A moral dilemma?

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Now, a friend of mine recently renewed the road tax for his car online at £150.

Last Friday he received his new tax disc through the post.

Today he received another tax disc through the post for the same vehicle with a different serial number on it.

Now, this friend is going to get on the phone to his bank tomorrow to make sure he hasn't been charged twice.

Assuming he hasn't been charged twice, would it be morally right for my friend to cash-in the spare tax disc?

It should be noted that this very close friend of mine does not see eye to eye with the DVLA and is in fact in the process of being sued by them for failure to make a SORN declaration. Thinking

queen of string · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Karma :

Personally, I am the sort of person who never, ever gets away with anything so I'd just have to send it back with a note.

Iwould however be very very tempted to just send it back for refund, but then you'd have to sorn the bike, or they would and it would just get complex, eventually revealing your (his/her) attempted fraud.

I'll send you my "furthest travelled for a bcf meet " mars bar if it'lll make you (them) feel better.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Ah, but remember, the ace in hand is a genuine, DVLA issued tax disc on the car.

The serial numbers are different so the famous DVLA computer should know that there is still a tax disc in existance for this vehicle even if my friend cashes in the other one.

Maybe not so much fraud as unsolicited goods. With unsolicited goods, you have to return them if they are asked for within a certain time. You do not legally have to go out of your way to alert the sender to the fact you have them. So, if they ask for the money back, you have to return it.

TOM M · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Karma :

Its the dvla, they constantly screw up, lose things etc. Id do it Thumbs Up

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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Where's the dilemma?

Wink

It is basically ripping off 'the country', but then pretty much everyone will try and make (others sorts of) tax work better for them if they can.

Personally, for someone that uses the roads very little relative to many, yet pays tax on 5/6 vehicles, I wouldn't have a problem with it at all.

Gpz 900R · Nova Slayer Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Karma :

It should be noted that this very close friend of mine does not see eye to eye with the DVLA and is in fact in the process of being sued by them for failure to make a SORN declaration. Thinking

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As you mentioned the above i would keep hold of it, then claim i had SORNed the other vehicle and use this as evidence of their incompetence and computer/ user errors

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

It has been suggested that a good tack would be to cash in both discs, declare SORN then immediately buy a new one at the post office.

This should cause enough confusion to make an efficient 'smokescreen'.

EDIT: Found this. Interesting.
https://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/unsolicited/index.html

techierob · Traffic Copper Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Karma :

there's nothing wrong with it if you get away with it. It's not shafting them; it's pre-emptive revenge

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

To be honest I suspect they would regard cashing it in as declaring SORN, so would then do him if seen on the road.

And to cover up their own efforts, probably regard it as fraud.

All the best

Keith
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

He paid for a tax disk. He has cashed a tax disk in. No valid tax disk.

All the best

Keith
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fenton · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 May 2006 Karma :

Hes getting sued for not declaring the vehicle SORN ? what are the penalties. Shocked

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

He doesn't care, he's making a principled stand against 'the system'

In theory up to a £2000 fine but no judge is going to apply that under the circumstances.

Ant · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Karma :

he could try cashing them both in (not at the same time obviousley) and then re-tax his car to stop it been declared SORN
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Finglonga · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Karma :

Squiffy_The_Wombat · Brolly Dolly Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Karma :

OR you could just put both in the window to look cool, a bit like tossers with private plates (no offence to anyone with one lol)
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froggeh · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Karma :

You cash in its almost certainly fraud.
And you have just posted pics etc on a public forum.

I would inform them of the mistake. It just isn't worth the risk.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Retro-Man · Traffic Copper Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Karma :

I second the idea of using it in court to provide evidence of the inability to maintain proper records and as such the sorn declaration your friend sent them must have been mislaid by them due to their same inability

Even better send them photocopy's and a letter informing them of your friends intent to use this in court against them mentioning that as evidence your friend is entitled to retain the disc and watch how quickly they drop the case.

Retro
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