The ID vicious circle

The ID vicious circle

I have a very out of date set of ID.  It stems from a few issues.  I have a preliminary driver’s licence (that’s a learners licence to non-UK readers).  I am not actually entitled to drive, and so I can’t have a full valid driver’s licence even if I were Ayrton Senna.  Medically, I’m officially unfit to drive and that’s that.  This means that the learners licence I have has the address on it that I lived at when I was 17.  The ID is valid and serves it’s purpose of convincing the odd alcohol vendor that I’m me and old, but the address is a good 9 years out of date, and I legally cannot be granted another or have it swapped for one with an up to date address.

When I moved into my new place a few years ago, I changed my address with my bank.  I phoned them up and quoted my security password and so on, and they started sending my mail elsewhere.  Brilliant.  While I was living there, everyone started to soil themselves that someone may steal their identities and so the bank started requiring proof of a new address, which given that only they ever mail me, is kinda difficult so, while I was a student, I skipped updating a couple of addresses, and opted for them to send my statements by email instead.

Now, I live in Swansea, with some friends.  Ironically the home of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency too, they could update my licence but won’t.  I tried to open a bank account.  I need a form of ID and a letterhead from a bank to show my address.  I can’t do that, because the old bank won’t change my details without a signed Affadavit from the pope.  So I remain ID less.

I’m also, whilst looking for a job, applying for the government benefit that is appropriate to that.  Now don’t be stupid, I really am looking for a job, and I’ve paid about 15,000 pounds of tax since I was 18 (I’m 26 now), so it doesn’t take the piss to claim a bit of help for a few short weeks.  I need either a drivers licence with up to date address, or some acceptable ID and a letterhead from a trustworthy institution to show my address.  I have none of this crap.  My birth certificate is a piece of beige paper, typewritten and my passport is expired and disposed of.  My Driver’s Licence we’ve covered and I am staying with friends, so I have no bills in my name.

I need an address for ID and I need ID for an address.  Worse than that, I need BOTH for a benefits claim and in order to get any new form of government ID, I need lots of money as they’re not in the habit of doing anything at a reasonable price.

Anyone got any clue what I do next?

Related posts:

1. Shock! Horror! I’m in favour of ID cards…sorta.