littlewoman
Longterm Registered User
I got my letter from the SIA reminding me to re-new a day or two before I was going away. I was now going to be away at various jobs for the next 3.5 months only returning home 3 weeks before renewal was due.
No problem me thinks, I have nearly 3 weeks to renew after I come back and I'm not expecting work around that time anyway. The letter says I can renew on-line (I should have read it more carefully) so thats the plan.
Well plans don't always work! Firstly, soon after I return I get flu which is with me for the next 2 weeks, so sod all chance of me filling forms in. Then I register, get my user ID and password and try to log in. It tells me I'm already logged in through another window. I'm not so it seems that when I registered it didn't close it properly. I close my browser, open it again and try again. It still says I'm logged in. I re-boot the computer, same problem. I try Internet Explorer - success, it lets me in. Mostly I have to confirm all the details they already have including the number of my biometric passport and photo driving licence.
Then I get to the final page before payment - "Counter-signatory Details" What!? I read the blurb at the side and it turns out I have to print the form off and get the photo they already have of me countersigned. (It does actually say on the letter I received "visit our website and fill in a paper application form") Normally, this wouldn't be a huge problem but my printer needs a cartridge which is currently in the post.
So, lets get this straight. They have the number of my biometric passport, my driving licence number and the photo of me on my current licence. But they still want me to go and annoy the same person who signed my last application (and my driving licence and my passport) to say that I am still the same person as in the last photo and haven't had a facelift. What checks do they do on him? Do they also have copies of the signatures of everyone who signs these applications so they can be sure you haven't just forged it? Do they do a background check on them to check that they're reliable?
So I phone them up just to check that I really do need this and it isn't a mistake. It turns out I do, unless I apply by phone. If I apply by phone I don't need a photo. So why have the hassle of printing out the online version and getting a counter-signatory if they don't need it when you do it by phone. So I end up going through a few questions and have to listen to him reading all the legal stuff and get the application in. However, I am told it will take 3-4 weeks. They're currently doing new applications faster than that!
Moral of the story, don't leave it too late and do it by phone.
No problem me thinks, I have nearly 3 weeks to renew after I come back and I'm not expecting work around that time anyway. The letter says I can renew on-line (I should have read it more carefully) so thats the plan.
Well plans don't always work! Firstly, soon after I return I get flu which is with me for the next 2 weeks, so sod all chance of me filling forms in. Then I register, get my user ID and password and try to log in. It tells me I'm already logged in through another window. I'm not so it seems that when I registered it didn't close it properly. I close my browser, open it again and try again. It still says I'm logged in. I re-boot the computer, same problem. I try Internet Explorer - success, it lets me in. Mostly I have to confirm all the details they already have including the number of my biometric passport and photo driving licence.
Then I get to the final page before payment - "Counter-signatory Details" What!? I read the blurb at the side and it turns out I have to print the form off and get the photo they already have of me countersigned. (It does actually say on the letter I received "visit our website and fill in a paper application form") Normally, this wouldn't be a huge problem but my printer needs a cartridge which is currently in the post.
So, lets get this straight. They have the number of my biometric passport, my driving licence number and the photo of me on my current licence. But they still want me to go and annoy the same person who signed my last application (and my driving licence and my passport) to say that I am still the same person as in the last photo and haven't had a facelift. What checks do they do on him? Do they also have copies of the signatures of everyone who signs these applications so they can be sure you haven't just forged it? Do they do a background check on them to check that they're reliable?
So I phone them up just to check that I really do need this and it isn't a mistake. It turns out I do, unless I apply by phone. If I apply by phone I don't need a photo. So why have the hassle of printing out the online version and getting a counter-signatory if they don't need it when you do it by phone. So I end up going through a few questions and have to listen to him reading all the legal stuff and get the application in. However, I am told it will take 3-4 weeks. They're currently doing new applications faster than that!
Moral of the story, don't leave it too late and do it by phone.
Last edited:
