DVLA want to fine me for not informing them.

vet8

In March my vehicle was stolen, the police recovered it the same day and took it to a garage where it sat for weeks while the insurance company faffed about. The insurance company insisted that I send them all the documents relating to the vehicle; the V5 log book, MOT certificate, service history, spare key etc. When I queried this, as the car had been recovered and I was hoping to get it back soon they said it was standard procedure and they could do nothing without it so I sent it all to them.

I then got the car back for about one day , the engine was so knackered it was wrecked, the garage came and took it back and after three months the insurance company finally accepted it was a write off and paid me. In all this time I never saw the car's documents again.

I know it was my own stupid fault, but in all this aggro I never though to notify the DVLA that I did not have the car any more and I had no V5 to send off anyway.

The DVLA wrote to me several months later when the car had clearly been repaired and was being reregistered and said I had not informed them that I was no longer the owner. They said I had to send in a signed written statement which I did immediately and thought that was that.

Now they have sent me a letter saying I have to pay a £55 fine or be taken to court as I have not notified them, but I did notify them after they last wrote. There is no telephone number where I can query this, only a number to pay the bill. I have sent back the form saying that I dispute the fine.

My question is: are they fining me even though I have notified them of the car's disposal or do I assume they did not receive my last letter telling them this? Is it worth my disputing it or should I just pay up? If I dispute it they might take me to court and I could be fined £1,000

Thanks.

patman99

My response would be to inform them that you did in fact post the documents to them (even though you didn't) and that it has been deemed in Court that once posted, the documents are deemed to have been received.

Buzby

Since the mechanism used to advise the DVLA is the V5C, I'd ask your insurers why they did not, and explain you are seeking full reimbursement of the charge you've been asked to pay.

Captain_Flack.

patman99 wrote: »

My response would be to inform them that you did in fact post the documents to them (even though you didn't) and that it has been deemed in Court that once posted, the documents are deemed to have been received.

So you recommend that the OP attempts to pervert the course of justice and if summonsed to court perjury?

trollopscarletwoman

Captain_Flack. wrote: »

So you recommend that the OP attempts to pervert the course of justice and if summonsed to court perjury?

Why not?

Everyones at it, lol!

scotsbob

vet8 wrote: »

Now they have sent me a letter saying I have to pay a £55 fine........... are they fining me

I don't think they can fine you.

My understanding is that only a court of law can impose a fine. Certainly that is the law in Scotland, maybe different in England.

Rover_Driver

It will be an out of court settlement offer, not a fine.