Untaxed Vehicle / DVLA

[egomeister]

Breadvan72 said:

If you reject an offer then it no longer stands, but it would be open to DVLA to renew the offer if it wished.

Just write a polite letter setting out the facts. That could be the end of it. It was when I received such a demand from the DVLA.

Thanks BV, that's what I'm planning to do (copies taken, and sent signed for of course!)

[egomeister]

PS. Anyone want an MX5?

[B'stard Child]

egomeister said:

Breadvan72 said:

If you reject an offer then it no longer stands, but it would be open to DVLA to renew the offer if it wished.

Just write a polite letter setting out the facts. That could be the end of it. It was when I received such a demand from the DVLA.

Thanks BV, that's what I'm planning to do (copies taken, and sent signed for of course!)

Be really really brief to the point of being blunt

Don't go overboard with explanation and defence - they just use that as an excuse for further communication

DVLA ref 1223456X
Vehicle A123 ABC SORNED from Date
Parked on Private Land and compliant with legislation.
I have relevant documentation to prove which I will provide in court
Foxtrot Oscar

You can phase the Foxtrot Oscar bit differently but that's up to you

[cptsideways]

This is an interesting one, we have a couple of parking spaces adjoining our property in a shared parking area, we own the spaces.

I have on a couple of occasions met the enforcement guys in the car park & they were quite adamant that it was fair game to clamp anything parked there that was untaxed or even SORN'd.

[Mobsy]

egomeister said:

PS. Anyone want an MX5?

egomeister - Try Will Chappell at Concorde Garage in Wraysbury (he turns them into race cars). 01784 482927

[Red Devil]

Breadvan72 said:

You are citing some irrelevant Regulations. The issue here is tax, not insurance.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/2439/conte...
as amended by
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/2266/conte...
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/2266/memor...

The points I made still stand.

egomeister said:

Indeed, I get the impression that these contractors operate on the same guilty until proven innocent basis as TV licensing.

The spaces are called out on the deeds for the property - surely this makes it no different to a driveway? I appreciate that visually its a different proposition, but fundamentally the principles behind it should be the same?

The flat is leasehold but the land owner is private, not a Housing Association.

AS BV said, a polite letter. Private land, allocated parking place in vicinity of a dwelling as confirmed by lease.
No penalty applicable. Invite DVLA to discontinue or you will see them in court. Don't be intimidated by their threats.

However, before doing so make sure that you are on rock-solid ground - i.e. there was no untaxed period before declaring SORN.
Did you get an acknowledgement letter? It wouldn't be the first time that the DVLA have claimed they didn't receive the declaration in time.
Or never.

The DVLA is so desperate to extract money it will hound you even if you're dead - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077881/Gr...

[egomeister]

Thread update...

Result! DVLA have decided no further action will be taken - thank you to everyone who offered advice.

[speedking31]

55palfers said:

egomeister said:

however the DVLA inform me they have no mechanism of logging this preventing further enforcement.

In 2014 the DVLA can't put a flag on a Reg No.? They really are useless.

To be fair; it's a combination of reg. number and where the vehicle is.

[egomeister]

speedking31 said:

55palfers said:

egomeister said:

however the DVLA inform me they have no mechanism of logging this preventing further enforcement.

In 2014 the DVLA can't put a flag on a Reg No.? They really are useless.

To be fair; it's a combination of reg. number and where the vehicle is.

True, but the people on the phones had no ability to put any notes against the reg so I fully expect that if I leave the car there I'll end up with another letter - the ability to add a note along the lines of "allocated parking not part of highway - check" could be useful.

The DVLA call centre operators were pretty hopeless - they didn't seem to have the ability to do anything at all. They were unable to even tell me what their process of enforcement was. Until I received the letter from them I had no idea whether the next step was letter, clamp or tow away. When I got frustrated that they couldn't explain their own processes, they hung up... (for clarity, I didn't swear or get aggressive!)

[anonymous-user]

B'stard Child said:

Be really really brief to the point of being blunt

Don't go overboard with explanation and defence - they just use that as an excuse for further communication

DVLA ref 1223456X
Vehicle A123 ABC SORNED from Date
Parked on Private Land and compliant with legislation.
I have relevant documentation to prove which I will provide in court
Foxtrot Oscar

You can phase the Foxtrot Oscar bit differently but that's up to you

This. B'Stard advised the same to me when I had DVLA issues of a different sort a few months ago. They waved a Court Summons around but I held my ground, stated the facts (repeatedly) and they dropped the matter.

There's an article in last weeks Classic Car Weekly about the DVLA's underhand and bullying tactics used to extract money, if weren't aware of it already.

Scum. Sub-human scum, to quote A. Partridge.

[Red Devil]

egomeister said:

Thread update...

