Worth Arguing with the DVLA?

[Scotch Bonnet]

I sold the CG back in september, sent off the V5 and so on, and now I've been hit with a letter doing me for Failure to Notify.

A couple of weeks ago, they sent a letter advising that the purchaser was chasing up the V5, I'd been half-expecting it as I never recieved the 'you are no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle' letter. However, as the only part of the letter I really noticed was the 'if we don't hear from you within two weeks it will be transferred to the new keeper', after not being able to get through to them a couple of times, I just left it be.

So, given that I don't have the buyer's address anymore (the only copy I had was on the V5), and I didn't send it recorded (consider that a lesson learnt), is there any point trying to dispute it?

Finally, if i do pay the fine, a) does that have any implications in terms of driving offences/criminal records, etc, and b), as the letter refers to 'an out of court settlement' can I stick a cover letter in with it saying that i'm paying Without Prejudice?
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Hmmmm..... is it supposed to do that?
2001 CB500

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Yes it is worth arguing, and you don't need to send it recorded delivery, you can get proof of postage on a normal first class stamp at the time of posting, get that next time.
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My Flickr

[NSR Mick]

I've recently had the same issue.

My thread. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=167684
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[The Shaggy D.A.]

The more people roll over and pay the "fine", the more they'll keep just blindly sending out the letters. Don't be another source of income for them.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Mudskipper]

^^What he said.

I reckon DVLA only actually process around 50% of the V5's sent to them.

Do get proof of postage for ANYTHING you send to those inbred spazfucks.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Rowey]

Useless money grabbing scum.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[MarJay]

Sickpup posted some relevant case law that proves once you've posted a letter it becomes the responsibility of the recipient. I can't remember it offhand. I saved the thread as a favourite but on my home PC. I'll try to remember to post it later.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[MarJay]

[Walloper]

My sweet scented arse.

Why do people bother with recorded delivery and etc. then?

I think it would be half farted to stand up in court and expect a jury of your peers to believe that since, 'you say you popped it in the post box' then it was in fact 'posted'.

It should be common sense to ask the wumin behind the glass for some kind of proof of postage.

I do not doubt that once you comply with the preliminary matter of correct address, postage fees and have the PO accept responsibility for delivery then you have done as much as necessary for your own part.

I can see the court rooms with queues of people saying, "I promise you I posted it M'lud....."

Do not try to reason with DVLA.
They are Welsh. Therefore don't listen to reason.
Most are inbred
The rest are Spazfucks (As previously stated)

Even pleading with the idiots is hopeless.
Since they are dumb cnuts they can only go by what it says in the manual.

It says you mae a booboo so you have to cough up.
I tstates clearly that you MUST inform them if you are no longer the KEEPER of the vehicle.
Important point of law. You do not need to own the vehicle to be the Keeper so all tickets for the vehicle will come to you.
Smacked wrist.
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[Routy]

[moonym20]

DVLA are as thick as shit.

end of
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A scientist crossed a skunk with an owl. He's got a bird that smells but doesn't give a hoot

[reckless_b]

Sorry to have to disagree with some of you here, but there is at least one decent guy at dvla, had a problem with my velosolex a few weeks ago, just took it for its first test (mot) and found that the frame number did not match the log book. All sorted without any cost or hassel and the log book updated with the correct frame number.
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40 years on the road on and sometimes off bikes with a very recent OFF

[owdamer]

[Walloper]

[sickpup]

[AilleantSian]

I have had the reverse issue with the DVLA, brought a car last year, the V5 was sent to them by the garage, waited a few months and nothing came, so rang them, they said n change of ownership has been egistered and its still registered with the garage. they advised to send in the green slip I got when I brought it, and it needed to be original.

Sent that in with record of postage, and still nothing,they say they havent recieved it, so they want me to now pay them for the V5 as if i lost it and have to provide proof the car is mine to change ownership.

Not going to send them my only receipt for the car.!!

Im now getting a new car and going to get rid of my now car to a garage.

at least since the DVLA didnt do there job, if I did get 'gotten' by a speed camera in the last 12 months its not going to have anywhere to go

[Scotch Bonnet]

Thanks for the advice in here and gsxrmick's thread, the letter I've received is identical to his (barring names, etc).

I think the most interesting points raised are Kickstart's about "demanding money with menaces" and/or perverting the course of justice.

The letter itself basically seems to be saying:

a) We suspect you of this offence.
b) You have not been charged with it, you have not been fined for it.
c) Give us £35 (£55 if you don't do it quickly enough), and we'll forget the whole thing.

Which is a fucking appaling way for a government agency to behave. Even speed cameras, with their assumption of guilt and exclusion from rights to silence aren't on this level, because at least (as far as i'm aware) there's laws to cover the process, as dismal as those laws may be.

The letter's also been framed to resemble an NIP when it's nothing of the sort.

I can only imagine that's it's impossible to prove to the satisfaction of a court that the V5 (or in Kickstart's case, SORN) wasn't sent. If that is the case, they can't prosecute, leaving them to resort to petty intimidation.
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Hmmmm..... is it supposed to do that?
2001 CB500

[NSR Mick]

I just sent the letter back with a statement declaring that to the best of my knowledge the V5 was posted to the DVLA in Swansea shortly after the sale of the vehicle.

Also the DVLA claim I failed to inform them but then dont state a time limit for doing so. (not that I've seen anyway)
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!