DVLA's records are S***E!
Discussion
Well isn't this interesting. I've just recieved a SNOC44 which is asking me for the SORN for my car. Basically the DVLA is saying "You did not tax your car. We've waited until the not completing a S.O.R.N. has become an offence and now either you give us £25 and tax your car OR you give £45 quid and we take you to court..."
The form includes lots of lovely dire warnings about how if I go to court they'll be bring some KY jelly and a wetsuit along.
What I want to know is how - in this day and age of wonderful computer records - they can possibly have failed to notice that I did indeed tax my car last September and that I have documents to prove it - including a tax disc!
Basically their records are SHITE!
So all that bollocks about how the new SORN law/offence business is going to mean catching loads of crims is so much bollocks. What it really means is that a load of perfectly honest citizens are going to waste time proving to the incompetent buffoons that their records are wrong.
I almost hope they take me to court...I'll be going for costs too if the try it.
But I expect one reasonably courteous letter and a colour photocopy of the tax disc should see this particular cock-up consigned to history.
I'll be SURE to let you all know if it doesn't.
I'm afraid this episode confirms all my worst suspicions of modern Government and beauracracy.
>>> Edited by Don on Thursday 5th February 22:18
The form includes lots of lovely dire warnings about how if I go to court they'll be bring some KY jelly and a wetsuit along.
What I want to know is how - in this day and age of wonderful computer records - they can possibly have failed to notice that I did indeed tax my car last September and that I have documents to prove it - including a tax disc!
Basically their records are SHITE!
So all that bollocks about how the new SORN law/offence business is going to mean catching loads of crims is so much bollocks. What it really means is that a load of perfectly honest citizens are going to waste time proving to the incompetent buffoons that their records are wrong.
I almost hope they take me to court...I'll be going for costs too if the try it.
But I expect one reasonably courteous letter and a colour photocopy of the tax disc should see this particular cock-up consigned to history.
I'll be SURE to let you all know if it doesn't.
I'm afraid this episode confirms all my worst suspicions of modern Government and beauracracy.
>>> Edited by Don on Thursday 5th February 22:18
Don,
Why not wait a bit longer and let them waste some more of their time. I admit that I'm starting to hate the dvla and the post office as they both seem to be in cahoots with eachother. They make everything so bloody difficult when it comes to getting a tax disc and paying them huge amounts of F******g money!
Why not wait a bit longer and let them waste some more of their time. I admit that I'm starting to hate the dvla and the post office as they both seem to be in cahoots with eachother. They make everything so bloody difficult when it comes to getting a tax disc and paying them huge amounts of F******g money!
Don please, please let them take you to court. Then ask for expenses for turning up with tax disk. Its just great seeing their faces.
My local council took me to court for non payment of poll tax. I showed up with the cashed cheques, these w*nkers hate it when you just calmly say "well I have paid". Its really good as well when the magistrate is silly little bitch who thinks you must be wrong cos thats why youre there. Then when you wipe the smile off her face with irrefutable proof its just so satisfying. I hate DVLA.
My local council took me to court for non payment of poll tax. I showed up with the cashed cheques, these w*nkers hate it when you just calmly say "well I have paid". Its really good as well when the magistrate is silly little bitch who thinks you must be wrong cos thats why youre there. Then when you wipe the smile off her face with irrefutable proof its just so satisfying. I hate DVLA.
Erm, Theres a Tax disc on the window. 
Well actually I'm going to try and avoid court - which is part of the audit trail. So if they finally DO take me to court (because there is NO WAY I'm paying the fine...!) then I'll be able to show that not only did I not commit and offence but I tried to save everyone's time and money...
Which should mean the beak will be sympathetic when I present a bill for legal fees and lost time.
I'm a consultant. My day rate is VERY high...
Which should mean the beak will be sympathetic when I present a bill for legal fees and lost time.
I'm a consultant. My day rate is VERY high...
I'd certainly be thinking along the lines of charges being brought against them for false accusations, libel, etc.. if it ever went to court, because at that moment when the magistrate finds you innocent the charge against them is valid....
Workable in british law? legal insurance?
Here (Germany) I'd certainly go down that route, mind you, the mindless german beamte are not sooo stooopid as to try it in the majority of situations as they do check their paperwork, mostly......
Workable in british law? legal insurance?
Here (Germany) I'd certainly go down that route, mind you, the mindless german beamte are not sooo stooopid as to try it in the majority of situations as they do check their paperwork, mostly......
Well this is hardly suprising, considering that we are talking about an organisation that has admitted it's lost track of over 2 MILLION vehicles.
If they can lose a whole fecking car so easily, then it's no wonder they can't keep track of something as small as a tax disk.
Ever tried ringing their enquiry line? If you enquiry doesn't exactly match one of the 6000 options on their infernal automated menu, then (when you finally get through to a human being) you'll probably be transferred through at least 6 different people before anyone even tries to answer your question.
They are totally useless!!
If they can lose a whole fecking car so easily, then it's no wonder they can't keep track of something as small as a tax disk.
