DVLA tampered with application for imported bike **Resolved**

[king12345]

Hi,

In May I imported a bike from Italy and submitted an application to register it in UK along with all other documents including the original 30 year old log book in mint conditions.

 

After a few weeks I received a V5C with incorrect make, model and date of first registration (25/06/1982 instead of 19/07/1983).

 

 

I sent it back with a covering letter and a crystal clear colour copy of the original log book, highlighting their mistakes.

They changed the make and model, but not the date because someone had crossed off the correct date on the application and put the wrong one.

 

I explained to them over the phone that tampering with official documents is a criminal offence, but they accused me of changing the date.

 

To cut the long story short, I wrote to them 3 times and phoned them at least 5 times.

 

Last week finally someone admitted their mistake as the date is clearly marked on the original log book and they said they would have changed it.

 

Instead today I received a call from a guy at Wimbledon local office who very rudely said that there was nothing I could do and have to live with it Because the log book was not clear and slammed the phone down.

I called the 0300 number and they refused to let me speak to a manager.

 

They said that if anyone has tampered with the application, it was at the Wimbledon office.They suggested that I get a manufacturer report to prove the correct date of first registration.

 

The problem is that to get something like this in Italy will be practically impossible.

 

What do I do now?

 

The bike will lose all the historical value because it was not even in production in 1982.

These guys probably enjoy screwing things up for us motorists.

 

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks

Edited September 11, 2013 by citizenB
formatting

[renegadeimp]

Stop calling them on the phone. Get a formal complaint in to the head office.

Edited September 11, 2013 by citizenB

[king12345]

Stop calling the phone monkeys. Get a formal complaint in to the head office.

 

I did, 3 times and they ignored me.

 

Unless I've been sending it to the wrong office.

I sent them to

 

DVLA SWANSEA

SA99 1BA

 

Is there a different address for the head office?

Edited September 11, 2013 by citizenB

[renegadeimp]

Are you addressing it to the correct department, or just the general address?

[Mike_hawk]

Perhaps escalate the complaint, try emailing Malcolm.Dawson@dvla.gsi.gov.uk

[king12345]

just to that address

[king12345]

Thanks, I hope it will be of some use.

Who's Malcom Dawson?

[stu007]

Hi King

 

This is the link to DVLA Complaints Procedure: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency/about/complaints-procedure

[Tony P]

You could try getting help from interested Clubs such as any that exists for the Make concerned,

The Federation of Historic Vehicles.

The ACU might be worth a visit too.

 

Through Clubs and their umbrella organisations, they have a measure of 'clout' at getting listened to as well as exactly who to speak to.

[Mike_hawk]

Thanks, I hope it will be of some use.

Who's Malcom Dawson?

 

He's the chief exec of the dvla

[Conniff]

Lets go right to the top:

 

Simon Tse

Chief Executive

DVLA

Swansea SA6 7JL

 

We aim to immediately confirm that we have received your complaint.

You need to provide full details of your complaint and the response you have received so far and Simon Tse will make sure that the manager of the responsible area answers your complaint within two weeks.

 

Please allow 3-4 days for postage. If it is going to take us longer than this to give you a full reply, we will let you know.

 

If, after writing to Simon Tse, you are not happy with the way we have handled your complaint, you can write back to us asking to have the matter referred to an Independent Complaints Assessor (ICA). Once in receipt of your request, the ICA will let you know if they can review your case. So, it would be helpful if you explain in your letter why your complaint should be reviewed.

 

I would send it by recorded delivery.

[Tony P]

Simon Tse left DVLA in February.

[Conniff]

Simon Tse left DVLA in February.

 

Probably got the sack because he didn't have a stern enough policy for seeing the public off.

 

The address is the same though.

[dw190]

Malcolm Dawson OBE appointed interim Chief Executive of DVLA

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/malcolm-dawson-obe-appointed-interim-chief-executive-of-dvla

[king12345]

Sent an email to Malcom Dawson and cc Nicky Crump (Wimbledon manager), but she's out of office until 19/09/13.

Her email is Nicky.Crump@dvla.gsi.gov.uk

Fingers crossed now.

If they don't do anything I'm screwed as I think even a court cannot force them to correct the records.

[renegadeimp]

If they have tampered with the records, it is a criminal offence. It's no different than me or you doing it to forge paperwork for a vehicle.

[king12345]

Very true, but they will cover each other and even if dvla is found guilty as an organization, i don't think the court can force them to correct the records.

Or can they?

Also, probably the police will take the complaint and give me a reference number, but I doubt they will investigate.

Can I take them to court on a private prosecution for a criminal offence?

[king12345]

Some potentially good news.

I received a call from Wimbledon manager and she assured me that they will correct the date.

She asked me to send the v5c directly to her, so fingers crossed.

It must have been the email i sent to the ceo yesterday threatening legal actions.

Let's hope for the best

[Mike_hawk]

Sounds like it could be good news, fingers crossed for a positive result

[king12345]

Ok, got another call from Wimbledon manager and she said they will have to change the number plate to reflect the year.

They offered to pay for the plates I had done as well as the insurance admin fee to change the number plate.

Let's hope everything works out.

Thanks for your help, I'll keep you updated

[Tony P]

If you are happy that's good.

 

Make sure the age related number (1982 or will it be the earlier manufacture year, as it was not in production in 1982?) is transferrable and not restricted to that vehicle

(they sometimes do that, particularly when the provenance of a vehicle is not fully conclusive).

 

Any such restriction would be noted on the V5C and could detract and deter a little interest in the bike should you exhibit or sell it.

[king12345]

If you are happy that's good.

 

Make sure the age related number (1982 or will it be the earlier manufacture year, as it was not in production in 1982?) is transferrable and not restricted to that vehicle

(they sometimes do that, particularly when the provenance of a vehicle is not fully conclusive).

 

Any such restriction would be noted on the V5C and could detract and deter a little interest in the bike should you exhibit or sell it.

 

thanks,
I will make sure that there's nothing dodgy on the new V5C when it arrives.
They said they will give me a number plate ending in Y (1983) as the one I've got now ending in X is related to the wrong year (1982).
She assured me that it will all be ok as she was looking into it very thoroughly.
Let's hope for the best

[king12345]

Update:

I received the new number plate related to the 1983 correct year of manufacture.

Now waiting for the v5c.

Hopefully all the details will be correct.

I also sent the invoices for the number plates I purchased on the wrong registration, but still no refund.

It's only been 5 days though.

Thanks for all the advice and I keep you updated.

Thanks

[king12345]

A little update on this.

I called dvla to get an update as I haven't received the v5c yet.

They had no record of the new number plate even though I received the number plate certificate some 4 weeks ago.

Few minutes after I finished the call, the wimbledon manager phoned me and said not to worry and it can take up to 6 weeks to update the records.

Should I believe them?

Is this a further screw up?

Thanks for your help

[Big Bill]

Don't hold your breath! but you may be lucky as the Bike was first registered in the EU.

 

After 2004 the Directive EC 37/1999 applies and the harmonised parameter date of first registration is defined as the date on which the vehicle was administratively authorized to enter service in road traffic identified and issued with a serial number known as the registration number for the first time.

That is defined in UK legislation by Regulation 10A of the Road vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002.

 

As far as tampering with the application form is concerned; according to the DVLA "Although there are no written instructions to do so it is common practice for the application form to be corrected".

The DVLA also admit to rewriting a whole form with "addional information" and then processing that form as if the applicant had filled it in.