DVLA /HIGHWAY AGENCY FRAUD HELP?!

MrsJayne

Hey Everyone,

Need some genuine help, so we have a residential property which we let , & for the past two month or so, tenant has been receiving letters from the DVLA/HIGHWAY AGENCY regarding ULEZ fines & untaxed vehicles, when they don’t own any of the vehicles! 

There is clearly some sort of fraud going on here have sent back nearly 30 ULEZ fines but they are still coming & coming, DVLA have been no help either!

Have spoken & confirmed with the tenants none of the vehicles belong to them, they are bit shaken up as they opened one of the letters & it's been referred to the bailiffs!

How can I stop this & prevent this from happening again?

any help would be highly appreciated!

The_Unready

Who are the letters addressed to?

Section62

MrsJayne said:

Hey Everyone,

Need some genuine help, so we have a residential property which we let , & for the past two month or so, tenant has been receiving letters from the DVLA/HIGHWAY AGENCY regarding ULEZ fines & untaxed vehicles, when they don’t own any of the vehicles! 

There is clearly some sort of fraud going on here have sent back nearly 30 ULEZ fines but they are still coming & coming, DVLA have been no help either!

Have spoken & confirmed with the tenants none of the vehicles belong to them, they are bit shaken up as they opened one of the letters & it's been referred to the bailiffs!

How can I stop this & prevent this from happening again?

any help would be highly appreciated!

The ULEZ is operated by Transport for London.

With 30'ish penalties and no idea who the vehicle belongs to, I would be in touch with TfL to let them know the vehicle involved does not belong to anyone at that address.

They have an ANPR equipped camera enforcement network so would be able to find the locations where the vehicle is frequently being driven, and AIUI from time to time undertake joint enforcement action with the police so that vehicles on their hot list are stopped for a polite chat and a check of the driver's paperwork.

If the tax is being paid and the MOT status is OK, then DVLA won't go out of their way to do anything about a vehicle registered to the wrong address. Unless "vehicles" indicates a number which is related to some industrial-scale lawbreaking.

user1977

You can't prevent it happening. Your tenants (if they want to do anything about it) just need to return the letters to sender. If bailliffs turn up at the door, they can be told they've got an incorrect address. They'll be used to it. You don't need to get involved.

madteapot

You haven't mentioned crucial fact, who are these letters addressed to? 

If they are addressed to some random names or previous tenant etc. there is nothing for you to do. The current tenant can pop them in the post-box with 'not at the address' on it. Or if they choose they can simply chuck them in the bin. If the bailiffs turn-up the tenants don't have to let them in. They can however choose to show copy of their tenancy agreement and/or id proof through window to prove they are not the people bailiff are looking for and that no such person lives there. That could be the end of conversation and nothing more.

If however the letters are addressed to tenants but they don't own such vehicle(s) then there is possibility that they have been victim of identity theft. Even in this situation you don't have to do anything as that is not your problem, you can obviously help guide them on what to do. They should report this to police in person or on non-emergency number. Not sure if they will do anything but they might put a note against registration number. Also not sure if there is anything action-fraud can help if this is just a tip of the iceberg and there is more to the identity theft but worth discussing with them. At the end here is a gov.uk link showing what to do if you received demands for vehicles you never owned or no longer own. 

Alderbank

madteapot said:

You haven't mentioned crucial fact, who are these letters addressed to? 

Also quite important, OP hasn't said why it is FRAUD.

MrsJayne

The_Unready said:

Who are the letters addressed to?

I have taken a look at the letters & there literally random names put together!

MrsJayne

Alderbank said:

madteapot said:

You haven't mentioned crucial fact, who are these letters addressed to? 

Also quite important, OP hasn't said why it is FRAUD.

They don't live at the address never have done, so clearly some type of fraud 

london21

Return letters to sender.

Maybe contact the relevant companies.

Likely someone not currently living at the address using the address, do you rent the property to multiple people could it be one of the previous tenant allows other people to use the address. 

[Deleted User]

With the high price of fuel maybe you could turn this into an opportunity and burn them for warmth.

HampshireH

How is this a landlord issue? Surely this is for your tenants to resolve by reporting it. I'm surprised they have gone to their landlord about DVLA and personal vehicle fines.

It's very good you wanting to help though