Ever tried ringing their enquiry line? If you enquiry doesn't exactly match one of the 6000 options on their infernal automated menu, then (when you finally get through to a human being) you'll probably be transferred through at least 6 different people before anyone even tries to answer your question.
They are totally useless!!
There is absolutely no way you should send them a photocopy of the disc as that would mean removing it from the vehicle which, I assume, would be an offence (if the vehicle is on the highway).
Send 'em a letter (postage payment on delivery, naturally
) saying they are welcome to come and have a look at the tax disk on February 29th, between 12 and 12:05 pm
C
s
Send 'em a letter (postage payment on delivery, naturally
) saying they are welcome to come and have a look at the tax disk on February 29th, between 12 and 12:05 pm C
sActualy I've sent them all the details they need to find my car, me and the fact I've paid.
I have as evidence the disk itself and the cheque stub.
So I'm hoping there's an end to it. I have, of course, requested notification IN WRITING that no further action will be taken...I will be sending the letter recorded delivery too so I KNOW they've had it...
If they insist on a day in court after that then I'll my lawyer prepare...
I have as evidence the disk itself and the cheque stub.
So I'm hoping there's an end to it. I have, of course, requested notification IN WRITING that no further action will be taken...I will be sending the letter recorded delivery too so I KNOW they've had it...
If they insist on a day in court after that then I'll my lawyer prepare...
My Grandad brought my neighbours car over the summer. Over Christmas he went through an ANPR van and got sent a letter to his own house saying the car wasn't registered in his name! Muppets! He rang them up and said it must be registered to me in order for you to send me the letter. They just said ok, can you send us a copy of your tax disk!! WTF!
I once had 2 registration documents for the same car.
Amazingly one had me as the previous owner. I photocopied them both, sent the photocopies back with a covering letter explaining that this type of cock up could cause theft, and they NEVER replied. When I sold the car I gave the first one (with my name on it only the once to the new owner) I've probabally got the other one somewhere in a box in my loft (it was in the 80's)
Amazingly one had me as the previous owner. I photocopied them both, sent the photocopies back with a covering letter explaining that this type of cock up could cause theft, and they NEVER replied. When I sold the car I gave the first one (with my name on it only the once to the new owner) I've probabally got the other one somewhere in a box in my loft (it was in the 80's)
Had a very similar problem a couple of years back. I renewed the SORN on a car I have laid up at the moment, thought nothing more of it until I received the same letter - fine of £25 if you pay now, more if you delay it.
I wrote back straight away with a photocopy of the receipt from the PO (showing the registration number of the car). I was astounded at the reply which basically said 'I confirm that on this occasion no further action will be taken'. Well, that's big of you, I must say.
I wrote back straight away with a photocopy of the receipt from the PO (showing the registration number of the car). I was astounded at the reply which basically said 'I confirm that on this occasion no further action will be taken'. Well, that's big of you, I must say.
well i got a £25 through yesterday for the crappy old motocrosser in my back garden - its not taxed but was SORN'd prior to my buying it - i didnt realise the status automatically reverts to 'on the road' when you change the registered keeper - so ive now had to send them £25 and a SORN declaration - they could at least have warned me rather than just fining me. Bastards.
This is exactly why I have been banging on about the DVLA records and this automatic fine stuff for the last month or so - their records are crap and the amount of incorrect data they hold is alarming.... They werent ready to introduce this automatic fine system, but it was forced on them from the government (a political move to start addressing the inlicensed / uninsured / un-MOT'ed cars problem).
This is precisely why I wouldnt be worried about it and also why ANPR doesnt work for anything other than what it was designed for. The "system" to support the DVLA is crap and it will take YEARS to correct. ....
This is precisely why I wouldnt be worried about it and also why ANPR doesnt work for anything other than what it was designed for. The "system" to support the DVLA is crap and it will take YEARS to correct. ....
I suppose they're taking the route that the data will correct itself if they start using it - people are bound to tell them that their car is actually taxed, SORN'ed or whatever rather than pay up.
At least they seem to accept that their system isn't perfect and infallible, more than can be said for the scamera partnerships.
At least they seem to accept that their system isn't perfect and infallible, more than can be said for the scamera partnerships.
d-man said:
At least they seem to accept that their system isn't perfect and infallible, more than can be said for the scamera partnerships.
As I understand it they themselves reckon their data is only 90% accurate. Which means if in doubt they HAVE to assume that you are telling the truth...
Especially as its hard to argue with an actual honest to goodness tax disk...
I wonder what would have happened if I had tried to claim I had SORN'd the vehicle?
wiggy001 said:
There is absolutely no way you should send them a photocopy of the disc as that would mean removing it from the vehicle which, I assume, would be an offence (if the vehicle is on the highway).
Send 'em a letter (postage payment on delivery, naturally
C
This happened to me, the DVLA accused my car of being untaxed (it was), I simply sent them a black and white photocopy of the disk and they dropped it. It would make them look very unreasonable to prosecute you for providing evidence to dismiss another offence.
>> Edited by flat_steve on Sunday 15th February 22:41
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