DVLA fine advice
Discussion
This is probably one for the Lounge but I don't have permission to post in there.
Long story short, banking error meant that my road tax didn't go through as intended and I didn't realise. It was a genuine mistake and the other two cars are taxed, as this one should have been. Wife was driving it and got a notification on the window that they have started proceedings for a fine. I have an M3 so the duty is already high at £690 per year.
Fine has come in and is £1240 which seems ridiculously high. I accept the error was made and I can accept the fine as the responsibility lies with me. What irks is the fact the fine is based on the duty percentage which is already a rip-off. Basically they are implying the fine would be minimal if it was the other car with £0 road duty.
I responded asking for them to provide their evidence and query the amounts. They responded with a generic calculation of how the fines are calculated, ignored the request for evidence, and ignored my other questions. Also I found the letter pretty threatening for those that could be elderly or vulnerable.
The questions I have are:
1 - has anyone else been in a similar position before, and was the fine as high?
2 - Has anyone taken it to court and if so what was the outcome? Part of me was tempted just to go to court in the hope that it could be discussed in front of a person, but obviously the risk is that the fine ends up being even higher, and that being able to discuss it isn't an option - not been to court before so not sure on the usual processes.
3 - Are they obliged to provide the evidence?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Brian
Long story short, banking error meant that my road tax didn't go through as intended and I didn't realise. It was a genuine mistake and the other two cars are taxed, as this one should have been. Wife was driving it and got a notification on the window that they have started proceedings for a fine. I have an M3 so the duty is already high at £690 per year.
Fine has come in and is £1240 which seems ridiculously high. I accept the error was made and I can accept the fine as the responsibility lies with me. What irks is the fact the fine is based on the duty percentage which is already a rip-off. Basically they are implying the fine would be minimal if it was the other car with £0 road duty.
I responded asking for them to provide their evidence and query the amounts. They responded with a generic calculation of how the fines are calculated, ignored the request for evidence, and ignored my other questions. Also I found the letter pretty threatening for those that could be elderly or vulnerable.
The questions I have are:
1 - has anyone else been in a similar position before, and was the fine as high?
2 - Has anyone taken it to court and if so what was the outcome? Part of me was tempted just to go to court in the hope that it could be discussed in front of a person, but obviously the risk is that the fine ends up being even higher, and that being able to discuss it isn't an option - not been to court before so not sure on the usual processes.
3 - Are they obliged to provide the evidence?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Brian
brianmorrison said:
This is probably one for the Lounge but I don't have permission to post in there.
Long story short, banking error meant that my road tax didn't go through as intended and I didn't realise. It was a genuine mistake and the other two cars are taxed, as this one should have been. Wife was driving it and got a notification on the window that they have started proceedings for a fine. I have an M3 so the duty is already high at £690 per year.
Fine has come in and is £1240 which seems ridiculously high. I accept the error was made and I can accept the fine as the responsibility lies with me. What irks is the fact the fine is based on the duty percentage which is already a rip-off. Basically they are implying the fine would be minimal if it was the other car with £0 road duty.
I responded asking for them to provide their evidence and query the amounts. They responded with a generic calculation of how the fines are calculated, ignored the request for evidence, and ignored my other questions. Also I found the letter pretty threatening for those that could be elderly or vulnerable.
The questions I have are:
1 - has anyone else been in a similar position before, and was the fine as high?
2 - Has anyone taken it to court and if so what was the outcome? Part of me was tempted just to go to court in the hope that it could be discussed in front of a person, but obviously the risk is that the fine ends up being even higher, and that being able to discuss it isn't an option - not been to court before so not sure on the usual processes.
3 - Are they obliged to provide the evidence?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Brian
Just to clarify, what evidence do you want DVLA to provide?Long story short, banking error meant that my road tax didn't go through as intended and I didn't realise. It was a genuine mistake and the other two cars are taxed, as this one should have been. Wife was driving it and got a notification on the window that they have started proceedings for a fine. I have an M3 so the duty is already high at £690 per year.
