Capital resolve/DVLA

Lorna2508

A debt collection agency started contacting me on 8th July saying I owed them money.
I just ignored them as I thought it was a scam. Two weeks later when I went to get into my car it was clamped.
I hadn't paid my £30 road tax which was due 1st March. I had totally forgotten and hadn't had any reminder letters.
When I rang the DVLA they said the address I had on file was different. It was my old address I'd moved from 4 years earlier.
I am 90% sure Ive had reminder letter from them in the past to renew tax. I wouldn't have dug my vin number or whatever it's called out for the last 3yrs!
Anyway, I rang DVLA to ask if I owed the debt collectors money. They said as far as they were concerned my debts were now paid and just ignore them and they will go away. 
They haven't.  I spoke to them today and they said I owe them £80 and will rise if I don't pay.
They said the money I paid was to release the clamp and for my tax.
I also stupidly gave them my new address.
Where do I stand? Should I pay? Should I ignore?
I just can't believe a £30 debt would escalate so much in 4 mth. Im 90% sure I've had reminders to my address in the past, and also find it a bit of a coincidence they just randomly happened to drive down my street and see my car was untaxed (if they thought I lived elsewhere).

Le_Kirk

What name and address is on your V5C?  Why would you not want the DVLA to have your correct address.  There are real fines for not changing your details on your V5C.

Grey_Critic

The answer is TEN PERCENT - You said you were only 90% certain and the 10& says you are wrong. As for driving down your street they possibly picked you up with ANPR - they do drive up and down streets looking

Rover_Driver

The OP may have paid the clamp release fee and the outstanding licence fee. There may also be the £80 DVLA Late Licensing Penalty (s.7A & 7B, Vehicles Excise & Registration Act 1994) outstanding, which is what the debt collectors are dealing with.