Car Tax Issues

riggers1982

Hi, I wonder if everyone can give me some advice or whether or not this has happened to anybody else?

A few weeks ago we received a letter from the DVLA stating that our car had been spotted on the road without tax, according to them the tax ran out in sept 13. we bought the car in oct 13 from a branch of bristol street motors, a nissan dealership. The car already had tax on it and it runs out in July 14. I wrote back to DVLA with a copy of the tax disc saying that they need to update their records. DVLA then wrote back to me saying that they were looking into this and would get back to me.

We have then received another letter from another department of DVLA saying that somebody had requested a refund for the tax disc and could we provide them with the serial number and expiry date of the disc and if we do not provide them with it they will issue the refund anyway and declare the vehicle as SORN.

We haven't yet responded to this letter, Im trawling the internet for advice and trying to speak to someone at DVLA about it. but I want to know how can somebody request a refund if they aren't the registered keeper? I am also confused because if DVLA are saying that the tax ran out sept 13 and the nissan dealership re-taxed it before we bought it, surely the tax should expire in April or september depending on whether they bought 6 or 12 months?

Any advice would be greatly received.
Thanks

riggers1982

An update, we have finally managed to speak with DVLA about this latest letter and they confirmed that the only people able to request a refund are the registered keeper or a previous owner. Something is not adding up. The DVLA said they will look into it.

Horseunderwater

Whenever I have asked for a VED refund I have always had to send it into DVLA on one of their refund forms. So is your a genuine disc Or has someone put in a photocopy of it into the holder? Seems very odd that this could happen.

colino

Could it be that the car was "taxed" when BSM took it in, but the previous keeper had got a replacement (for lost or stolen) tax disc and cashed that in unbeknownst to BSM? An easy £100+ for the previous keeper, but something that even Vertu wouldn't stoop to.

riggers1982

It looks like a genuine disc, has the edges round it like it has been pulled off the letter you receive.

riggers1982

with regards to Colino Im confused....

so are you saying the tax disc that is displayed in the car that expires in July 14 was the one that was given to BSM when they bought it off the previous owner but in september when the transfer happened the owner then obtained a refund for the disk, making this tax disc invalid unbeknownst to BSM?

atrixblue.-MFR-.

I was thinking same as colino has somebody sold it with tax, then reported it lost or stolen got a replacement and now is trying for a refund under the replacement to claw back some cash.


either case, the DVLA needs to check when a lost or stolen claim was made, when a replacement was sent out and when a refund request was made, against the date of transfer on the V5C, and make a decision whether the previous keeper or dealer sold it with the tax or without and you have a fake/invalid in your window.


Its easy to do, you sell a car with tax you go to the PO for a lost or stolen same day fill in details you still hold on the car and disc, you then wait for the replacement then send a refund request along with the old change of keeper part a day or two later to ensure that when the refund happens the new keepers details isn't yet on the system. you get your refund, the person who got the car thinks it taxed until a DVLA cam picks the car up on ANPR some time later with the invalid disc.

riggers1982

ah thanks, this is starting to make sense now.

So really we need to tax the car as a matter of urgency.

molerat

Not yet, you need to query with the DVLA when the request for refund was received. You also need to confirm whether DVLA consider the current tax disc you hold is void.

riggers1982

ok great thanks

forgotmyname

I would argue that you bought the vehicle with a valid tax disc and the previous owner is trying to defraud them claiming a refund for something that no longer belongs to them.

Checked online to see if it shows as taxed?

http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/?SKIN=directgov

Vehicle enquiry on the left.. I presume you have the V5C?

Odd they have not sent you a fine for not taxing it or declaring SORN.