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D.V.L.A - Farce

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D.V.L.A - Farce

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Devious

Multipla Mac Daddy Jon
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Alright Folks?
Id like to share with you a recent experience that I've had with the DVLA regarding Road Tax.
Three weeks ago, I purchased an Alfa Romeo 147 2.0Ts Sillyspeed. (Great Car by the way)
The previous owner is a colleague who recently moved house. He did his bit and notified them with the change of address on his car and bike. The DVLA lost both V5 documents. He was advised to complete a V62 to get a new log book free of charge as it was their error. Fair enough.
My colleague, having been bitten by them before ALWAYS keeps the new keeper supplement separate just in case.
This was completed by me/us and sent to the DVLA as per instruction by Swansea. We took a copy of the cover letter, new keeper supplement and V62.
I get a letter from the DVLA saying,thanks we got your letter, new V5 will be processed on 22-10-12.
Ok... Cool, they're onto it.
My tax has expired so armed with all the paperwork I set off to the Post Office to part with £150.
The lady in the Post Office said she couldn't do it as they can't accept photo copies of the new keeper part (despite having a letter from DVLA confirming the new V5 in print). Fair enough, not her fault, rules is rules and she suggested I contact them.
So, I phone the powers that be, explain the situation confirm the vehicle details, confirm my details, the woman says yes its in your name (here's the good part) DIGITALLY on their system, the V5 appears to be printed and will be posted Monday but because the 22nd is the release date for the document No Law Enforcement Agencies will be updated and I cannot tax the vehicle till the 23rd.
I asked what she suggested I do so I didn't get pulled. Her suggestion is to SORN the vehicle. Ok, How do I do that?
FILL IN YOUR V5 AND POST IT TOO US.
To say I went orbital is an understatement.
I ended up being put to a supervisor who said my best course of action would be to HIDE THE CAR TILL ITS TAXED YO AVOID BEING DETECTED...
Can you believe these guys?
I asked of they could put notes on their systems and the vehicle records.
Yes, was the reply.
Ooh, good, can you put a note on the system to say that I've contacted you to pay the tax but due to your administrative practices, I cannot until Monday at the earliest?
No sir, this vehicle Document notes are locked until Monday 22-10-12.
Its fair to say the poor bloke got it both barrels.
So, 45mins later, still no tax, elevated blood pressure and a mood from hell, I have concluded that the DVLA are a bunch of tnucs!

Is it just me or has anyone else experienced this level of retardation?

Ta
 
To be honest, I've never had any problems with them: whether it's buying a new or used car; obtaining and transferring private registrations; and even resurrecting an old Beetle from the dead.... What I have noticed, though, is that, recently, turnaround times have started to increease.... :(

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is a symptom -- soon to be oft-repeated -- of the DVLA being centralized to the nth degree: including the scheduled closure of regional and local offices; and massive redundancies (seemingly of the most-skilled and -experienced, customer-facing staff). :mad:

People I know who restore classics (often with little or no proof of vehicle ID, history, etc.) have relied on these local offices for years: often turning up with their vintage cars on the back of low-loaders/trailers, so that new documentation can be issued.... What they are supposed to do now, I do not know. :confused:

I really hope you can get this sorted ASAP, and totally understand your frustration.... Bureaucracy drives me nuts.... :bang:
 
It was the advice to SORN or HIDE the vehicle that tipped me over the edge. That and the fact that they know its mine but, due to red tape, won't let me tax it....
 
The DVLA lost my provisional license and documents when i passed my test.

I waited the allotted 5 weeks before I called them. Ended up sending them my certificate (after i took several photocopy's of it) all was resolved in the end but I was effectively driving round for 5 weeks, in the eyes of their computer system, illegally.

Luckily in those weeks i carried a pouch with a copy of all my details to say I had passed my test etc so if police pulled me i had sufficient documentation.

Also when i bought my Bravo the V5 took bang on 5 weeks to turn up. When i bought the Cinq it tool at most 2 weeks to turn up. but then again i don't know how much of that is down to the person taking their time to send off the documentation.
 
never personally had a problem with the DVLA but I've had problems with "computerised" systems.

Lets be fair to the poor individuals who are trianed to follow a procedure. A procedure written and based on a computer program/system that is itself based on a procedure designed by a person.

So the real question is where is the person who specified the procedured, signed of the procedure and never tested the "what if" scenarious that would be sure to break the procedure.

Find those that/those people and put them in the hot heat.

In the good old days of manually updated paper content folders a simple note could be slipped into the folder and another form taken from the cabinet, filled out and sent out.

Now many companies are totally computerised and procedure driven it is just not possible intervene and correct the simplest of errors. Worse still the other half of the company procedures run totally in isolation and are design to detect non compliance and heavily fine the offender, even though they are not an offender.

Sadly these sorts of problems are only going to get worse and there is little you or me can do about it.

Final resolution is to trust in integrity of a judge / magistrate and let the whole thing go to court, slap the paperwork on the bench and let the real human being decide in your favour and then you claim costs and damages.
 
That is truely brilliant Adrian.

S130... I've got all the papers in the car. The post office keeps its cctv for a month so if I get pulled, I'll direct the officer in that direction. I know it wasn't the employees fault but its their job to take the brunt.
 
Dislike the DVLA with a passion. Money grabbing, and incompitent.

On a reg plate transfer in August they manage to marry me and my sister to each other, incorrectly said one plate was none transferable when it was, and only included the Tax disk for one vehicle. Only when I called up they sent the other, but admitted it sitting on the desk still in Norwich, was to obvious just to stick it into another envelope and send it, ment I was showing the incorrect tax disk for a week.

God knows how much worth it'll become with the closure of all local offices in the next 2 years :(
 
Liquid Knight said:
When you have a few hours spare type "DVLA vs Liquid Knight" into your search engine. ;)

They don't like me very much.
Click to expand...

They probably have a big photograph of you stuck on their 'naughty wall', at Swansea! (I'd take this as praise, by the way; and change your name... -- possibly to Robin Hood....!) :D
 
Under the "Freedom of Information Act" I found out that it costs the DVLA £12 to send a letter so my target was eight letters if they were ever going to get £80 from me.

They never did because I wrote to the Minister of Transport and accused him of theft by deception. Deliberately making the non-declaration of V5C admin' fee (that they lost in the post) appear to be fine and suggest legal recourse if it isn't paid.

Been there, done that...

http://the-liquid-knight.deviantart.com/gallery/32132490#/d50jvfe

...designed a t'shirt. :)
 
How bloody marvelous. I phoned the dvla today to tax the Car. As ever the DVLA are bloody useless..
"Sorry Mr Mills, its not been through its security checks today, it SHOULD be released at midnight.
Give us a call tomorrow to tax it then or do it online with your V5..."
SIGH ... How do I do that then?
"...simply type the V5 number and documents in..." (I interupt with) "You've got the bloody V5, have had for just under 8 weeks AND you've got the new keeper supplement ..."
"Oh, we've got no record of that Mr Mills..."

I just hung up.....
 
Devious said:
I just hung up.....
Click to expand...

I don't blame you.... :(

Just a thought: it may not get you anywhere; but, when I've had problems with government departments, I've often copied my MP into emails, correspondence, etc.. It's amazing:

  1. how much MPs want to be seen as useful by their constituents; and
  2. how efficient they (and/or their staff) are/can be at sticking rockets up civil servants' rear ends....
I really hope you get this sorted ASAP....
 
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