DVLA, why?

[stevieb15]

The subject of non functioning public services is always guaranteed to make my blood pressure rise but today it's hit new heights because two of our money grabbing non performing "services" are involved, DVLA and our old friends The Post Office.
I am not totally blameless in this in so far as I failed to realise something hadn't happened but...
On 19th Feb I retaxed my car on line, on 20th Feb DVLA took the money from my account and today I realised the disc hadn't arrived, so I phoned DVLA who told me, "not our fault the disc's been sent, on Monday we'll send out another which will be with you in 5 working days", but, "if you use the car you are given 5 days grace by the police if not displaying a current disc, after that they might prosecute"
So I queried the 5 days grace as I thought it was 14, "no,it's now 5"
"why don't you send it by courier or special delivery so I can get it quicker so I can use my car for business next week?"
"we use The Post Office first class mail"
"why wait until Monday why don't you send it today?"
"the post is collected at 12,anyway it's not our fault it's the Post Office!"
"can I speak to a supervisor?"
"you could always collect it from your local DVLA office"
"where's that"
"Manchester"
"that's 35 miles away and anyway,after today I could get in trouble for using the car in the road"
"blame the Post Office, shall I post a replacement disc on Monday"
"yes please"
So the end of it is, I did everything on time, they've had my money, early, they haven't fulfilled their end of the deal, and who ends up suffering, and why the hell does the post get collected at 12 midday!!??

 

[manalishi]

Most people blame HMG for a lack of "joined-up thinking," but here, it's you. Not just your fault, but the idea...

"why don't you send it by courier or special delivery so I can get it quicker so I can use my car for business next week?"

...The extra cost of sending so many millions of tax disks by special delivery or courier is to be met by... who exactly?

As it's a vehicle you have to use for business, you really need to use a scheduler/reminder program. Or just a Mk 1 red marker pen on your wall planner.

Sorry. No sympathy here.

Next!

 

[NormanC]

Blame the Post Office - they're a total disaster!!

If you send something recorded delivery they might get a signature when it's delivered, but might not!! If you enquire what has happened to it you are told "We don't know. We may know something if someone signs for it, somewhere, at sometime. Until then we have no idea".

If we have to use post for anything we have to use Special Delivery at a minimum of £4.95 per letter.

My daughter gets a lot of post, the vast majority of which she knows is coming. We've calculated that just over 5% of her post never arrives!!

As far as my local post is concerned, it was way better when they were on strike!! Everything delivered by 9:00am instead of what turned out to be partial deliveries around lunchtime!!

As far as the DVLA go, I've had to have a number of dealings with them in the last month (another story!). Everyone at my local office was polite, efficient and effective. Full marks to them!

 

[stevieb15]

Most people blame HMG for a lack of "joined-up thinking," but here, it's you. Not just your fault, but the idea...



...The extra cost of sending so many millions of tax disks by special delivery or courier is to be met by... who exactly?

As it's a vehicle you have to use for business, you really need to use a scheduler/reminder program. Or just a Mk 1 red marker pen on your wall planner.

Sorry. No sympathy here.

Next!

But I've done my bit, paid for the service in advance , it's DLVA and Post Office who have failed not me!
My only fault is to rely upon people who wouldn't get a job parking cars in my business to do their bit.
If we screw up we sort it out, we certainly don't tell the customer "tough"
Do you get paid out of the public purse?

 

[manalishi]

But I've done my bit

No you didn't. You paid up but failed to notice that the tax disk hadn't arrived until it was too late. Have you really not seen the many press stories about missing and lost post? If you have seen them, and this car is a business critical asset, you've only yourself to blame and again: RED MARKER PEN!

Do you get paid out of the public purse?

No. And I'm still confuddled as to why you think daft public spending is a solution!

(Apologies for just not seeing why your rant deserves sympathy. I'm sure you're a nice bloke and all that but you are just wrong)

 

[grober]

Best to pick up the licence directly at a Post Office counter then no chance of it getting lost in transit.

 

[Chrishazle]

+1 to Grober's reply - I make a point of using our local village post office as we know from the last village we lived in that it's "use it or loose it". Also cheaper - those DVLA rascals charge about £2.50 for paying online by credit card!

