DVLA Fine for no insurance on vehicle I no longer own

Haci

The title Hardly seems to do justice to this as its so much more, I really need some advice and have only a short time to try and work out what to do whilst the powers that be hold up their hands and plead ignorance.

Essentially the vehicle in question was written off in an RTA, I completed the details on the log book and sent it off together with my new vehicles registration, I received the new log book for my new vehicle and therefore assumed that the old car had been dealt with (my first mistake assuming a level of competency and integrity from the DVLA, a mistake I would repeat), I received two warnings after this about insuring the vehicle, I called both times and was told to write to them which I did after this it went quiet for a while.

The next I was to hear of this was a letter from Colne magistrates court asking me to appear in court, I spoke with the court who advised I ring the DVLA I did and received assurances the matter would be resolved and there was no need to attend court a few days later I received a notification I was no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle, great! (you already probably realise that it wasn't!)

Sure enough a few weeks after the court date had past I received notification I had been fined in my absence, I spoke again to the court and the DVLA had the fine put on hold and was asked to attend my home towns magistrates court, I did this and was told as no DVLA representative was available I would have to apply to re-open the case and attend another court to have it dealt with.

Eventually the day arrived and I attended court I was met by a representative of the DVLA who led me to a room to discuss the case, after providing evidence I no longer owned the vehicle she announced herself satisfied and told me the fine would be squashed and there was no need for me to go into court (remember that mistake I mentioned) I went home feeling relieved.

Today I received a letter from Marstons High Court Enforcement Stating I have 14 days to pay a now increased fine, I called them to be told to contact the court (the court was closed) called DVLA (same useless drivel from them). I'll contact the court tomorrow but I'm almost certain that conversation will end in the saying "we just issue the fines, its not our job to....." (this seems to be the standard response from all three agencies involved allowing them to impose a fine that has no basis and collect it).

Sorry about the long post and my poor grammatical skills I feel sick to my stomach right now and finding it difficult to even think straight, if anyone can offer advice or anyone who I could contact I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks for reading

Paul.

DUTR

It seems like deja vu with some of these dvla threads, you have already identified one of the errors in assuming, some must just be lucky as when you sell a car, the process is you complete part of the V5 to inform change of registered keeper, the new keeper applies for a new updated V5, the DVLA contact you to confirm the car has changed hands, once this is acknowledged by the seller, the new keeper gets the V5 and the previous owner gets a receipt to confirm they are no longer liable. Sometimes the confirmation part is skipped and the previous owner gets a receipt from the dvla. Once you have not receieved the DVLA for the receipt, then you should contact them and followed up with written trails.
Now the court thing, the DVLA is nowt to do with the court as you have discovered, once you are in the court in front of the magistrates you get to present your case, the rep doesn't give you permission not to attend the hearing, the magistrates do. (CSA try the same tactic I read) .

The damage has been done and it will be hard to reverse (it's not what you want to hear) .

Nodding_Donkey

If someone is taking you to court why on earth would anyone beleive them when the say you don't have to attend?

Of course they don't want you to attend, that way they get a default judgement and don't have to pay your costs.

It's even sillier if you are already at the court at the right time.

saker75

I would contact your local MP's office immediately. They can speak to the DVLA directly and get this sorted.