Incompetent DVLA..Shall I ignore them?

sam1970

In november 2013, my wife's car had engine replaced under warranty, end of november posted the logbook with the dealership receipt to DVLA (recorded post) to update details..Documents lost in post and now I am going through Royal mail complaint procedure. DVLA said we need to send form V62 and pay £25 to get replacement logbook.

I sent the V62 with the payment and copy of dealership receipts and covering letter explaining events and asking for change of engine details at the same time. I also asked for receipt for the payment as I am claiming it back from Royal mail.

Today we received the new log book...with the old engine number and no receipt for the £25..I phoned DVLA and they said I need to send the new logbook again to have the engine details changed which is rubbish. For the receipt they said I need to pay £2.50 to request a receipt for the £25 !!!

I am tempted to ignore them and when I sell the car I will leave it for the buyer to sort out (Will give him the paper work from the dealer). I paid nearly £30 in postage and fees and I am in the same position I was in before this whole thing started...what an incompetent organisation

Quentin

It might be worth persevering with it now rather than find you cannot move it on quickly when the time comes because of the discrepancy.

sam1970

thanks for the reply...If I leave it, will it have any implications on the insurance? it is exactly the same engine (like for like)

Stooby2

There's no problem with the insurance if it's like for like.

As for the DVLA, start their complaints procedure -

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency/about/complaints-procedure

The more people complain about them, the more likely it is someone will eventually take notice and possibly do something about it.

Alias_Omega

If the new buyer spots the incorrect engine number then you may lose your sale for not being honest.

What else would you be hiding? If you list it in the auction, it may fetch a lower price as the car sounds "dodgy".

sam1970

I am not a fraudster and never said that I will con the buyer. I said I will provide the buyer with the paper work from the dealership and leave it for him if he wants to update the logbook at the same time when having it changed into his name

sam1970

Stooby2 wrote: »

There's no problem with the insurance if it's like for like.

As for the DVLA, start their complaints procedure -

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency/about/complaints-procedure

The more people complain about them, the more likely it is someone will eventually take notice and possibly do something about it.

I have already emailed their CEO today so will wait and see

Joe_Horner

sam1970 wrote: »

I am not a fraudster and never said that I will con the buyer. I said I will provide the buyer with the paper work from the dealership and leave it for him if he wants to update the logbook at the same time when having it changed into his name

The point that the previous posters are making is that a lot (not all, but a significant number) fo potential buyers will be put off by that. It's not suggesting that you'd try to con anyone, but many of your potential buyers will be worried that you may be. Even those who are happy with the car may be unhappy with the thought that they'll have the hassle of sorting it out.

Given that the usual advice if you smell a rat (whether real or imagined) when buyng a car is that there's always another just round the corner, that's going to affect your chance of selling and, possibly, your price.

sam1970

I accept your point but all the paperwork is above board...it is from official Toyota dealership and not back street garage and the potential buyer, if i ever end selling the car, can phone the dealership and check their records..for the time being as long as insurance policy is not affected I will not bother...By the way, how many car buyers look at the engine number and compare it to the one on the logbook..I never did that before..actually even the dealership service guy was surprised when I asked him about the new engine number when I collected the car and admitted that he never thought about the need to notify the DVLA !!!

ilikewatch

sam1970 wrote: »

I am not a fraudster and never said that I will con the buyer. I said I will provide the buyer with the paper work from the dealership and leave it for him if he wants to update the logbook at the same time when having it changed into his name

I like to think of myself as a relatively savvy car buyer, and if I went to buy a car which had a non-matching engine number I would walk away unless it was significantly underpriced and I thought that the potential hassle was outweighed by the saving.

Also, having experienced the considerable inconvenience and beaurocracy of being pulled over for a random DVLA vehicle inspection on the A17 when I had just swapped an engine but not got round to changing the paperwork I wouldn't risk it again

fivetide

Either way Sam. If you mentioned it in the advert, I'd be more likely to look at one that had everything in order (although you might not put people off with the engine swap)

If you sprang it on me when I came to look, I would still be rather sceptical and I'd wonder why it wasn't done so I have to agree with Joe.

Not usually a good idea to ignore the DVLA. They have a nasty habit of eventually blaming you for their screw ups! Complain away I say.