Am i reposible if a Direct Debit is not taken

cybee24

My girlfriend has a Direct Debit set up with the DVLA, the payments were made without issue throughout the previous year. The DD is active but no payments have been taken for the last two months. She has been made aware of this through a Penalty for failure to Tax the vehicle notice with a fine attached. The DD has not failed due to insufficient funds and neither of the two reasons the DVLA  gave for a DD failing apply.  1) no MOT 2) no registered keeper. They have no answer as to why the DD has failed. they have stated that it is her responsibility to ensure the payments are made.
There is no problem with making up the shortfall in payments. 
But will she be made liable to pay the fine? The DVLA seems very reluctant to waive the charge.  
It is not the money, it's the principle. The agreed method of payment was set off with a proven history of payment and an error on their system has caused the problem. Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

colsten

How to complain if you’re unhappy with the service you get from DVLA:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency/about/complaints-procedure

MovingForwards

Did you double check the current MOT is showing on their site?

Thrugelmir

Did your girlfriend action the renewal of her road tax?  

MEM62

You are asking the wrong question. 

The question is "Am i responsible if my car tax is not paid on time" and the answer to that is yes - regardless of the reason.  

jimjames

DD is normally for 12 months. Did she need to renew it after the year? Could MOT have been expired at the renewal point with the extension from Covid? Worth checking her emails to see what they sent.

onlyfoolsandparking

No need to 'action' the renewals. Vehicle tax paid monthly by DD will automatically renew with written or email confirmation of what the amounts are and when the payments will be taken providing you as the keeper have the V5c and the vehicle is taxed and insured at time of renewal. You don't get sent V11 reminder if you pay by DD. 

Regarding the fine, follow DVLA complaints procedure as advised would be my first choice too  

datlex

Might be worth checking with the bank why the DD did not process.  

MalMonroe

onlyfoolsandparking said:

No need to 'action' the renewals. Vehicle tax paid monthly by DD will automatically renew with written or email confirmation of what the amounts are and when the payments will be taken providing you as the keeper have the V5c and the vehicle is taxed and insured at time of renewal. You don't get sent V11 reminder if you pay by DD. 

Regarding the fine, follow DVLA complaints procedure as advised would be my first choice too  

DD doesn't automatically renew if there isn't a valid MOT certificate for the vehicle or there's no registered keeper named. However, OP says in spite of everything being correct and in place, the DD was not automatically renewed.

I'd also make a complaint in this case. 

onlyfoolsandparking

MalMonroe said:

onlyfoolsandparking said:

No need to 'action' the renewals. Vehicle tax paid monthly by DD will automatically renew with written or email confirmation of what the amounts are and when the payments will be taken providing you as the keeper have the V5c and the vehicle is taxed and insured at time of renewal. You don't get sent V11 reminder if you pay by DD. 

Regarding the fine, follow DVLA complaints procedure as advised would be my first choice too  

DD doesn't automatically renew if there isn't a valid MOT certificate for the vehicle or there's no registered keeper named. However, OP says in spite of everything being correct and in place, the DD was not automatically renewed.

I'd also make a complaint in this case. 

Yes I know that, I made a typo when I put 'taxed and insured at time of renewal' should have said MOT and insured!! 

PRAISETHESUN

I agree that ultimately she is responsible for ensuring the payment is made on time, but if there is a DD set up then it moves some of the onus onto the processing bank to make sure it gets paid. If the DVLA refuse to waive the fine then I'd make a complaint to your bank under the DD guarantee. They should reimburse her for any loses if she can demonstrate that she was fined due to the late payment.