I got a plastic laminated tamper proof binder with the Certificate, rank, qualifications and how I'd departed, eg By Choice.

NEO

I certainly received nothing like that. Can I ask when you left the service?

June 1990.

NEO

Certificate of Discharge/Transfer to Reserve - RAF Form 856. It was a single piece of A4 and mine was presented in an Air Force blue plastic covered folder. Left the RAF in May ‘89.

Interesting. What were your terms of service? Commissioned or non commissioned?

Left in 2005 after 30 years commissioned service (5 RN, 25 RAF) All I got was a computer printout of my service record. Never got a thank you, but the pension is welcome.
I use the DDS card in Go Outdoors, seems to be the only place near me that takes it.

Herod, thanks for the info and sorry to hear of your service-related medical problems. Mercifully the only lingering effect suffered by me is medium to severe hearing loss after too many Herc walk rounds with the ATM going, and only small plastic earplugs to ward off the inevitable results. The NHS have come up trumps with two bespoke hearing aids issued there and then after just two appointments, and free batteries thereafter!
It seems that with or without an ID each case is dealt with individually anyway, so perhaps the issue of one is not that crucial. I shall keep pushing for my Record of Service in order to obtain a Blue Light card and be content with that, while hoping that Johnny Mercer succeeds in his aim to get us all Veteran ID Cards, in between his various hirings and firings of course.
Perhaps we should all band together as a group of angry old men. It seems that if you glue yourself to the tarmac you are brought tea and biscuits by the police, Snowdrops in the case of RAF runways presumably....

Non-commissioned, 22 years - left after 9 with ‘free’ PVR (avionics trade over-subscribed)

Maybe that's the difference.. From other responses it sounds like us commissioned bods weren't included and left to our own devices.

Shy - I've used my Pension P60 - seems to work OK. (assuming you were on 38/16 ToS)

Non commissioned. Similar to Speedywheels, signed for 22 left after 15 having given a years' notice 3 years into the 4 year time bar imposed post Pilot course.

NEO

Good idea, thanks! :ok:

(Yes, I was).

Quick update. After a month of correspondence with the Defence Discount help team, the code VETGATEWAY19 has now worked and the website is now showing me as having a card. I will now wait for the card to arrive by post. Although it is promised to arrive within 14 days, I am cognisant of the postal strikes so anticipate that it is likely to take longer.

I have had my Esso Card courtesy of Blue Light for a month now and getting good savings. Between 3 and 6 pence per litre depending on grade of fuel. A bonus is that my local Esso station is cheaper than Morrisons which is right next door.

Final update. My free (using code VETGATEWAY19) Defence Discount card has arrived in the post today.

Thanks, applied for my card today and the process was painless using the coupon code.

Just renewed my card using VETGATEWAY19 in the promotional code box - worked instantly

Just worked for me

Tried on the veterans gateway website but when I clicked on apply for the card - it took me to 'page not found'

Hi Crab, you need to go to the Defence Discount site https://www.defencediscountservice.co.uk/ and apply for it there. You need to register on the site or log in if already registered, You will then be able to access the menu item "Privilege Card".