Thread: DVLA didn't send SORN reminder and are trying to fine me

Hi guys,

I've got a bike in my garage that's been there over 18 months in bits. It's NOT in use and there's no way it CAN be used.When the tax ran out I declared it SORN and recieved a reply from DVLA stating that the declaration lasted for 12 months and that THEY WOULD SEND ME A REMINDER before it the SORN declaration expired if nothing has changed.

Since then I moved house, sent all documents off etc so it's registered at my new address but I forgot to re-SORN the bike at the end of the declaration because DVLA didn't send me a reminder. The first thing I heard from DVLA was them sending me a fine! It's not like there's a disk attached to the bike for a reminder-I imagine 1000's have been caught out like this with these underhand tactics.

What can I do about it? I've written to them saying I don't think the fine should be upheld as they didn't uphold their promise in writing to send a reminder but they are still insisting on payment of the fine.

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Wouldn't them putting it in writing that they'd send a reminder be a legally binding contract?

I can't see anything relevant in the parking area

Sorry mate but they do not legally have to send you a reminder. Its a bit late now but if you had posted the sorn and they never received it then if you wrote to them advising them that you sent the sorn but they never received they would have scrapped the fine.

As far as you are concerned you have filled the sorn in and returned it. Now if they have not recieved it it is another ball game also they may even turnaround and say they never issued you with a reminder in which case you got the form from the post office and posted it in. !!!

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

So effectively DVLA are allowed to take the p1ss at will???!

If they'd bothered to send the reminder they said they were going to send I would have re-sorned the bike on time-I simply forgot because they didn't do what they said in writing that they would do.

I'm appalled!

I think your having a laugh. Invest in a diary mate and stop putting the blame on someone else. You are required by law to make sure your vehicle is sorn. They are not required buy law to send you a reminder. As I say invest in a diary they cost very little and in future you wont forget anything.

Do you need sent reminders for everything that happens in your life.

So it's unfair to ask an official body to comply with what they've put in writing?

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

So it's unfair to ask an official body to comply with what they've put in writing?

1. It may have got lost in the post.
2. Buy a diary, they have to send out millions of letters a year you only have to worry about yourself. BUY A DIARY

This is always the case be it dvla/council/bailiffs any crap who are after collecting off you just have to say in court our records show x letter was sent on x day where as the poor defendant can shout till he is blue in the face and he still will be asked why did you not send it recorded delivery. A load of b i know.

Originally Posted by meshi

1. It may have got lost in the post.
2. Buy a diary, they have to send out millions of letters a year you only have to worry about yourself. BUY A DIARY

So, because they send out millions of letters they have the right to fine us and make our lives a misery when they screw up? DVLA have admitted they didn't send the reminder-even though they categorecally said they would. Loads of people are having this problem with them-I suspect they are using it as a cash cow.

They are SO bloody useless they've even tried to fine the previous occupant of our house for a no tax on vehicle that was registered as permanently exported over a year ago.

You could make a stat dec at the local magistrates court that you never recieved the sorn declaration and was waiting for it or something along the same lines. This will put a end to it straight away.

Originally Posted by Bailiffchaser

You could make a stat dec at the local magistrates court that you never recieved the sorn declaration and was waiting for it or something along the same lines. This will put a end to it straight away.

Cheers-that's worth a go!

Affirm And Not Swear.

???

Thanks

I scrapped a mbike and the DVLA/local contract NCP can round onto 'private' property and clamped it. The bike frame had one wheel no engine and not seat, fairing etc. They took it away and crushed it. I wrote to them, they insist I have done wrong because it is public highway. I got the photos from them, the bike is clearly in a foot of grass on private land, they offered to reimburse me £200 for the mbike. I refused as I want to make a point and haul them into court.
A car I bought was also in the same location, closer to the perimeter of private land. They wrote back, 6 months later after crushing it to say i was wrong butthey will let me off and acknowledged the private land saying the car bumper over hung the public highway. I think they have contracticted themselves and have also told me they can not be sued. Are they right?

Why can't they be sued ?
That would be close to making the statement of the Uk being a police state, whereby they can do as they please and the public has to put up with it.
How bizarre.
If that is true it would deeply trouble me to be honest