Driving license sent to our address - owner moved over a decade ago!

anselld

It is not your house. It is not your license. Why are you unduly worried?

theartfullodger

Suspect fresh new UK driving licenses would sell for quite a bit.... ;-)

Silvertabby

It's well dodgy.

The first reason for 'not being able to change his address with DVLA' that popped into my head is that the son is deep in debt and that the bailiffs will check his address with DVLA before turning up on YOUR doorstep.

If another one arrives, send it back to DVLA with a letter confirming that this person moved 10 years ago.

Thrugelmir

JennyP wrote: »

Or am I overreacting and it'll be fine? Can someone do much harm with a license at an address where they don't live? (I have vivid imagination and am worrying about financial fraud!)

Well they could use your address.

harrys_dad

Silvertabby wrote: »

It's well dodgy.

The first reason for 'not being able to change his address with DVLA' that popped into my head is that the son is deep in debt and that the bailiffs will check his address with DVLA before turning up on YOUR doorstep.

If another one arrives, send it back to DVLA with a letter confirming that this person moved 10 years ago.

I doubt bailiffs are allowed access to the DVLA database, just scammer parking companies, and then only if they have a car registration number.

Silvertabby

harrys_dad wrote: »

I doubt bailiffs are allowed access to the DVLA database, just scammer parking companies, and then only if they have a car registration number.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. I'm talking about the legal Court appointed bailiffs, not the wide boys.

Perhaps I'm letting my imagination run away with me, but I've had another, darker, thought - what if sonny boy is banned from living within a certain distance of a certain property - but OP's house is outside the boundary? The Police certainly have access to the DVLA database when checking someone's address.

Whatever the reason, I can't think of a good (or legal) one.

robatwork

Indeed there is NO GOOD REASON for this, and you need to let your friend know that no matter how kind hearted/soft he is, this will come back to bite him.

Whether that's these people harassing him, or debt collectors at the door, he needs to realise that.

His options include binning the licence and not saying anything to anyone, and certainly not communicating with these reprobates; returning it to DVLA again not entering into communication; returning it to DVLA and telling them in a "final" communication to stop contacting him or using his address.

The more he communicates with these scammers (it is a scam) the more he gets himself inserted into someone else's scam.

VintageHistorian

If they'd moved a year ago then maybe I could understand this, it takes a while to remember to update everything and if his licence had expired within that year then maybe (maybe) he might have been a bit stupid and forgot to update the address when renewing.

But 10 years is well over the top, it means he's been driving around with the wrong licence address for a decade, and now wants to do the same thing for another 10 years?

You've mentioned that you've emailed the DVLA but frankly I think you need to give them a call, explain the situation, and ask if there's any circumstance why they would accept sending a licence to an old address. I'd imagine they'll say "no", and tell you what needs to be done in the event of losing a licence before updating the address (for example). I suspect it involves paying a bit more than the standard fee for renewing a licence (updating the address is free), which could be why the driver is doing it. Doesn't need to be malicious or a scam, he could just resent paying more money for his own stupidity. Some people would rather cause huge inconvenience to themselves and others than pay for something.

Pixie5740

This is becoming a mountain out of a molehill. The previous occupant might just be a silly burke who never got round to updating the address on his driving licence and has now lost said licence or had to renew it meaning the replacement has to go to the address held with the DVLA. Nothing nefarious just stupid.

Given this isn't even happening to the OP I do wonder why the OP is getting so involved. If the current occupant just wants to hand the driving licence over without making a massive fuss then let him.

Red-Squirrel_2

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Given this isn't even happening to the OP I do wonder why the OP is getting so involved. If the current occupant just wants to hand the driving licence over without making a massive fuss then let him.

The OP is a current occupant I think. She describes it as 'our address' and the friend is the owner so presume she is a lodger/housemate.