DVLA fine for not informing change ownership

stuart070

Hi - I sold a van on ebay in 2008, buyer collected & signed V5 slip which I sent off to DVLA. Around 8 months later, DVLA sent me a letter saying someone else has applied to tax it. If I didn't respond, they would issue the tax, so I had no problem with that.
In 2009, while I was in hospital, a fine notice was sent as they said I hadn't told them about change of ownership.
I rang DVLA who promised to sort it and I heard nothing until this January, when the fine had increased. I wrote to them and heard nothing more until today, when 2 officers from the court called to sieze my property unless I pay the £510, which I was forced to do.

Where did I go wrong and how can I appeal ? Thanks for taking the time to read this.:(

newfoundglory

Did you not get a court summons?

fatbelly

Start a complaint.

Some info here:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/contactus/if_things_go_wrong.aspx

sassy_one

I'd have told them to come back with a warrant and requested a copy prior

If you didn't receive a summons, there's serious breaches affected.

I'd get a solicitor on to this and start the ball rolling

Contact the courts and request copies of ANY documents, the summons etc etc

It should have been sent recorded delivery, have you refused any mail recently??

stuart070

Thanks for quick replies. I did not receive a court summons, but the collection guys had a distress warrant - the offence detail supposedly occured on 04/01/10 and is recorded as miscellaneous. They had no further info, nor a copy of any court summons.

sassy_one

stuart070 wrote: »

Thanks for quick replies. I did not receive a court summons, but the collection guys had a distress warrant - the offence detail supposedly occured on 04/01/10 and is recorded as miscellaneous. They had no further info, nor a copy of any court summons.

Hmmmmmmmmm.......

Did these 'court officers in suits' have any ID OP??


Very strange, someone will no doubt correct me if wrong but summon is sent recorded delivery

I have had a debt a while back where by, I couldn't afford to repay, ignored the collection agency and after a few months it was sent to a process server, avoid him and they can't touch you in most cases!

I'd have not let them in, they can't force there way in to your home and whatever anyone says, that can't stop you closing your door, they can however come past you if there is a gap or you leave it open


I'd make a formal complaint OP, first to DVLA Swansea asking there views and request copies of letters etc etc, then if that fails, armed with all the information from them, contact OFT with the details.

Strider590

Oh look, DVLA at their usual tricks again....

mrbadexample

sassy-one wrote: »

Very strange, someone will no doubt correct me if wrong but summon is sent recorded delivery

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe most summonses are sent by regular first class post, which is deemed to be good service.

sassy_one

mrbadexample wrote: »

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe most summonses are sent by regular first class post, which is deemed to be good service.

Good??

What time do you get your post in the day?
Ours is 4pm, earliest is 3pm.

I had a letter, well THREE letters the other day, all were dated from back in Janaury :eek:

Royal Mail is weak, was once a good service but now, its slow as the next man

sassy_one

Strider590 wrote: »

Oh look, DVLA at their usual tricks again....

Tried it on with me once a few years back, sent them a letter stating not my problem if they didn't get my notification letter and politely advised I would be sending nothing to them!

Wrote back a few weeks letter and said sorry!

mrbadexample

sassy-one wrote: »

Good??

What time do you get your post in the day?
Ours is 4pm, earliest is 3pm.

I had a letter, well THREE letters the other day, all were dated from back in Janaury :eek:

Royal Mail is weak, was once a good service but now, its slow as the next man

Whether or not the Royal Mail is as good as it used to be, first class post is still deemed to be good service - i.e. if they post it, it is assumed to have been delivered in a timely manner.

All that means is that the courts will, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, accept that the summons has been received if it was sent by first class post. This doesn't prevent someone from contacting the court to say they did not receive a summons; in this event I believe that the court would rehear the case.