SORN not received by DVLA

[miniman]

I sent in a SORN declaration in October for my Dolly Sprint to the monkeys in Swansea. Have received a nice fine through the post today for not doing so. Obviously I'm going to ring them tomorrow and tell them that I sent in the declaration - what's the likelihood that they will waive the fine? Surely everyone who gets a fine tries the "I sent the form in, must be lost in the post" line?? Ironically the car has not turned a wheel in the last 6 months as it's in pieces

Also, was some sort of legislation passed to make the lack of a tax disc or SORN an offence? If not, how can they fine someone when there's no proof whatsoever of use of an un-taxed vehicle on the road?

[victormeldrew]

The fine is for not telling them it is off the road - Statutory Off Road Notice = SORN.

I can't imagine they'll accept loist on post as an reason, unless you have proof of postage.

It's way easier to do it on-line anyway.

[miniman]

victormeldrew said:

I can't imagine they'll accept loist on post as an reason, unless you have proof of postage.

I doubt it too. I know they state "if you haven't heard from us in 4 weeks then contact us immediately" - it just annoys me that the onus is once again on the motorist to prove his innocence, they just sit there and collect the fines.

[john57]

I always send everything to the DVLA by recorded delivery - I have absolutely no faith in them at all.

[victormeldrew]

john57 said:

I always send everything to the DVLA by recorded delivery - I have absolutely no faith in them at all.

That applies to pretty much any government agency to be honest.

I spent Friday hand delivering tax documents to the Inland Revenue. Recorded delivery is good, but the thought of any detailed financial information going astray in the post send shivers down my spine.

[Don]

john57 said:

I always send everything to the DVLA by recorded delivery - I have absolutely no faith in them at all.

DVLA
Revenue
Customs and Excise

I you don't want them to claim they didn't get it you need recorded delivery, a name, and a signature. And even then I've heard the "he doesn't work in this office..." line. My .

[Julian64]

Well on the bright side I got, that did the phone call and they waived the fine and even sent me an appology letter.

So I wouldn't be too doom and gloom.

[Flat in Fifth]

Don said:

john57 said: I always send everything to the DVLA by recorded delivery - I have absolutely no faith in them at all. DVLA Revenue Customs and Excise I you don't want them to claim they didn't get it you need recorded delivery, a name, and a signature. And even then I've heard the "he doesn't work in this office..." line. My .

Said this before and say it again.

Hand delivery to Revenue et al doesn't work. We've hand delivered stuff to the local office and had an absolute flat denial they ever received it despite signatures on our "despatch" note.
Then they had the audacity to want to impose fines for not doing the paperwork which they'd lost. Eventually they stuck that one where the sun doesn't shine BUT (and its a huge J-Lo sized but) the resultant fall out from the souring of relations can be.. well... interesting.

Recorded delivery is OK as far as it goes in that assuming it is delivered you do get some sort of independant third party receipt at both ends of the chain. Trouble is recorded delivery is only recorded at each end, otherwise just gets stuck in the mail with the normal post and can and frequently does get lost.

Special Delivery only way to go imho.

[apguy]

Miniman,

I also sent the DVLA my SORN in mind October and recieved an £80 for failing to relicence my car. I phoned the DVLA and they asked me to write to them explaining that I had sent the SORN. I did so and they waived the fine and apologised.
I think that the DVLA may have had a rather large amount of mail go missing in Oct as the lady on the phone was not surprised when I said that I had already sent my SORN and that they had no trace of it....

[miniman]

Tried phoning several times today - just a recorded message saying we're too busy to take your call, please write to us

[bmw114]

When i go in the Post Office with the SORN filled in they give me a recipt that is time and date stamped, can`t argue with that, or can they?.

>> Edited by bmw114 on Tuesday 10th January 15:54

[ATG]

miniman said:

Tried phoning several times today - just a recorded message saying we're too busy to take your call, please write to us

Wonder what all those other calls about? People ringing them up to thank them, maybe?

[miniman]

Result Fine waived via apologetic letter from DVLA.

[mybrainhurts]

victormeldrew said:

It's way easier to do it on-line anyway.

You bugger...you made my ribs ache there....

Do it online...?

To the DVLA...?

Are you mad......?

Holy kipper, they can't get manual records right between two staff standing 10 feet apart in the same office....

And you think DVLA techy stuff will work....?

Oh, god, me ribs....me ribs......stop it

[Rob_the_Sparky]

miniman said:

victormeldrew said: I can't imagine they'll accept loist on post as an reason, unless you have proof of postage. I doubt it too. I know they state "if you haven't heard from us in 4 weeks then contact us immediately" - it just annoys me that the onus is once again on the motorist to prove his innocence, they just sit there and collect the fines.

My SORN notice took over 2 months to turn-up!

[eliminator]

Write to your MP and ask for his help. Send a copy to the DVLA.

You will be suprised how quickly "misunderstandings" can be sorted out.

[stevemcg]

Thats happened to me twice, where the "highway robbers" havent received my sorn dec, I rang up both times, in a pretty p*&sed off mood and asked them to remove the fines, they did so for me fortunatley, give it a go..

Steve