Didn’t take TfL long to show their incompetence again for the umpteenth time:

Didn’t take TfL long to show their incompetence again for the umpteenth time: 

On social media today, another driver was panicking because he had received word from TfL that they had not received his renewal pack. 

The driver not only posted it off a couple of months ago, but also sent it by recorded delivery and has a signed receipt to prove this. 

The driver has tried to phone TfL multiple times, but has been unable to get through to a human. 

He has also sent a number of emails but has had no replies apart from the automated response. 

This is akin to mental torture, and can be very worrying. 

Many drivers still don’t realise that as long as you’ve filled in a renewal and posted it (best by recorded delivery), along with your DBS certificate, then you can legally work on as your old licence stays valid until you receive your renewal (transport act 1985 sec17 sub 7….supported by the letter published on Taxi leaks from Leon Daniels). 

HOW MUCH LONGER MUST WE PUT UP WITH THIS INADEQUATE INCOMPETENCE. 

Fortunately the driver is a member of the LCDC who have now put his mind at rest and taken up the issue in his behalf. 

𝐓𝐀𝐗𝐈 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐀 𝐁𝐈𝐓: 

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞…..

𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲:

Dear Mr Thomas,

I refer to your email to Sir Peter Hendy regarding the provisions of section 17(7) of the Transport Act 1985 in relation to taxi drivers renewing their licences. Please accept my apologies for the delay in providing a reply.

As far as is possible we will issue a driver his or her new licence in advance of their old licence expiring.

However, this is dependent on the driver submitting a complete and timely application, which includes the result of the DBS check and any other information that is required, as we cannot make a licensing decision until this information is received. 

It is therefore imperative that drivers start the application process in good time to allow for all necessary checks to be completed before their licence expires.

Where we are provided with a complete application, including the results of the DBS check and any other necessary information, but have not yet made a licensing decision before the old one expires, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟕(𝟕).

 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Please note that contrary to the comment in your email, section 17 of the Transport Act 1985 only applies to London taxi driver and vehicle licences, not London private hire vehicle driver licences.

Kind regards

Leon Daniels | Managing Director  

Transport for London | Surface Transport | Palestra |

11th Floor - Zone R4| 197 Blackfriars Road|Southwark|SE1 8NJ