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The mkiv Supra Owners Club

DVLA Problem


Kopite

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Need a bit of advice from anyone who's had issues with the DVLA before...

 

I sold my runabout last December, sent the logbook off and seller took the keeper's supplement all as normal.

In May, I received the tax disc reminder for the car....I contacted the buyer to inform them of this and asked if they'd received a logbook in their name since the sale went through, they hadn't :rolleyes:

They contacted the DVLA informing them they were the new keeper and the logbook must have gone AWOL in the post. Form received by the buyer, logbook sent out in their name so job done ...so I thought. Now, i've received a £55 fine from the DVLA for "improper disposal of vehicle". I have 2 weeks to pay it or we can go to court.

Now, i'm a bit miffed here. It's been ages since I've sold a car, do you get any confirmation of the logbook being received by the DVLA and details changed to the new owner? I don't think I've ever had anything like that before when changing cars.

Also, I'm not really prepared to pay this fine as I did what I was supposed to in terms of sending the logbook off and I was unaware that it had gone AWOL until May. How do I know the DVLA didn't misplace it themselves etc?

I'm gonna write a statement but was wondering - when dealing with the DVLA, do they respond better to firm words, even those implying they're out to grab money and i've only got their word they didn't receive the logbook OR should I be polite and explain the situation without any sterness?

 

Thanks

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My other half works for the DVLA so I just gave her a call to ask on your behalf. From what she has said there is no way of getting out of the fine without proof of postage of the logbook.

 

If you had contacted the DVLA when you received the tax reminder it might have been a different story, but because the buyer filled in the form requesting the logbook I think it is automatically decided that it was the fault of the seller. She also said that they don't bother going to court any more, they just send the bailiffs round.

 

I was hoping to find a way out of it for you, but it doesn't look likely I'm afraid :(

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I've always received a letter from the DVLA after the sale of the car to confirm that ownership has changed.

 

I'd heard some people say they got a letter, other people say they never did. Strange.

 

My other half works for the DVLA so I just gave her a call to ask on your behalf. From what she has said there is no way of getting out of the fine without proof of postage of the logbook.

 

If you had contacted the DVLA when you received the tax reminder it might have been a different story, but because the buyer filled in the form requesting the logbook I think it is automatically decided that it was the fault of the seller. She also said that they don't bother going to court any more, they just send the bailiffs round.

 

I was hoping to find a way out of it for you, but it doesn't look likely I'm afraid :(

 

I thought that might be the case. The buyer (friend's mother) wrote to them and they sent her a form about the ownership change. Think she had to pay £20 for something too.

I'll explain the situation on the statement and see what happens

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i had exactly same happen to me. It had been 2 yrs since got rid of the car so i had no proof of sale.

 

If i had proof of sale then I wouldnt of had to pay the fine, so I had to pay the fine :(

 

What's classed as proof of sale? I can easily get a copy of the receipt cause I know the buyer...

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You didn't just say that on a public forum ;)

 

Dunno what you mean, i meant a photocopy :innocent: I don't have proof of sending the logbook as i didn't do it by recorded delivery, but wondering what else might be classed as proof. Sod it, will send the statement off and see

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There's lots of stuff about the way the DVLA behave on Pistonheards, from losing people's licence entitlements to not processing changes of ownership.

 

Basically, the DVLA's position is always that they never make mistakes and can never be in the wrong.

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Yep, next time i'm gonna do recorded delivery and photograph it or something. Luckily there were no speeding points etc received in that period!

 

Best bet is to take it into the local DVLA office to send off on your behalf, and get them to write you a receipt. They can't argue if you have a statement from one of their employees, although I'm sure they would try.:rolleyes:

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I received a letter as well after something similar saying 'Thank you for notifying us' and then 2 weeks later got "£55 pound letter". Phoned them up and pretty much got told 'Just pay it'... and I couldn't be bothered with the hassle....

 

Sounds about right.

Ended up paying this in the end as I can't be bothered with the hassle either - probably what they assume. The guy on the other end also said they don't accept recorded delivery...the only way of knowing if it's been received is to get the acknowledgment letter within 21 days...

When I said i'd never received one of these on the 3 occassions i've changed ownership, he just said all 3 must have went missing. :shrug:

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