and I have had many more important things to remember other than that.

BeenThroughItAll

DaybreakGirl wrote: »

As I stated it's been a long, long time since applying for that provisional and I have had many more important things to remember other than that.

Surely, however, you MUST remember where your NI number came from? The clue is, after all, in the name 'National Insurance' - a scheme created by, and administered by the Government.

poppasmurf_bewdley

DaybreakGirl wrote: »

Glad you all find it so hilarious, just proves how rude and ill mannered the great English public are. I was not aware of having given my NI number to get a provisional license as it was some nearly 50 years ago and not something I would have kept in my memory banks especially as I have never had any points on my license so therefore have not had to look at it very often. Still hope your amusement brightened your day.

DaybreakGirl wrote: »

kwmlondon wrote: »

I think that most people are aware of the demise of the paper part of the driving license, yes? Well, it's going to be very complicated for people taking a rental car as this has been how the people at the desk check to see how many points you have. Now you need to get a code from the DVLA less than 72 hours before you pick up the car. The code is single-use and phone lines cost 51p a minute - seriously, do your homework before you get your car or it could be very, very expensive.

The last three times I have hired a car has all been emergencies, own car broke down, being repaired need to hire car, what happens then? You cannot give 72 hours notice then, they have not thought it through. Also my National Insurance Number is nothing to do with them and I would like to know how they got it as I certainly never gave it to them.

I don't think anybody found it hilarious, but you have to admit that your statement I have outlined in bold above leaves you wide open to ridicule because you make a very haughty comment followed by another comment which was so soon shown to be completely inane.

I too don't remember ever having given my NI number when I applied for a driving licence in the 1960's, but hell why should it bother me that the DVLA has it on record. So do other government agencies like HMRC, NHS, the Local Authority. It's not as though it's a state secret.

I'm hiring a car next weekend. I'll have to see what happens because all I'll be taking along will be my plastic driving licence.

Jaffa_cake

So+, as has been mentioned earlier.

Your now standing at the hire desk, can the desk clerk, or yourself, simply not log onto DVLA, and give your licence number, your NINO then your postcode.

It works well, sitting here at home, all to easy to see
who I am,
the vehicles I can drive,
the dates the licence is valid for,
and of course, penalty points.

JC

poppasmurf_bewdley

Jaffa_cake wrote: »

So+, as has been mentioned earlier.

Your now standing at the hire desk, can the desk clerk, or yourself, simply not log onto DVLA, and give your licence number, your NINO then your postcode.

It works well, sitting here at home, all to easy to see
who I am,
the vehicles I can drive,
the dates the licence is valid for,
and of course, penalty points.

JC

That's the simple way.

But some people apparently don't want to give out state secrets - sorry, their NI number for some reason. And some people apparently don't know their NI number (how they got through life without it before beats me). And then again, some people can't see why we have to do away with paper which has been ok for our ancestors for hundreds of years.

And then, of course, there are those people with 11 points on their licence who have kept a spare paper counterpart with no points showing in a draw for just this purpose, who might be a little peeved that their trick won't work any more.

Nodding_Donkey

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

And then, of course, there are those people with 11 points on their licence who have kept a spare paper counterpart with no points showing in a draw for just this purpose, who might be a little peeved that their trick won't work any more.

Bingo!

I hadn't thought of that but it certainly explains why some people are so up in arms about what, to me, seems like a good move on the DVLAs part.

It could also extend to those that have a 'spare' to use when they have been banned.