TONY HETHERINGTON: The computer says no to a VAT number

Anyone else work there? Surely the tax officer can process a VAT application in less than five months?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/experts/article-11549017/TONY-HETHERINGTON-Computer-says-no-VAT-number.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 TONY HETHERINGTON: The computer says no to a VAT number