Reclaim surety fee from DVLA after 14 days

[unfairdvla]

Hi there!

This is the first time I have ever looked at a forum and I have great hopes that somebody will have the time to look at this for me.

It is all because of DVLA's injustice; they use one rule for themselves and one for us, and they are not even prepared to talk to us. Below is a list of what happened so far:

By the way, using the telephone to complain costs a fortune, so I have emailed Mrs Carol Evans on [email protected]

 

10 Nov. 2008

Vehicle Details

Make: ******

Reg. Number: ******

 

Having exhausted all the help options available online and over the telephone, I have decided to contact you as the nature of my enquiry is becoming more a complaint than information seeking.

 

I purchased my car (please see details above) in mid April from a dealer based in Sunderland, called Cheap Car Supermarket. Their telephone number is 01915493555. I was not given a V5C then, and the dealer sent the form to DVLA Swansea; however, weeks later, I found out that the DVLA had not received the form yet. I contacted the dealer who spoke to DVLA and was told that the form may have been lost as this was quite common. I spoke to DVLA and was advised to fill up a V62 form and enclose a cheque for £25, which I did in August. Apparently, this was lost as well. My tax ran out at the end of September, and I was abroad for most of October. I was hoping that a registration document would be sent to me by the time I got back, but this did not happen.

 

On the fourth of November, my car was clamped and taken to a DVLA pound in Peterborough. I had to pay £200 fine and £160 surety fee to release it. I also filled up another V62 and paid DVLA £25 in postal orders.

I was told that I needed to produce a valid tax disc within 14 days to reclaim the surety fee. This obviously meant that the DVLA should be able to issue tax discs for cases like mine in less than 14 days.

 

Since I can't produce a tax disc without a registration document, I have to declare SORN, and declaring SORN means losing my surety fee because I won't be able to tax the car in 14 days then.

 

Keeping the car off-road for the next 4 weeks could result in me losing my job. I have already been put under sever financial stress this month upon paying a fine to release my car. The surety fee is money I desperately need at the moment. I also believe it is my right to receive it back.

 

The DVLA rules and regulations state clearly that the surety fee can be reclaimed if a valid tax disc is produced within 14 days. This means that DVLA must be able to issue a tax disc in less than two weeks for anyone affected by the 14 days rule.

 

I have found myself put in a catch 22 situation now. DVLA is giving me two options, both of which mean that I will lose my surety fee.

 

Option1: If I decide to wait for the Logbook and declare SORN (provided it is possible), I will lose my surety fee.

Option2: If I can't produce a valid tax disc before the 18th November, I will lose my surety fee.

I am sure that you will understand when you look at my case in detail. All I am asking for is fair treatment. Parking the car on a public road was my fault, and I have paid £200 fine for it. I am willing and trying to tax my car, and I need your help to do that on time so that I can reclaim my surety fee. If the DVLA can't help me tax my car on time, it should be able to help me reclaim my money at a later date.

 

I apologise for my prolonged letter, and I would be very grateful if you could either help me obtain the details I need to tax my car before the 17th November or extend the period in which I can reclaim my surety fee.

 

PS. I have faxed a copy of this email to 01792 766416.

 

Kind regards,

James **

[crem]

Too polite.