DVLA letter to my house under a different name?

[Deleted User]

Hi all. I am not sure whether I am overreacting or not, but can you just help me out here please?!

Today, I received a DVLA letter and it says someone else's name (who doesn't live here) and my address. I went onto whowroteme and apparently it is a V5 registration certificate (I think it is as I had the same letter and postcode at the back when I received mine after moving here).

I just found out a woman who lives here as a lodger, that's her husband! She just told me to forward it to her on holiday as she's away somewhere so I am thinking.. Why the hell is it in her husband's name when he doesn't even live here? Also, the far that is listed on there.. I've never seen it parked anywhere where I live!

What does this sound like? Could it be her car, but it is registered in his name?

Jeannine

Well, I'd just return to it to the DVLA, stating addressee unknown, and let them sort it out!

spiro

I thought the DVLA used to mark envelopes 'Do not forward'.
If the person named on the letter does not live there mark it a 'not known at this address, return to sender' and put in back in a postbox.

bod1467

The address on the V5 doesn't have to be where you actually live, just somewhere that you can reliably and quickly receive correspondence.

That said, I'm with others above who suggest returning it to DVLA as Not Known At This Address.

Aretnap

If the husband is in the sort of business where he moves around a lot and doesn't really have a permanent address it would make sense for him to register his car at his wife's address. As above, it doesn't have to be his home address, just an address where he is contactable.

That said, it might have been polite for her to have mentioned it to you first.

facade

As above, you know who it is, why worry?
It would be a bit a#sy to return it to DVLA now she knows about it and asked you to forward it to her or leave it 'till she gets back.

As Aretnap says, it would have been polite to be told he is using your house as a contact address through your lodger, but I don't see a problem.

AdrianC

There's a small problem with returning it "not known". He is known.

jimjames

I can't understand the issue. A resident's husband has a car registered to the address where the wife lives. Is that a problem? It's hardly that they're not associated.

bod1467

AdrianC wrote: »

There's a small problem with returning it "not known". He is known.

But not at that address. (I've always worked on the basis that "not known at this address" has focus on the address part - as in does not reside at the address - not whether the named person is actually known).

Bigphil1474

He's probably bought a car, and uses his wife's address as his registered keeper address. If he has his own address, I'd suggest telling the lodger to get him to register it there. If he is someone who moves round a lot, he may not have another permanent address to use. If the woman is a long term lodger then it shouldn't be an issue - if she's likely to disappear, then it might be. The registered keeper address will be where they send penalty notices, parking fines etc. so it's something to watch out for. I'd be more worried if you start getting mail addressed to him from finance companies, banks, retailers etc. if he is using the address for obtaining credit. He probably isn't but worth keeping an eye out.

AdrianC

bod1467 wrote: »

But not at that address.

Well, yes, he is. His wife lives there, after all.