DVLA - Receiving debt letters for an old old car.

barryk32

Hi.

I have recently started receiving debt letters from a company on behalf of the DVLA.

They are demanding 80.00 for 'an outstanding amount due to them'.

They haven't even said what its for.

The car in question was involved in a bump what must have been 4 years ago, if not more and was subsequently scrapped.

I sent the green slip off and thought no more about it.

Since then I have had three other cars, two children, fostered a third and moved house.

Surely they cannot bully me into paying 80.00 for a car that was scrapped (with tax still on it) years ago...... Can they?

Thanks

vax2002

When de registering a car, you are well advised to take up the offer of sending them a separate letter informing them you are no longer the registered keeper, they have to send a reply stating that they have updated records.

vax2002

Put it back in the post, marked, no contract , return to sender.

spiro

When you sell a car and I presume scrap one, the DVLA send you a letter to prove you are no longer the owner. If you did not get one then it is possible that you are still the registered keeper and have been sent a penalty notice.

Any debt letter must state what the debt is and details of the original bill.

I would phone the DVLA and ask them about the status of your old car.

barryk32

I have already contacted them to try and reason with them (I know, I know) will that have any repercussions?

This 'no contract', do I put this on the outside or in the envelope/on their letter etc.

Part of me thinks just pay it as if I go to court I might have to pay much much more.

The other part of me thinks I haven't done anything wrong and it feels like I am being robbed.

barryk32

I cannot get through to the DVLA due to high volumes of calls.

With it being so long ago I have no idea what I did or didn't receive.

fivetide

Could be a fine for not declaring it SORN - that would implie that haven't bothered to update their record with you not being the owner/car being scrapped.

5t.

jwruk

As is always posted on here - ignore, or ask for proof of the outstanding debt and state that any debt is not acknowledged and disputed and therefore the debt collector should not contact you and return to the DVLA and any further contact is harassment etc etc etc.

Trebor16

If you sent off the V5 to DVLA having ticked the box to say the car was scrapped then you have complied with your legal obligation to notify DVLA of this. There is no legal requirement for you to contact DVLA after 4 weeks if you have not heard from them and this is a point that has been upheld in similar cases when they have reached court. DVLA might try and convince you otherwise but they are wrong.

Lum

Trebor16 wrote: »

If you sent off the V5 to DVLA having ticked the box to say the car was scrapped then you have complied with your legal obligation to notify DVLA of this. There is no legal requirement for you to contact DVLA after 4 weeks if you have not heard from them and this is a point that has been upheld in similar cases when they have reached court. DVLA might try and convince you otherwise but they are wrong.

Listen to what this person says, and quote Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 if they argue.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/30

Interpretation_Act_1978_Section_7 wrote:

References to service by post.

Where an Act authorises or requires any document to be served by post (whether the expression “serve” or the expression “give” or “send” or any other expression is used) then, unless the contrary intention appears, the service is deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the document and, unless the contrary is proved, to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

The onus on them is to prove that you did not post it.