www.jec.org.uk

I thought I'd share a letter I've received from DVLA in relation to them making admin error.

If this was done as a Consumer - we would be fined!

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

Vaughn

Vaughn,

As you already know, it's pretty poor service by them. However, knowing a bit about bank systems, I suspect that what they've done is "miss" your renewal and then accidentally cancel the Direct Debit mandate that you'd initially set up. Unfortunately, once they've cancelled the mandate authority with the bank, I suspect they can't reinstate it. Hence their letter telling you that you've got to retax it and set up a new DD if you wish.

Where you need to be careful, is that you'll probably have to tax it from the 1st March not the 1st April, if you're to be legally in the clear. You might want to ring them to confirm this.

If it were me, I would immediately tax it just to make sure I didn't get caught for having an untaxed or unSORN'd car. And then write a very strongly-worded letter of letter of complaint!

Good luck

Paul

Amazing how on one hand they can apologise at the head of the letter, and the end too, which suggests its their fault (WHICH IT IS) but then insist, that "the vehicle must be taxed IMMEDIATELY" suggesting that YOU are at fault for the non payment and must fix THEIR ERROR !!

Totally out of order, I can feel a complaint letter copied to your local MP coming on this one !!

We NEED to take these people to task, DVLA are a law unto themselves but should be a service to the people.

I'm not a fan of annual direct debits because things can get forgotton. The VED reminder landed on my mat today, I will log on t'internet, pay it by debit card and it's sorted.

Some may say that what happens if the letter goes missing in the post, well keep a note in your diary or put a reminder sticker in the windscreen, anyway, as the OP has found out, automatic renewal isn't reliable either.

I hope the OP hasn't already been pinged for no tax and gets a nasty letter