DVLA - waste of time!

[HandsomeBob]

Hi All,

Bit of a tiresome rant but in a nutshell;

- sold car to a friend about a year ago
- I send back V5 part to DVLA
- DVLA sent letter stating that I had not sent them V5 part and to notify them of new owner
- I send DVLA letter with new owner to address that gave me
- DVLA send another letter saying that they still have not received it
- I send DVLA x2 copies of the same letter with new owner details
- DVLA send £30 fine, I refuse not to pay it and re-send same letter as above
- Friend tells me that DVLA sent through new V5 form with his details on 2 months after I sold it to him and sens me a scanned copy
- Goes to Magistrates Court, I plea not guilty and send scanned copy of his V5, they move it to 4 different dates over 4 months.
- Today (day after case), got told it's going to trial and that I'll need to attend



I almost wish for the sake of £30....the amount of time I've wasted. Anyone else been in a similar situation with these guys, piss me off.

BOB

[jagnet]

They really are truly hopeless and not fit for purpose.

[djt100]

I think I would enjoy going to court with the evidence and making a nice claim for the costs.

[anonymous-user]

This - go and enjoy!

[johnhenry]

if you can back up even half of what you have said in this post you are looking at a healthy costs claim; enjoy the day out, they cant possibly 'win'

[Ozzie Osmond]

Something's not right.

How do DVLA explain their issue of a V5 to the new owner?

[HandsomeBob]

I bought a car 3 years ago and it took 8 months to send the V5 through, I am sure DVLA are a waste of space, energy and effort.

My 4 year old nephew could process V5's all over the UK faster than they could.

Like everyone's comments so far, fills me with confidence, hate the effort of having to attend court. Anyone else had poor experiences?

[Deva Link]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Something's not right.

How do DVLA explain their issue of a V5 to the new owner?

Going back a bit, but DLVA did an accuracy survey in 2003 and found that 68% of their records were accurate. I think that means that about 15M records have errors in them.

[Dr G]

Red this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

You sent them notification via first class mail as soon as you had sold the car. End of.

[shovelheadrob]

When I tried to change the details on a bike I am building, engine no, capacity & colour, they wrote to me to say that I needed to send the original receipts/invoices for the engine & work carried out. I should send all the requested paperwork & engineers report before they would issue new v5. I did not have the required paperwork due to having owned all the parts for 20+ years & doing the work myself, but it didn't matter as within a couple of days the new V5 came in the post with all the details changed. They really don't know what they are doing.

[thinfourth2]

Apparently the way to deal with the DVLA is wait till the public services are on strike

Phone them up on strike day as most people assume they are closed but they aren't they are open and only manned by people that actually work

[Cemesis]

I cannot see how you can possibly loose this. What do you do for a living and work out what cost you have/will incur and ensure that they pay them.

[HandsomeBob]

I'm the MD of an extremely involved company that commands 14 hours of my day at least.

Every time I spoke to them on the phone, they could only say 'post a letter to X address...'

[Jasandjules]

HandsomeBob said:

I'm the MD of an extremely involved company that commands 14 hours of my day at least.

Every time I spoke to them on the phone, they could only say 'post a letter to X address...'

Good, ensure that your hourly rate is claimed for in full. And travel costs, and time (for each letter sent and call made)......

[sicarumba]

I suspect while you'll almost certainly get a claim for costs etc., you will probably not get the satisfaction of seeing them squirm in the courtroom as they'll pull out at the last minute.

And I mean, whilst you are sitting in the waiting room of the courts.

[Ozzie Osmond]

HandsomeBob said:

- Friend tells me that DVLA sent through new V5 form with his details on 2 months after I sold it to him and sends me a scanned copy

So just to repeat the question, what do DVLA say caused them to issue that new V5? There are only 3 possibilities,

1. They did receive the V5 part you sent them.
2. They didn't receive the V5 part but acted once they got your letter.
3. The new owner applied separately for a V5.

What's more, once DVLA have been informed that you sold a car they should write to you within 4 weeks confirming that your liability for the vehicle has ceased. Did that ever happen?

[Morningside]

Dr G said:

Red this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

You sent them notification via first class recorded mail as soon as you had sold the car. End of.

EFA

Sorry OP but there are total aholes.

Been there, done etc. Got a fine for not telling them I had sold the car. I TOLD them that I sold it. Date scanned photos etc and they said that proof of sending is NOT proof of receiving.

SO who on here has sent their form back to the DVLA recorded?

[saaby93]

HandsomeBob said:

- Friend tells me that DVLA sent through new V5 form with his details on 2 months after I sold it to him and sends me a scanned copy

Ah youve missed the point
Although he has the new V5, DVLA are still waiting to receive your piece that they've lost in their giant shredder
If the linked thread is what I think it is, it says they cant win in court (usually) as due to the amount of lost post within the building they cant prove they havent received it.

Have you tried this - it bypasses the helpdesk
https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail...

[paulrussell]

Morningside said:

Dr G said:

Red this thread:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

You sent them notification via first class recorded mail as soon as you had sold the car. End of.

EFA

Sorry OP but there are total aholes.

Been there, done etc. Got a fine for not telling them I had sold the car. I TOLD them that I sold it. Date scanned photos etc and they said that proof of sending is NOT proof of receiving.

SO who on here has sent their form back to the DVLA recorded?

By law you only need to send stuff to them via first class. Recorded Delivery is useless as the DVLA are more than likley to looe the mail once it's in their system.

[saaby93]

paulrussell said:

By law you only need to send stuff to them via first class. Recorded Delivery is useless as the DVLA are more than likley to looe the mail once it's in their system.

They dont even 'have' to sign for it either.
All recorded gives you is a receipt for an envelope at the PO - not a receipt for whats inside it.
Special delivery is better in that they have to sign theyve received an envelope
In both cases you'll have to make a statement as to what youve put in the envelope, so you might as well say in the same statement what day youve posted it.
DVLAs issue is they wont be able to state that although the computer says theyve sent you a letter saying they havent received anything, they dont know that they havent. They might have received and shredded. They also dont know they actually posted the letter it may have gone to the hungry shredder too - unless youve received it