The AA sucks - bureaucratic nonsense

[Old Steve]

I went in to book a 6L theory test at the local AA. I was asked for ID identification, so I produced my car drivers license. Then I was asked for my evidence of address identification. What? I only wanted to book my theory test in a couple of days time. No, I had to produce proof of address identification, now, to book a theory test. Do I also have to produce these when I come in to sit the theory test? Yes, you have to produce them again then.

Am I missing something here? Are they worried about someone booking a theory test for someone else, and what would be the harm in that anyway? Or did I strike the AA staff member at a bad time?

The Road Code says, "When you apply for each stage of your license ... you will need to present evidence of your identity and evidence of your address." does that mean you do in fact have to produce this evidence of ID and address when you are only making an appointment to sit the bloody test.

[Latte]

Sounds like you hit a pedant there. I was asked for proof of address when applying to sit 6L and 6R, but not when sitting the actual test.

[Mom]

The Road Code says, "When you apply for each stage of your license ... you will need to present evidence of your identity and evidence of your address." does that mean you do in fact have to produce this evidence of ID and address when you are only making an appointment to sit the bloody test.

Sorry to be the bucket of cold water but, I read "apply" and "making an appointment" to be the same thing in this instance :yes:

[blossomsowner]

so what happens when a parent goes to book in jimmy dearest for a test.............??????????

makes no difference what their name is or where they live!!!!!!!!!!

and how does one book in over the phone??????????????/

[Taz]

OldSteve
As that is a stage in the licence process, yes you do. Just supply evidence of your fricken address FFS. You have just failed a step of your licence! :lol:

[MSTRS]

so what happens when a parent goes to book in jimmy dearest for a test.............??????????

makes no difference what their name is or where they live!!!!!!!!!!

and how does one book in over the phone??????????????/

Did that ourselves for hXc. Booked, paid for via CC. He had to take proof of ID and address when he turned up for the actual test.

[Bounce001]

When you book over the phone they tell you take that info in with you when you sit the test, even though you have paid already by credit card.

If you go in to book, you need to take id and address with you and you also do the eye test and they take your photo. Then when you sit the actual test this doesn't need to be done. (As long as the test is within one month of booking - if not you will have to do it all again.

[Pascal]

I had similar tribulations with them while booking my Learners. They would not confirm over the telephone when appointments were available. When I eventually sat the test, as I was about 20 minutes early and the only attendee they allowed me to sit it immediately. Then, however, they would not mark it until the time to "really" start the test started. I'm not impressed, generally speaking. And I've got to book my Restricted now as a year on a Learner's is starting to be a shameful excercise.

[Spearfish]

I lost the bottom half of the handling skills test cert, the top half wasn't enough. The explanation I was that we both had to have a piece ?? yep.. that makes sense?
3 hours later land transport faxed the lower section to the AA and was able to sit the last test of the day.

Just to cap it off the computer theory test was faulty so I couldn't use Swahili as a language option, at least they had hundreds of other language options...to match the road signs...aye?

[p.dath]

I don't think this is limited to the AA per-see, it is a requirement of any test centre for driver licencing.

[Hanne]

Can't you book online? I'm pretty sure I booked both my fulls online then turned up early with id, proof of address for photo and eye test...

[firefighter]

It's a bullshit flaw. You can easily have some mail delivered somewhere other than your living address, so it actually only proves that you have that particular mail sent to that particular address, that one time. You could just have it sent there once then change it immediately again anyhow.

Like I said. It proves nothing, and just like most other things kiwi, is bloody stoopid.

[BMWST?]

It's a bullshit flaw. You can easily have some mail delivered somewhere other than your living address, so it actually only proves that you have that particular mail sent to that particular address, that one time. You could just have it sent there once then change it immediately again anyhow.

Like I said. It proves nothing, and just like most other things kiwi, is bloody stoopid.

its a reasonable "test" that you are who say you are and live where you say you live.They could make it a shit load more difficult if they wanted.

[Ixion]

I have personally experienced this issue ("prove your address" ) on various occasions , though not in connection with driver's licence. And it is a *MAJOR PAIN IN THE ARSE*.

I have a post office box. My mail gets sent there. Almost the only mail put in the letter box is junk mail. The few utility bills that come to the letter box are mostly either in Mrs Ixion's name, or in both our names - whcih latter at leats one pedantic bunch of pricks won't accept.

I point out - check the phone book, check the electoral roll. No, they've got to have a blah blah.

