Vortex

I got a message a while back saying I must renew my driving licence because the photo is too old (i.e. too young) and needs replacing. DVLA is notorious at the moment and I can confirm it is an infuriating vortex into a black hole. I have tried and tried and tried online, putting in screen after screen of information, being recognised, then having my payment refused because of 'a technical error'. I have tried three different cards, all refused. After waiting an age on the phone, listening to recorded messages, a human finally picked up and instantly dropped the line. After that the recorded message was simply that they did not have the staff to answer the phone. Several days later I managed to have a chat with a bot who told me to contact my bank.

So I gave up today and went to renew it through the Post Office at one-and-a-half times what it should cost online. I still won't get a licence until DVLA sees fit but at least I can pay the money and I am in the system. But it turned out that the Post Office is not allowed to send my application to DVLA unless it cuts up my existing licence. So now I have no driving licence and no ID to prove my address. 

Working conditions at DVLA sound abominable and I don't blame the staff for taking industrial action but it is beginning to feel as National Infrastructure (UK) plc has been run over by its handcart freewheeling hellwards.