The definition of Bureaucratize is: (A state or Organization) governed by an excessively complicated administration procedure. Henceforth I give you the DVLA as the heavily committed Organization bent on making your chances of renewing your licence to drive when over the age of seventy seem impossible to obtain. Since when has the Birth Certificate been under scrutiny of not being enough evidence of proof of your birth?
The DVLA have a printed form which states the documents they wish to be included as proof of your identity. You may not have these documents to prove your existence in this world, but the funny thing is they seem to know who you are when paying your TAXES, ROAD TAX, INSURANCE FOR THE CAR, M.O.T. CERTIFICATE, PENSION, DEATH CERTIFICATE and THE ORIGINAL LICENCE when you passed your road test. They have all the information in their records system for all the years you have renewed your vehicle. You send back a slip of paper attached to the change of ownership for every new vehicle you have purchased – so why would you be a different person when applying for the above mentioned driving licence? Being blind to the documentation the DVLA have already in their files must be one of the assets for getting a job at the DVLA.
There could be as many as a thousand people working at the DVLA, but none of them will ever receive a telephone call as I recalled one Winter’s day when applying and wanting to ask a question. I chose a telephone number amongst three numbers printed on the DVLA WEBSITE especially for the kind of information that fell in my category. Oh good I thought, common sense at last and how short-lived it was for me when instead of speaking to another human being, I had eight options to consider and answering what I thought was the right option, another eight options were given and then another eight options and yet again another eight options – it wouldn’t have mattered so much had the options just been a few words, but instead turned out to be a paragraph for each option, thereby making my telephone bill look ridiculously high for the month. I never got to speak to anyone because the idiot pre-recorded message assumed it was the right answer to give. So I never had the answer to my question from a HUMAN BEING.
According to one POST OFFICE PERSON in EASTBOURNE who seem to thrive on giving out wrong information to the public as I recall on another Winter’s day. Going to the POST OFFICE, I was politely informed that that particular POST OFFICE didn’t deal with renewal of DRIVING LICENCES, which is not actually written down anywhere. The man I spoke to informed me that HAILSHAM POST OFFICE would be able to help and even on their WEBSITE it informed me that they would also take a photograph. What a waste of time having somebody just telling me what I already knew, but not answering my particular question or taking photographs as they hadn’t the facilities.
No wonder this world is in such a blooming mess! People who are not fully trained to answer any questions you may ask them, but are prone to give answers in Parrot fashion, hoping it is the right answer to the recipients inquiry….and doesn’t it make you feel sick when they say: “I hope that answers your query – have a nice day!” I feel like responding with ’ UP YOURS!’
Listing of POST OFFICES in your district that are supposed to give services to renew your DRIVING LICENCE when you are over seventy seem to be on the TOP SECRET LISTING or they just don’t exist.
According to the INTERNET – SEAFORD POST OFFICE has the same facilities as Hailsham Post Office which were zilch as far as HAILSHAM POST OFFICE was concerned, whether Seaford Post Office can do the photograph is to be determined. I shall visit SEAFORD POST OFFICE armed with my paperwork in the hope that they will answer my question and take my photograph.
Do the Government know that this sort of bureaucratic procedure is happening? Of course they do – they introduced it and use it themselves. Diplomacy seems to raise its ugly head on some things that are trivial to a point of being ridiculously mundane.
I bet none of the over seventies from Buckingham Palace have all this hassle of renewing their DRIVING LICENCES.
On my second visit to Eastbourne Post Office, I spoke to a different person and was reliably informed what I needed to do, and I succeeded in obtaining my driving licence renewal, but it took me the best part of six weeks.
Amusing Anecdote
Whether to use a hyphen or not – that is the question? (Sorry W Shakespeare)
Lewes Little Theatre Patrons seem to make an issue of a reviewer of one of their productions of whether she should have used a hyphen in her review. To me it rather sounds like nit picking and trivial, especially when there are so many issues of importance happening in this world of ours.
Surely the review is much more important than whether the person who reviewed the piece wanted to use a hyphen or not, it was her decision to write the review without the hyphen and that is the end of it.
For someone to be so incensed with a HYPHEN not being used should get their life on a firmer footing. Letters to the Editor are certainly for those with more of a sensible approach of the product in question, and not whether someone writes something that does not have a HYPHEN as part of their write up. There’s nowt so queer as folk?