Result! DVLA have decided no further action will be taken - thank you to everyone who offered advice.

Well done.

egomeister said:

speedking31 said:

55palfers said:

egomeister said:

however the DVLA inform me they have no mechanism of logging this preventing further enforcement.

In 2014 the DVLA can't put a flag on a Reg No.? They really are useless.

To be fair; it's a combination of reg. number and where the vehicle is.

True, but the people on the phones had no ability to put any notes against the reg so I fully expect that if I leave the car there I'll end up with another letter - the ability to add a note along the lines of "allocated parking not part of highway - check" could be useful.

The DVLA call centre operators were pretty hopeless - they didn't seem to have the ability to do anything at all. They were unable to even tell me what their process of enforcement was. Until I received the letter from them I had no idea whether the next step was letter, clamp or tow away. When I got frustrated that they couldn't explain their own processes, they hung up... (for clarity, I didn't swear or get aggressive!)

The call centre operators are hopeless because the Agency's policy is to ensure that 'the system' is run that way.
Blame the organ grinder(s) - Oliver Morley and his henchmen/women - not the monkey.

You may find these links of interest. If I can find them in 10 minutes on Google there is absolutely NO excuse for the DVLA to feign ingnorance.

http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/public-sector/...
This was in the days when that smug ******* Tse (remember him on Watchdog anyone?) was at the helm.
Note Capita's trading name for this venture: VEAS - https://www.veas.co.uk/Debtor/Privacy
Their Operating Instructions (discovery by a FOI request) - https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/109590/resp...
The key bit can be found in the flow chart (Appendix 1).

It is crystal clear as to what checks should be carried out if there is any doubt as to the status of the relevant land.
The fact their hired goons don't bother to entertain any doubt in their undersized brains does not negate the procedure.

The other thing that intrigues me is that the gov.uk website now points to NSL, not Capita/VEAS
https://www.gov.uk/get-a-clamped-or-impounded-vehi...
As you will see from the first link, NSL used to be DVLA's tame sub-contractor before the contract was awarded to Capita/VEAS.
It would appear that they are back on board yet I can find no reference to Capita having their contract terminated.
Whether NSL have the same Operating Guidance terms as VEAS I know not. If they don't they **** well should have.

Wrongly imposed clamping/towing release fees are not the only problem. DVLA will also try to stiff you for no tax as well.
Double whammy - http://www.thestar.co.uk/features/action-desk/andr...

I have no time for evaders but the system for redress against errors by the DVLA and/or its sub-contractor is a pathetic joke.
Failure to adherence to correct procedure should be subject to the same penalties as they impose on the innocent motorist.
In fact perhaps they should be greater because they are acting in an official capacity so have even less excuse for not knowing the rules.
Indeed if I was in charge the operative(s) would have a personal liability as well. Might make them think twice before neglecting their duty to make the appropriate checks.

And breathe...

[egomeister]

Very interesting info there red devil.

In my case if you follow the flowchart in the operating instructions its clear that they did not check with the local authority as they should have, and it is clearly numbered as a designated space for a dwelling. Given it has my flat number on there was nothing stopping them knocking on the door and checking with me either...

It's very irritating that when you add up the time taken to prepare my defence and get it sent off to them it's ended costing me almost as much in lost earnings as it would have to pay up.

[Red Devil]

Re your last sentence: where anything to do the the motorist is concerned 'the system' in all its forms is deliberately skewed to engender such thoughts/conclusions. Because the majority of people would rather opt for the path of least resistance and roll over 'the system' continues. In fact 'TPTB' are continually looking for creative ways to expand it.

Me, I refuse to be browbeaten. I guess I get it from my father. He taught me not to give in where I had a genuine belief that I was in the right. He also taught me look within and not to cheat when making that decision. I try to arm myself with knowledge by doing my own research; where I can't, to ask others with greater knowledge/expertise; and return the favour whenever possible.

The learning process is never ending.

[egomeister]

Red Devil said:

Re your last sentence: where anything to do the the motorist is concerned 'the system' in all its forms is deliberately skewed to engender such thoughts/conclusions. Because the majority of people would rather opt for the path of least resistance and roll over 'the system' continues. In fact 'TPTB' are continually looking for creative ways to expand it.

Me, I refuse to be browbeaten. I guess I get it from my father. He taught me not to give in where I had a genuine belief that I was in the right. He also taught me look within and not to cheat when making that decision. I try to arm myself with knowledge by doing my own research; where I can't, to ask others with greater knowledge/expertise; and return the favour whenever possible.

The learning process is never ending.

It's not just the motorist, TV Licensing operate in the same manner. Like you, I dislike being bullied by "the system" so had no intention to give in easily.

I find it quite disturbing that you can be dragged into something like this, but no-one can tell you the rules of the game you are playing unless you produce a FOI request...