It is officious and 1984ish. What business is it of theirs where I live anyway? What are they doing with that information? And how do they know I really live there? At one point I was using my mother's address for such purposes, simply because a few companies kept sending mail addressed to me to an address I hadn't lived at for 40 odd years ! Seriously. Do they never update their mailing lists. But it satisfied the bureacratic wah wahs.

[firefighter]

its a reasonable "test" that you are who say you are and live where you say you live.They could make it a shit load more difficult if they wanted.

How does it show that I live there?

Did you not actually read what I just wrote?

All it shows, is that an envelope arrived at that address with that piece of paper in it, you could be living somewhere else altogether.

[p.dath]

I have personally experienced this issue ("prove your address" ) on various occasions , though not in connection with driver's licence. And it is a *MAJOR PAIN IN THE ARSE*.

I have a post office box. My mail gets sent there. Almost the only mail put in the letter box is junk mail. The few utility bills that come to the letter box are mostly either in Mrs Ixion's name, or in both our names - whcih latter at leats one pedantic bunch of pricks won't accept.

I have a similar issue. I got sick of all the junk mail, so I simply removed my letter box. As a result, I can no longer get postal mail addressed to my residence, and I have no intention of putting the letterbox back. My junk mail issue is "almost" sorted (some tosser has started trying to wedge it into my fence ...).

So I only have a post office box as well.

[mashman]

How does it show that I live there?

Did you not actually read what I just wrote?

All it shows, is that an envelope arrived at that address with that piece of paper in it, you could be living somewhere else altogether.

You can always scan any utility bill, photoshop the name, print it out... et voila... you have an address.

[firefighter]

You can always scan any utility bill, photoshop the name, print it out... et voila... you have an address.

Exzachary. It's a pain in the butt. Thank god iv'e got all but my class 5, and don't really need to deal with them anymore.

Oh no wait, that's right, my licence expires this year, even though I was only just given a new licence class last August........(this I will never understand)

Fucken AA.

[marine0089]

Simple solution, don't bother booking for your learners.

I walked into vtnz straight after passing my basic skills test, provided id and address verification and then sat the test there and then.

Restricted/full you obviously need to book as need to set up a time, place etc but why the need for your learners? Its just a scratchy test they hand you over the counter.

[cromagnon]

Simple solution, don't bother booking for your learners.

I walked into vtnz straight after passing my basic skills test, provided id and address verification and then sat the test there and then.

Restricted/full you obviously need to book as need to set up a time, place etc but why the need for your learners? Its just a scratchy test they hand you over the counter.

The theory test is on computers now, or at least, at the AA.

[Swoop]

I simply removed my letter box. As a result, I can no longer get postal mail addressed to my residence, and I have no intention of putting the letterbox back.
A mate in east Auckland has been in battle with the post office for not having a letterbox with a number on it! Some arcane law that he is breaking (apparently).
The main problem is that he does have a letterbox, in plain view of the street... and directly behind it there is a huge numeral "1" plastered on the front of the house...
He is getting LOTS of mileage forom winding the bastards up over the issue, that they have created.

[Ixion]

The reason that I have a PO Box is because NZ Post claim that my letter box is illegal !

My house has a formal address of 6 X St. That is the street frontage . But X St runs along the top of a VERY steep bank. Which starts absolutely at the edge of the roadway. There's no parking whatsoever, and to get down the bank you'd need to be a mountain goat - forget getting any sort of vehicle down it. So the house actually has no access from X St ! (the street being about 30 foot above the roof of the house). Instead the builders put in a long right of way driveway access from Y Street , the street at the BOTTOM of the bank. And gave the house the number 20 Y St. (as in, X St at top of big bank/cliff, Y St at bottom, house half way up bank.). That is the only access to the house - so if you come calling, you need to go to Y St and down that long drive.

Because there is no 20 Y St on the "official post office list", NZ Post refuse to deliver mail to it. Even though the letter box is there in Y St, with the number clearly on it.

Expostulation along the lines of "What the hell does it matter ? It's a letter. The address is on the letter. There's the clearly numbered letter box. What is so hard?" fail totally. " It's not a legal letterbox. We can't deliver to it. Duh".

Hence , PO Box. Hence MAJOR PAIN IN ARSE when other equally bloody stupid bureaucratic organisation insist on seeing mail addressed to the Y St letter box - which I can't get because NZ Post won't deliver it!

How the fuck do people get on who live on a boat ?

[Pascal]

How the fuck do people get on who live on a boat ?

P.O Box? I suspect what you're seeing is the advent of computers happening. It used to be that your good old Postie was trusted to deliver the mail and he/she could figure it out. Nowadays if it isn't in the PAF file it doesn't exist.