Falling through the cracks... rant!

typical man answer.

Sounds like a right kerfuffle!!!!!!!!

Have you sent of for a new D/L as that may come back quicker than a utility company.

I hadn't been planning to, as the address on that is my parents' and saw no need to change, as I've only just changed the name on there since the wedding. I think I will give Thames Water a go, they've always been very good and quick at this kind of thing.

I have also informed the council, for council tax purposes, but they seem to be slow at writing to us too!

What about a council tax letter or something? That counts does it not?

Cross-posted I think... I've told them we've moved in but we've not had a letter through yet with our names on.

i *think* you can get fined for this if the details on your drivers liscence dont reflect your actual details...

Oh bum, another thing to add to the list then!

Please don't worry. I moved house (long distance) 10 days before one of mine was due and it is no problem (if annoying) You can get medical treatment wherever you are. You'll be ok!

I was just going to say this too. The fine is up to £1,000. You will also need to update you car reg documents & insurance as this will invaildate your policy.

I don't actually drive a car, does that make a difference? I just have the licence.

AC, it's because I need the whooping cough jab and that has to be done through the GPs. I also can't get referred to physios for hip/back pain unless I am registered in the right borough.

Bloomin' bureaucracy!

i think so, i think itd be clased as fraud!

ETA - im not speculating, my older brother went through something when he moved out of his gfs place and didnt change he details, i know he was fined for not having his residing address on it!

Change your address at your current GP? It'll be on the system then.

When you get round to registering with the new GP, you'll just be registering the same address again.

If all you need is proof of address you can phone your bank and they will send something out to you really quickly.

I'm surprised the council is taking so long to get back to you. Every time we've moved the council contacts us within a couple of days of submitting our change of address online.

Grrrr! Had a quick google and it appears I can do it online, so will be doing that tonight I guess.

What do they do about people who rent? I know I've bought a place now so it does make sense to change, but for the past four/five years I've been at uni and renting etc, so my 'residing address' changed on a termly or yearly basis. Hence just keeping the licence as my 'permanent' address at my parents. It just seems so wasteful to change a licence every year when the tenancy agreement runs out ?

Will they keep me on the books though, given I've moved out of area? I had assumed they would just say "sorry we can't cover you any more". My GP at uni did this when I moved to the suburbs, said they wouldn't keep me on even though it would have been really convenient for me since I was in uni every day. Because otherwise they would have a responsibility to make a home visit if necessary, and it was too far for them to travel. I will give them a ring though and explain and hope I get someone nice!

I'm not sure. Round here you can pick your GP surgery, even if you don't live nearby. I think most aren't over-subscribed so some people attend a surgery near to work or school rather than their home village. Well, my mum does!

It can't hurt to explain the situation, and that you are planning on registering with the new practice. As you don't want to miss any attempts at communication, especially in your current state, you'd like to keep your records up to date.

As a student it's ok to have two addresses, a term time one and a home address so I've always kept my driving license at my parents' address but I'm planning to change it once I'm married. I'll probably have to change it again 6 months later but they don't charge you to just change the address.

I told my GP when we moved and they kicked me out. Gave me 28 days notice and that was it. Wasn't registered anywhere for ages.

Yes I think it is a max 1k fine for having incorrect details. It is free to make the changes though

Okay, I have called the old GP practice and the lady was very nice. She said I'd have to bring in proof of my new address, I explained about the solicitors letter and she said it would be fine. Phew! Just need to go back into the suburbs now to show them the letter, but I can tie it in with a visit to the parentals maybe.

Changing address is a pain in the bum. I did it twice last year, I started making a list before I needed to and kept coming up with things I had forgotten like a previous pension.

The second time was far more hassle because it was a new build so no bugger would recognise the postcode and kept accusing me of getting it wrong!

I changed area so had to change GP I simply filled in a form from their website to register and it was done really easily, don't think I even had to have an appointment. The second time I moved (but stayed in area) I just wrote to them with new address and they changed it, didn't have to prove it.

one thing I found really irritating, most websites for mail order stuff let you change your address on-line but it doesn't actually take effect until you've placed an order with them so catalogues etc still end up at the old address so I had to ring people ?

So not looking forward to changing everything for my name once we are married

We have this too. It's not a new-build though, it's a 10-year-old conversion... there's the shop at the bottom (3), then us (3a) and another flat (3b). The Royal Mail delivers mail for all of us to the communal postbox for '3', hence anyone who buys their quick address database thing from Royal Mail refuses to accept we are 3a and keeps trying to make us be '3' ? It's a pain in the proverbial!

I still have some things in my maiden name ?

I had my mail redirected by Royal Mail for a few months, that way you can see which ones still have your old address and update them. It's not very expensive and you can choose how long to do it for.

As for the doctors, mine didn't need any proof of my address, I think I just filled in a form. And at the hospital, they ask me every appointment, "Are all your details up to date?" and then just change anything that needs changing.

We had the redirection thing last year and it was a godsend!

We knew we wouldn't be in our old flat for long though, so didn't get any post there, it was all sent to parents' houses. Except the blinkin' GPs and hospital!

If you're worried about missing appointment letters etc, you can set up a forwarding arrangement with Royal Mail, so that anything sent to you at your old address will be automatically redelivered for (I think) 3 or 6 months. You have to pay for it but I don't think it's very expensive. That will at least buy you some time to get proof of addresses etc sorted out.

I don't think I will miss letters...

I'm such a 'special' case ? which makes everything more complicated! I don't go to the GP for any of my maternity care, since I work at the hospital. They call me for results and make my appointments with me, rather than send letters. The short-term issue is that they won't do my whooping cough jab, I need to book into the GPs for that, which I can't do as I'm not registered at the local one. Luckily I can get the flu jab through work. Long-term this should be sorted within a month or so as paperwork will start coming through, but the whooping cough jab needs to be given within a certain period as far as I know, so needs to be sorted sooner.

Just feels like everything is about ten times more complicated than it needs to be at the moment ? I've got to laugh about it or I'll cry!

Thats rubbish Saisi. I'm lucky in that I'm still registered at my childhood GP and my Mums address but my hospital adress is here and letters come here and they dont mind. Because of my complicated medical history I dont want to change GP's and he is happy to keep me on but its a totally different area so have to keep it as my Mums. Both hospital and doctor are aware of, and fine with this. I dont know if that makes any sense.

Who is your energy supplier? I may be bale to help?

Thanks Mini, but we don't know, as we've not had any letters from them yet.

Ah but I can find this out for you- PM your postcode and house number

I think I've messaged you... let me know if it doesn't work!

Ive got it, have messaged you back