Lost CHL replacement time - one month

[LedJedi]

Howdy folks,

Thought i'd share this info.
Round about Dec 18-19 I lost my wallet due to temporary moronity. After doing the obvious things like canceling my CC's, etc. I sent off the form to get a replacement CHL.

The request form was in the mail the morning of Dec 20th.

I got my replacement in the mail Jan 29th.

I figure a week of that went to holiday non-productivity so just over a month turn around time. Not bad, not bad at all.

[seamusTX]

How long did it take to get a replacement driver license and credit cards?

- Jim

[LedJedi]

the plastic money was all replaced within a week.

the DL was the very next day for the temp and the real replacement came in about Jan 10-15... somewhere in there.

The real bugger is the SS card. I had just started a new job so it was in my wallet still from the job interview. I know... I know... but it was the first time it was in my wallet in 3 years. I'm good about that.

I also didn't have a certified copy of my Birth Cert and couldn't find ANY sort of photo ID. Eventually i dug through my lock box and found my previous drivers license. I always keep the old one locked up for just such an occasion.

I called and explained the lack of valid ID situation to the DPS. I think their website said they wanted a valid photo id or a SS card, i don't remember exactly but i know it was an issue. They said if I had my old license and could bring HS diploma or marriage license that would work so I grabbed both of those right off the wall, frame and all, and headed out. Got no problems other than the State Trooper at the DPS thought it was hilarious that I brought them in framed. I told him they'd have to file a missing persons on me if anything happened to that marriage license cause my wife would kill me.

Once i got my DL I ordered a certified copy of my birth certificate online using the audit number on my DL. Once I have that in hand I plan on getting the SS Card and then getting a passport as another form of photo ID since just about every place I've seen takes the passport at photo ID and it's not something I would need to have on me 24/7 so i can afford to lock it up.

At that point I will put the SS Card, Passport and Birth Cert in a deposit box at the bank for safe keeping. I'm still kind of debating on that though. I may just keep them in my fireproof lockbox at the house, but I'd like something official in a safe place, but I'm concerned about a katrina style evacuation where I won't have time to go to the bank. Ideas on that?

[seamusTX]

Thanks for the reply. I was curious about the difference between the DL and CHL, as they come from the same place.

It's curious that the credit-card companies can provide a replacement within days, and the state takes weeks.

Whether to keep backup ID at home or in a safe deposit box is one of those issues where every solution has its pros and cons.

- Jim

[LedJedi]

It's curious that the credit-card companies can provide a replacement within days, and the state takes weeks.
- Jim

The Speed of Government (tm) is inversely proportionate to the direct and critical usefulness of desired outcome from the governing body.

[Nazrat]

You can't make the credit cards company any money without having a card. DPS doesn't lose any money when you don't have a license. Don't underestimate the profit motive in private industry.

[seamusTX]

Excellent point.

- Jim

[WildBill]

At that point I will put the SS Card, Passport and Birth Cert in a deposit box at the bank for safe keeping. I'm still kind of debating on that though. I may just keep them in my fireproof lockbox at the house, but I'd like something official in a safe place, but I'm concerned about a katrina style evacuation where I won't have time to go to the bank. Ideas on that?

What I do is keep the orginals in the safe deposit box and have laminated color copies in my bug-out kit.

[WildBill]

You can't make the credit cards company any money without having a card. DPS doesn't lose any money when you don't have a license. Don't underestimate the profit motive in private industry.

How about a DPS credit card? The CHL fee is $140 same as cash, interest free for 6 months. After that you pay 18% APR until paid in full.

[age_ranger]

....and my wife thought it was funny that I got the Utah CFP in addition to my Texas CHL. I used to carry them both with me but now I leave one in the gun safe (thanks to the advice from scubasigguy) Now, if I ever lose my Texas CHL, I can use the Utah CFP until my replacement arrives.

[kingalls]

I did an address change on my CHL. Went to Orange DPS office and changed DL on Dec. 18, received the needed form to mail for CHL. At first, I tried to change my DL address online, would not allow me to do so, called DPS help line, they said I was "flagged" but couldn't find a reason. So went to my local DPS office, lady said she didn't show a flag but said it was probably the CHL, so got it changed without any problem. Then went home thinking maybe I could change CHL address online next, but didn't have my PIN, followed the instructions to email for lost PIN, that was on Dec. 18, to this day, still no reply from DPS on my PIN. But on Dec. 20, I mailed the CHL address change application, as of Jan 21, check hadn't cleared, feared it was lost in the mail but did get my new CHL today,
Sure makes you wonder how they run their business.

[jbirds1210]

I'd like something official in a safe place, but I'm concerned about a katrina style evacuation where I won't have time to go to the bank. Ideas on that?

Get a safety deposit box in Palestine....put a copy of everything inside of it. Pay for the box once a year while you are there updating the files. Keep a little cash inside and you have a good stash off of the coast.

That is how I handle it.

Jason