As for the AIS site, try reading the instructions, I have and it seems to work easily every time
Most PPLs are not taught to use the AIS website.
And anybody who did their PPL before c. 2003 wouldn't have known about it because it didn't exist.
And, it appears, most instructors either don't know about it or don't tell anybody about it when they do their bi-annual check flights with "old" PPLs.