wrong emissions data, wrong tax band

timetosave22

Hi

I posted this on a motoring forum recently.

Thought I'd post it here also in case anyone has the same car or knows someone who has.

I thought I'd share an observation which I am following up with the the D.V.L.A, the Consumers Association, Vauxhall Customer Services and the carfueldata site , incidently the vca web link is a very useful site for co2 emissions data.

Its a long story so sorry if this bores some of you, though could be very interesting if you have the same car as me.

We (partner and I) have an old 1994 corsa gls auto and its pretty well on its last legs so we thought we'd upgrade a little.

After consulting the Which Buyers Guide used car section we chose a corsa 16v 1.4i elegance hatch 5door auto which we eventually bought. It was a 2003 on a 03 plate. The WBG says this car has a co2 emissions of 178, which makes it in the i band on the D.V.L.A vehicle tax chart, thats £175 a year.

Right , fast forward to Post Office after we bought car to tax it and the lady asked for £215.

Cutting this part short we stumped up the extra £40.

Right, checking the reg doc details we find that the emissions data reads 190g/Km which of course takes it into the J band, £215 annually.

OK, but on the fuel data site given earlier it turns out that this plate on this car had two types of engines fitted, the earlier one rated at 190g/Km and later engines 180g/KM taking it into the lower tax band.

The engines for people who don't know are distinguished by the VIN numbers. Our car has a Vin number which puts it in the newer and cleaner engine category of 180g/Km

Anyways, I've written and phoned the various parties and they are supposed to be getting back to me ( 3 days and deathly silence so far).

If I'm right, potentially hundreds or even thousands out there are paying £40 a year TOO MUCH

UPDATE

Anyways latest is after 2/3 weeks of sending letter to dvla, zilch, so I put in a formal complaint by email including copy of original letter to dvla and vauxhall letter confirming the lower emissions.

Yesterday received a new reg doc ( no covering letter) showing new lower emissions rate.

Rang dvla, got put through to the complaints who said they were sending out new tax disc and when they receive old one back from me will refund the £40

No apologies regarding original **** up or any mention of it.

I emailed the editor at the 'which' magazine (Consumers Association), basically got the reply, don't call us we'll call you sort of answer.

For an organisation which bases its raison d'etre on fighting for consumer rights they have a mighty funny attitude"