Late Licensing Penalty - despite notification to the DVLA

[lisamarie123]

No doubt this is one of hundreds of similar cases.

 

 

I part exchanged my car on 25th August 2015 to a car dealer.

Completed the log book properly and

handed in the V5C over the post office counter at the same time as purchasing tax for the new vehicle on the day of purchase.

The post office gave me a receipt which states V5C handed in.

 

I cancelled the Direct Debit for the tax a couple of days later for the vehicle that I was no longer the registered keeper.

 

 

Fast forward to January

- I get a letter from a debt collection agency saying I owe £80 for an outstanding late licencing penalty

which, I would like to point out never received any communication from the DVLA about this directly.

This was the first time I was aware of it.

 

I sent a letter to the DVLA explaining I was no longer the registered keeper

and was not the registered keeper on the date of the alleged offence (1st September 2015).

 

 

I provided the bill of sale and the receipt from the post office as evidence.

Unfortunately, I had no longer got the acknowledgement letter they sent to me as I disposed of it,

thinking once I had received it, all was well.

 

I have had two letters from different depts. at the DVLA

- one stating that they have updated my records

and the other, to say that the original decision that I am liable still stands.

 

Anyone got any ideas about what I should do

- I don't see why I should pay for something I am not responsible for.

 

 

If I had not cancelled the direct debit the DVLA would have refunded the payments anyway

so surely the fact I have evidence to show I was no longer the registered keeper

and that I handed the V5C to the post office on the day of exchange of vehicles

prove that I am not responsible for the payment of tax on a vehicle I no longer owned!

[silverfox1961]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

DVLA are notorious for getting things wrong however, all they will do is either cancel it eventually or pass it on to a debt collector who can chase but do little else. they are nothing to worry about.

 

It is also known that DVLA no longer take court action on these fictitious amounts as when they are challenged in court, they lose or back out before proceedings.

 

While it may have no effect (as the DVLA are a law unto themselves) a Formal Complaint (letter headed as such) may elicit a reasonable response.

[lisamarie123]

Thanks for your response.

 

 

It is already in the hands of a debt collector.

 

 

A customer service advisor at the DVLA told me they do not take things to court

but leave in the hands of the debt collector.

 

 

The debt collector told me they would take me to court only if they were instructed to do so by the DVLA

so do I just keep sending letters saying I dispute it? or ignore the correspondence?

[dx100uk]

ignore the silly DCA

they are NOT BAILIFFS

and have

NO SUCH LEGAL POWERS.

 

 

I hope you've not been conversing on the phone to the DCA

they'll try and mug you by any method they can

do not entertain them.

 

 

you've proof you sent the documents

ignore the DCA now.

 

 

dx

[silverfox1961]

As you have clearly stated to the debt collector that you dispute this amount, you need not bother sending any further letters to them.

 

I would still complain to the DVLA though.