DVLA problem. Can you help me please. 31.8.08

[Albert Square]

Hi,
On the 29th ,February ,2008, around midday I was surprised to find a notice
on my windscreen , telling me my tax was out of date. For some reason
I had read the expiry date wrongly and thought the tax was due at the start
of March ,when it was actually due at the start of February. I went
to the post office that afternoon and got the tax ,back dating it to the
beginning of Feb. Thinking the job was done and no DVLA revenue had
been lost, I was gob smacked to get a letter from them a few
weeks later ,informing me that my car had been seen untaxed ,on
a public road ,on the 29.2.08 and they were fining me £53.
I sent a letter back telling them of my genuine mistake, that
no revenue had been lost, I allways pay my tax as there recordes should show
and for a number of years since my car was written off, due to accident damage
being more to repair than the car is worth , I don’t get reminders like the rest
of the car owners of England. A few weeks later I get another letter from
“ Jobs worth” of the DVLA telling me how he has considered the information
I have given them ,but ‘the car was not taxed and on a public road ‘and although
I had made a genuine mistake, the law says I must be punished ,but out of the
kindness of their hearts they are willing to keep the fine at £53 if I pay within
the next three weeks. F*****G W****RS!!!!
My next move was another phone call , to remind them that in my letter, I had
stated that I was unemployed and on incapacity benefit and even
if I felt I was in the wrong , as they didn’t except instalments, how was I going to pay
a £53 fine from the £73 benefit I get each week?. The chap on the phone then asked me if I wouldn’t mind
telling him what my illness was ,so I told him. He then asked if I would put
it all in writing, including my doctors name and address ,so that they could contact them to confirm I was ill and on incapacity benefit, which I agreed to. So not only did I have to put this new information in a letter to the DVLA ,but I had to write a letter of explanation to my doctor and send them photocopies of all correspondence I had had with the DVLA so far. About three weeks later, I got my reply, which surprised me, as I was sure they had not been in touch with my doctor because, I was told on the phone, that they were about two weeks behind in there replies. The letter said, “ he had again considered the information I had supplied, but the law requires that any motor vehicle which is used or kept (I.e. parked) on a public road must be licensed. While i may not have deliberately evaded my responsibilities, the Agency does have a legal obligation to fulfil when it has identified legislation that has been breached, “ and he cannot find any reason to alter the original decision. However, he was prepared to offer me a final opportunity to pay the out of court settlement of £53 requested in their previous letter.
I’m sorry this is a bit long winded ,but I wanted to give you as much info as possible. As someone who is
honest and not a law breaking, tax disk dodger, I feel the DVLA are bang out of order. I bet if I was one of Mr. DVLA jobsworth family or friends, I wouldn’t be looking at a fine at all.
I really feel like telling them to shove it and take me to court, but I cant afford £53 ,let alone court costs as well.
I am new to this computer lark and it was a friend who suggested and found this site for me.
I also have left this help, I’m asking for, a bit late as I have until the 1st sept (Monday) to do what I need to do. Can anyone help please. Thanks Albert.

[robin9342]

I'm sorry to have to say that I think you will have to pay this one. DVLA rules are just a revenue raising exercise for the government. Your previous good payment record and your low income will not matter one little bit to them.

[gwc1000]

Originally Posted by robin9342

your low income will not matter one little bit to them.

No, but it WILL matter to a magistrates court.
If it were me in your circumstances I would allow this to go to Court.

[Albert Square]

robin9342 and gwc1000, just wanted to thank you for your comments. I will wait a few more days to see if anyone else has any ideas or have had the same experience. thanks again bert

[postggj]

hi albert square

ime afraid i have to agree with robin on this one
dvla are a law unto themselves
i know £53 is a lot if you are on benefits but they will either take this to the majestrates court or get a ccj through the county court.
either one you will get slammed for court costs and end up paying a few hundread pounds.

send dvla a letter saying you are on benefit, ask them if they would put the matter on hold, say for thirty days, untill you aquire the funds.
like all goverment agencies, they have targets and joe public (motorist) is the cash cow
they will enforce this as its now an automated system, gone are a few days grace