SORN notice cock up?

steveh · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Aug 2004 Karma :

ok, from last year i registered my 50 off road a month before the tax ran out, i did not atatch the disk as i wasnt really bothered about the few pennys id get back, about 40 days ago i got a notice saying i have to pay 40 odd quid and send all my details off, if not appear in court?

has anyone else had anything like this? i shall be writing a letter and sending it off monday.

Oh and i have NO means to pay this fine atal if i could i would..

any help greatfull.

Steve.

:edit: 40
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Chriss · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 May 2005 Karma :

No means to pay £4? How can you not have £4?!
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TheShaggyDA: I've got 3 or 4 pairs that predate my wife, so at least 11.5 years old.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Phone them up and be all angry about it. Insist that you have sent the form to them and ask what they think they are playing at.

The DVLA are so disorganised they will assume it is their own fault (usually is) ask you to send in another copy and cancel the fine. That is what many of my friends did anyway.

What I did was throw the letter in the bin. They sent another one a bit later doubling the fine. I threw this in the bin too. 2 years later I have heard nothing more. (I have done this twice with two different bikes). Thing is I WANT them to take me to court so I can mouth off about what a waste of time the whole SORN system is on public record. Their not taking me to court seems to confirm that the whole thing is a cynical way of making money out of forgetful but law-abiding people. They send out a load of letters and watch the cheques come rolling in.

I will repeat my question which I have asked may times over the last two years. Has anyone heard of someone who has actually been taken to court for not declaring SORN?... ANYONE?
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ZaphodBeeble · World Chat Champion Joined: 10 Feb 2004 Karma :

I don't think I've ever done it, and never had any trouble for not doing it. I've got an old 1976 Mini that's been parked in my friend's garage (awaiting restoration :S ) for about 6 years. I've never declared that off road and I've never had any bother. It's registered in my name too.
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jay12329 · Dr. Evil Joined: 02 May 2003 Karma :

You ahve to declare SORN every year. If it has been 12 months since you last did it you will be fined for having no tax.
HTH
J

stivh · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 19 May 2005 Karma :

I have had four bikes this year declared sorn due to rebuilds and second hand buys all relevent forms sent etc, first one I had to send them the reminder with a stroppy letter as to where my sorn doc had gone? When it arrived it was dated incorrectly so that when I got the bike taxed three weeks later I had to have the tax dated a further week later for it to be technically legal. Boy! was the queue in the P.O pissed off with me after twenty minutes of dithering by the counter staff.

Second one has never been returned . Third one arrived okay and the fourth is exactly as the second.

Three months down the line and ain't chasing them again.
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Jamie_ducati · Scooby Slapper Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Karma :

gowenwilliams · Derestricted Danger Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Karma :

The above is true.

I have a number of bikes which I have to declare SORN.
But some bikes I have which have been off the road for a long time do not need to be declared.

There is a specified date for this change in procedure but I can't remember it off hand. I expect it is on the DVLA website (actually I'm sure thats where I saw it).

In short, If its been off the road for ages - don't worry.
If its been taxed, SORN'ed or purchased in the last few years get it SORN'ed or risk the wrath of the DVLA. Which is worth avoiding simply due to the fact that they have the worst 'For applications please press 8' phone system I have ever heard - Avoid at all costs!

Owen