The new car tax scheme

Royn86

Hi all,

My girlfriend recently got clamped for no car tax. She usually pays annually obviously with the new tax system you no longer have that constant reminder in your window so she forgot. She moved 12 months prior updated he licence etc. But the dvla sent the reminder to her old address.

Anyway she got clamped in April time, which she was annoyed about we reluctantly paid to have clamp removed and paid the tax and outstanding tax. This is where it gets messy. We then got a letter a few weeks later saying we owed tax. We couldn't find the proof of payment so we paid again. Then today she recieved a letter saying she has to pay 355 immediately. Or they will basically send out the bailiffs. She contacted the people who sent the letter who said they have sent correspondence to her old address and hence the bailiff letter. I find it funny they know where to send the clampers and bailiffs but they don't know where to send the correspondence? Seems like a bit of a scam to me and trying to make all the money they can. Anyone else had this issue?

BeenThroughItAll

Can't help with the bailiff stuff, but might I suggest purchasing a calendar, and paying more attention to personal admin in future.

Did she update the address on her V5? Did she receive the new V5 with updated address?

worried_jim

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Can't help with the bailiff stuff, but might I suggest purchasing a calendar, and paying more attention to personal admin in future.

Did she update the address on her V5? Did she receive the new V5 with updated address?

Always set mine up in outlook calendar to start giving me reminders two weeks before it's due. Heard too many horror stories like the OP's so it's definitely belt and braces time.

marlot

Royn86 wrote: »

...She moved 12 months prior updated he licence etc....

DVLA operate two registers - vehicles and drivers.

Updating the address on the licence is fine, but irrelevant to the vehicle register. She needs also to update the address on the V5. All post relating to the vehicle goes to the adress on the vehicle register!

DragonQ

I never got clamped but went 4 months without paying VED because I'd moved and forgotten to send off my V5C with a change of address. It'd be nice if they sent a reminder via email a la TV licensing rather than by post! Had to pay an annoying fine in the end.

AdrianC

It's nearly two years since the last bits of round colourful paper were issued... Time to get used to it, folks.

BTW, failing to update the Registered Keeper's address is still up to a £1,000 fine, same as it was before.

bigjl

I got an Email when RFL is due?

I thought everybody got an Email.

I pay on monthly Direct Debit.

AdrianC

bigjl wrote: »

I got an Email when RFL is due?

I thought everybody got an Email.

I pay on monthly Direct Debit.

I've never had an email, but then I don't pay by DD.

Rain_Shadow

AdrianC wrote: »

I've never had an email, but then I don't pay by DD.

Ditto and ditto.


I just get the paper reminder.

Bigphil1474

I pay by DD and also got an e-mail. And with DD it just keeps rolling on so you never forget. Not really MSE as it costs more compared to paying in full, but if it avoids a fine, could be cheaper in the long run. Op, as marlot says, it's probably the vehicle's V5 that's not been updated. They can't charge the same keeper for the same road tax twice - the only time RT is paid twice is if there's a change of owner, and it's only in that month unless you time it right.

AdrianC

Bigphil1474 wrote: »

Not really MSE as it costs more compared to paying in full

You can pay once, annually, by DD and get the same rate as paying once, annually, by any other means.