DVLA Trying it on. Don't fall for this one.

DVLA Trying it on. Don't fall for this one.

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3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Thursday 21st December 2017
quotequote all
This might save you £90.

My friend received a letter from the DVLA recently fining him £90 for using one of his vehicles on the road untaxed. He was sure he hadn't been seen using this vehicle (which was indeed untaxed at the time) so he phoned them up to question it.

They were evasive and wouldn't tell him where it was seen, but after persisting they told him the name of a local A road. He questioned it further and they said they had photographic evidence (he was sure they hadn't and were trying it on). He requested a photograph but they refused and said he would have to request it in writing, so he did that.

Their response to him requesting a photograph was to write back saying that based on the information received (in this case, asking for the photograph) they have decided not to pursue the matter.

God knows what's behind all that, but you could be forgiven for assuming that they are chancing it in the hope that they con people into paying £90. Has anyone else had anything similar?

He has had a lot of trouble with the DVLA and their administrative incompetence recently, so was in just the right mood to tackle them on this particular subject.

By the way, please spare me any lectures about using untaxed vehicles on the road. I'm just the messenger.

3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Friday 22nd December 2017
quotequote all
Sorry, I thought I was posting this in General Gassing. It appears to have ended up in Motoring News.

3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Saturday 23rd December 2017
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I've got a number of tales involving the DVLA getting details wrong. I really don't know where to start on that subject!

3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
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Monkeylegend said:
It reads like he was using it but didn't think he had been seen using it.
Spot-on! Sorry, I should have clarified that.

3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
quotequote all
WaferThinHam said:
"your mate"
It is actually one of my friends, rather than the common usage of "my friend" in such posts.



3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
quotequote all
lyonspride said:
Sometimes you get people in the street reporting untaxed vehicles because they deem them to be an "eyesore", especially if it's more than a few years old and sitting on the drive untaxed. Spoils the look of the street don't you know..............
They can't tell now due to tax discs no longer being displayed. He's adamant that he hadn't been spotted by any camera vans or anything. I think they had some information but no evidence, so chanced it and caved in when the evidence was requested.

3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
Shouldn't this be in the "My Friend Has..... thread?

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
No, it's not me. It is actually one of my friends. If it was me I'd have said so. There's no cause for embarrassment in a completely anonymous forum post as far as I'm concerned.

3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
quotequote all
Richard-390a0 said:
There's a part of the gov website where you can check if a car is taxed or mot'ed so it's perfectly possible one of his neighbours has dobbed him in.
That's possible I suppose, but he lives on a farm, so unlikely for any busy-bodies to have investigated it. Not impossible though, as you suggest.

3528

Original Poster:

40 posts

184 months

Tuesday 16th January 2018
quotequote all
The Mad Monk said:
Well, in that case, why doesn't 'your friend' post it himself?
Because he doesn't use internet forums and I do. I deemed it a worthy subject for this forum, albeit one at risk of attracting flippant responses, as seems to be customary on PistonHeads.