SORN declared online OK but still got a penalty notice.

Why_me?_2-2

Those that think that the system is always right should take note of this case.

I have a car that I keep off road and I therefore make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) declaration online via Directgov every year. I made an online declaration in May this year (deadline was 1/6/12) and I have got the email confirmation from DVLA. When I got back from a trip I was shocked to discover a letter from the DVLA enforcement centre demanding a penalty of £80 because they claim that the car didn’t have a tax disc or SORN in force, also the matter has been escalated to a debt collection agency in my absence.
I tried to ring the DVLA to sort this matter out quickly but was told that I have to ring an enforcement line, this basically gave the option of paying the penalty or some pre-recorded information about penalties. It wasn’t possible to speak to someone to resolve this matter.
I wonder if any other readers have had the same problem and what did they do?
I would be grateful for any advice. If any one knows of a way to resolve this quickly by phone or email please let me know. If it's going to require letters and lots of work I want a way of getting compensation for the time and stress and a way of punishing the DVLA for the unjustified intimidation that they have subjected me to.

kingstreet

You mention an email.

Did you receive the written confirmation from DVLA as well? The system spews out a letter to acknowledge the SORN request and to show the SORNed period.

Wig

Your email is more than enough evidence (you actually don't need any evidence, your word is legally good enough).

When I went through this (similar issue) a few years ago I called a number in Kent and I was able to speak to someone, who told me it was dealt with not by them but by a Cardiff office, and they gave me the number, I spoke to someone in that office and gave relevant info.... That person called someone else (person whose details I had given them - because person B would be able to corroborate everything I was saying to confirm that the charge was not justified..... I called them back after a few hours and got it confirmed the charge was being dropped. with a letter to follow.

It wasn't the same situation as yours but you should be able to speak to someone on the phone to get it sorted. In your case it will be a case of
telling them:
"I did it online have the email to prove it so you would be very silly to take this to court"
"I did it online, give me an email address so I can send you a copy of the email to?"

If it helps the Kent number was 0208 302 9331 and the Cardiff number was 02920 753363

TrickyWicky

DVLA = Devious & Vexatious Lying A**holes.

Submit a FOI request asking how many innocent motorists they hassle like this, how many wrongfully are forced to make a payment, etc (as many difficult questions as possible) and I think you'll find they suddenly (with the aid of your email reference number) manage to solve this for you.

anotherbaldrick

You say you have the e-mail confirmation from the DVLA of your Sorn notice, well, just print it off and put it in the return envelope with their demand and send it back to them :- FINITO !

zappahey

kingstreet wrote: »

You mention an email.

Did you receive the written confirmation from DVLA as well? The system spews out a letter to acknowledge the SORN request and to show the SORNed period.

I just did my convertible at the end of Oct and, if you tick the box for email confirmation, it says you won't be sent a letter.

Road_Hog

I sorn'd a car a few years ago. I didn't bother to re-sorn it the following year, as my view is, once I've told them it's off the road, then it's off the road until I tell them otherwise.

I got the letter demanding money, 12 months later, it isn't from the DVLA, it's from some third party limited company. I have no contract with that company, so I just ignore it - I was prepared to go to court if it came to it.

Nothing ever happened. I don't believe they have any legal right to charge you, which is why they don't follow it up. I believe they sell your details to a third party company who hope that you'll just pay up when you get threatened.

Wig

Road_Hog,
You would stand no chance in court, if you told the truth. The legislation is there, unless you are prepared to go all the way to ECHR, where obviously you could still lose.

Road_Hog

Wig wrote: »

Road_Hog,
You would stand no chance in court, if you told the truth. The legislation is there, unless you are prepared to go all the way to ECHR, where obviously you could still lose.

Are you talking from experience like me, who told them where to get off?

Or are you typing your opinion from a keyboard never having experienced dealing with these people?

Wig

It doesn't matter what you told them and that they failed to take you to court. For their own reasons, you slipped through the net.

If they take you to court, you will lose.....You have not been taken to court over this, so why do you think you or anyone else would win in court?

You think it's good enough to say to the judge, "It doesn't matter what the legislation says, I don't have to to tell them every year so I'm not paying" How far do you think that will get you - in court?