Where can i get a payable order?

debt4life

I am entited to a 50% discount on my car tax but they want me to send a cheque or payable order. I haven't had a cheque book this century and the only information i can find on payable orders is that they are used by the tax office to send refunds. Does anyone know where i can buy one to make this payment?

elsien

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/postal-orders

debt4life

That is a postal order. I need a payable order.

eskbanker

debt4life wrote: »

the only information i can find on payable orders is that they are used by the tax office to send refunds. Does anyone know where i can buy one to make this payment?

Likewise, all I can see is references to them as essentially being government-issued cheques, plus the DVLA page you refer to.

There's certainly no easily-found reference to them being something you can readily buy or even obtain, but perhaps it's an alternative term for banker's draft/cheque? Whatever they are, the only place I'd have thought you'd source one is your bank, and if you're going to contact them then you might as well just ask for a cheque book....

boo_star

eskbanker wrote: »

Likewise, all I can see is references to them as essentially being government-issued cheques, plus the DVLA page you refer to.

There's certainly no easily-found reference to them being something you can readily buy or even obtain, but perhaps it's an alternative term for banker's draft/cheque? Whatever they are, the only place I'd have thought you'd source one is your bank, and if you're going to contact them then you might as well just ask for a cheque book....

Agreed, they appear to be government backed cheques.

And also agree that you could just get a chequebook...

Ben8282

I think that use of the term 'payable order' was just bad wording on their part and they actually mean a postal order payable to them.

boo_star

Ben8282 wrote: »

I think that use of the term 'payable order' was just bad wording on their part and they actually mean a postal order payable to them.

A bit weird for an official government website to not only use the wrong wording but also use terminology that does refer to an actual thing.

Can't see how a member of the general public would get a "payable order" made out to "DVLA Swansea" though so you're probably right.

PRAISETHESUN

As above, it's probably easiest to order a chequebook. It's usually free of charge and takes a week or so to arrive. You can always shred it afterwards if you are concerned about opening yourself up to potential fraudulent use of them.

debt4life

Thanks everyone. I went to my bank today and they have never heard of a payable order. So i went to a post office and they said it is the same as a postal order. But they want me to pay £12.50 on top of the £130. It seems ridiculous to have to pay to get a discount i am entitled to. I don't want a cheque book as nobody uses cheques now. I phoned the DVLA and told them i will deduct the £12.50 from the £130 but they said that is unacceptable. After talking to three different people at the DVLA we reached a settlement. I will pay the full amount of £260 online and they will refund me £130 when they receive the necessary documents.

PRAISETHESUN

debt4life wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I went to my bank today and they have never heard of a payable order. So i went to a post office and they said it is the same as a postal order. But they want me to pay £12.50 on top of the £130. It seems ridiculous to have to pay to get a discount i am entitled to. I don't want a cheque book as nobody uses cheques now. I phoned the DVLA and told them i will deduct the £12.50 from the £130 but they said that is unacceptable. After talking to three different people at the DVLA we reached a settlement. I will pay the full amount of £260 online and they will refund me £130 when they receive the necessary documents.

Just make sure you've got that arrangement well documented as you'll probably have to talk to several more people to get them to honour your refund!

eskbanker

debt4life wrote: »

It seems ridiculous to have to pay to get a discount i am entitled to. I don't want a cheque book as nobody uses cheques now. I phoned the DVLA and told them i will deduct the £12.50 from the £130 but they said that is unacceptable.

Not sure why you're making this so difficult for yourself!

The obvious answer is to get a cheque book and use it, at no extra cost.

Of course cheque use is declining but so what? It's an easy and cheap way of securing your discount so why are you so desperate to find harder and/or more expensive ways to achieve this?