Refund of assignment fee on a V778

[sue20]

I've got a number on retention that I want to give up and get the assignment fee back. The V778 says 'you can apply after your right has run out and within 6 years of that date'. This may be a daft question but does it mean I just let the retention lapse on the renewal date in June and then apply for my refund.

Fed up of trying to negotiate the DVLA's phone system in an attempt to get to speak to a human.

I thought I could return the V778 anytime and ask for the refund but the notes seem to suggest otherwise.

Cheers