Fine has come in and is £1240 which seems ridiculously high. I accept the error was made and I can accept the fine as the responsibility lies with me. What irks is the fact the fine is based on the duty percentage which is already a rip-off. Basically they are implying the fine would be minimal if it was the other car with £0 road duty.
I responded asking for them to provide their evidence and query the amounts. They responded with a generic calculation of how the fines are calculated, ignored the request for evidence, and ignored my other questions. Also I found the letter pretty threatening for those that could be elderly or vulnerable.
The questions I have are:
1 - has anyone else been in a similar position before, and was the fine as high?
2 - Has anyone taken it to court and if so what was the outcome? Part of me was tempted just to go to court in the hope that it could be discussed in front of a person, but obviously the risk is that the fine ends up being even higher, and that being able to discuss it isn't an option - not been to court before so not sure on the usual processes.
3 - Are they obliged to provide the evidence?
Any advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Brian
Many years ago (probably 28 years) I bought a motorbike from a dealer, I hadn't clicked the V5 hadn't arrived and I didn't get tax reminder. It was £25 tax that was missing and I got a fine for nearly £400.
I was bang to rights. I was told by a magistrate that I knew that I had been too honest in declaring my earnings, and the magistrate that had issued the fine obviously hadn't used the fine tables correctly.
It is what it is.
I was bang to rights. I was told by a magistrate that I knew that I had been too honest in declaring my earnings, and the magistrate that had issued the fine obviously hadn't used the fine tables correctly.
It is what it is.
Thanks for the responses.
- I thought they would provide photographic evidence of the vehicle being on the road like they would for a parking fine
- I appreciate the point on the risk being more if it's a higher VED, just seems wrong that (in my opinion) its penalised based on something that has already increased a lot during the period of ownership. The risk element is higher, but surely fairer is that the fine should be the same for all if it's for a £300 tax car or a £690 tax car.
- I thought they would provide photographic evidence of the vehicle being on the road like they would for a parking fine
- I appreciate the point on the risk being more if it's a higher VED, just seems wrong that (in my opinion) its penalised based on something that has already increased a lot during the period of ownership. The risk element is higher, but surely fairer is that the fine should be the same for all if it's for a £300 tax car or a £690 tax car.
brianmorrison said:
Thanks for the responses.
- I thought they would provide photographic evidence of the vehicle being on the road like they would for a parking fine
- I appreciate the point on the risk being more if it's a higher VED, just seems wrong that (in my opinion) its penalised based on something that has already increased a lot during the period of ownership. The risk element is higher, but surely fairer is that the fine should be the same for all if it's for a £300 tax car or a £690 tax car.
It has to be taxed if it's not SORN'd, whether it's on a road or not.- I thought they would provide photographic evidence of the vehicle being on the road like they would for a parking fine
- I appreciate the point on the risk being more if it's a higher VED, just seems wrong that (in my opinion) its penalised based on something that has already increased a lot during the period of ownership. The risk element is higher, but surely fairer is that the fine should be the same for all if it's for a £300 tax car or a £690 tax car.
brianmorrison said:
Thanks for the responses.
- I thought they would provide photographic evidence of the vehicle being on the road like they would for a parking fine
- I appreciate the point on the risk being more if it's a higher VED, just seems wrong that (in my opinion) its penalised based on something that has already increased a lot during the period of ownership. The risk element is higher, but surely fairer is that the fine should be the same for all if it's for a £300 tax car or a £690 tax car.
Would you be happier if the fine for all was £1240? Is that 'fairer'?- I thought they would provide photographic evidence of the vehicle being on the road like they would for a parking fine
- I appreciate the point on the risk being more if it's a higher VED, just seems wrong that (in my opinion) its penalised based on something that has already increased a lot during the period of ownership. The risk element is higher, but surely fairer is that the fine should be the same for all if it's for a £300 tax car or a £690 tax car.
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