On a vaguely peripheral topic, what happens if you have a UK issued JAA PPL and you have been revalidating it every 2 years (with an instructor or with an examiner) as usual but have not (probably not ever, for 10 years) sent the 5-yearly payment to the CAA?
Obviously the license is invalid, but can that be fixed by paying up?
Sounds like you have already paid up unnecessarily. Examiners are required to check these things before signing them. An examiner can conduct a test for a person with an invalid licence, but is required to inform the holder that he cannot exercise the privileges. You cannot possibly revalidate a licence by experience if that expedience was gained illegally. All the relevant expiry dates are required on the SRG1119. An instructor cannot revalidate a licence! No breach of the Law can be fixed by paying, unless you are an MP!