 

[st13phil]

While I see manalishi's point, I think that stevieb15's blood pressure is raised by the double-standards that are being applied. Something along the lines of:

The state chooses to maintain that 1st-class post is an infallible delivery mechanism when it suits them (e.g. the service of NIP's for motoring infractions), but says "tough, we don't guarantee delivery" when it fails to provide a service you've paid for​

 

[kwakdonut]

Just for the record, there has never been a 14 day 'grace' period for tax discs. There is now a recently introduced 5 day period. Once your disc is out-of-date, it's out-of-date!!!

 

[JohnDeere8530]

I would not worry if I was you, after all you paid for the tax. If you end up booked for this, it will not go anywhere as a court would never prosecute for not displaying a disk, only for not owning one. Therefore it would get dropped before it got anywhere near a court.

However to save any inconvenience just stick the new one in directly you get it

 

[Jukka]

Stevie,

I'm with you - (in my opinion) you have done everything possible to tax the car. You even have bank records to prove it. Very frustrating I know.

Hope you get the new disc soon. Also, I'm guessing that you shouldn't have any problem with NPRS cameras as the DVLA computer will show you as taxed.

 

[Aoraki]

I would not worry if I was you, after all you paid for the tax. If you end up booked for this, it will not go anywhere as a court would never prosecute for not displaying a disk, only for not owning one. Therefore it would get dropped before it got anywhere near a court.

Are you really sure about this?? People do get fined for failing to display. I do remember something about traffic wardens being able to give tickets for that offence.

I'm guessing that you shouldn't have any problem with NPRS cameras as the DVLA computer will show you as taxed.

I would go with that, I sure you will be fine (hopefully not FINED)

 

[T7RY B]

If your car travels through a ANPR check then the computer will show it is taxed so they wo'nt stop you.
If a cop sees you have no disc in the screen then he may well stop you but when he does the check and see's that you have taxed the car on-line then he would not report it 'cos it's taxed and he knows it's in the "post"
Personally though I always tax my car physically at a post office or DVLA office( I live in Manchester about 2minutes from the tax office) so it is fortunately convenient for me. It just saves this kind of hassle. The voices on the other end of the 'phones at the Post Office or DVLA will always blame each other so keep the blood pressure down and do'nt do it on-line.

 

[wxmclk]

I tend to agree with some of the postings, particularly regarding ANPR. The paper tax disc really plays only a small part in things these days as ANPR confirms in seconds if a car is taxed or not, a random stop by police is confirmed via same route.
Appreciate failing to display is an offence, but how many are prosecuted once above checks confirm already as taxed?

 

[splitpin]

I have renewed online for the past two years both times the tax disc arrived
within 48 hours.

I allow for the shortcomings of the Post Office by applying 10 days before
my existing tax expires.

Splitpin

 

[davethemus]

why didn't you just drive the 35 miles and pick it up.
i'm with manalishi 100%.
there's no point in playing the blame game and feeling sorry for yourself.
mistakes happen, deal with it and move on.

 

[davidjpowell]

Always had good service when ordered online.

My brother has been to Swansea twice this week after realising his Drivers License still had his old address on it and being told in no uncertain terms by hire company that he needs to sort it. Had to drop it off and then pick it up two days later.

Something like 400 miles x 2. Whoops. He would have liked a courier service, and would have paid extra for it. oh well.

 

[st4]

Re the ANPR is the offence not "failure to display"....otherwise the state would scrap the discs and put it on a database for them to lose.

Whether the car is taxed or not with imbiciles like PC Shiny Buttons who do you for blowing your nose, you know the plot was lost. Shame, as in my experience the police I have dealt with I have dealt with have been fab, but the fact remains not all are.

 

[mbenz76]

I have taxed online a few times in the past and the disc has always arrived very quickly.

On another note, the V5 for my car which I collected Monday arrived in the post today

 

[Jukka]

Re the ANPR is the offence not "failure to display"....otherwise the state would scrap the discs and put it on a database for them to lose.

Whether the car is taxed or not with imbiciles like PC Shiny Buttons who do you for blowing your nose, you know the plot was lost. Shame, as in my experience the police I have dealt with I have dealt with have been fab, but the fact remains not all are.

True - there is an offence for 'failure to display' but an NPRS/ANPR camera won't pick that up. It only checks number plates against the database. As long as you are not parked up and spotted without a disc you should be ok.