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Any appetite for fighting the DVLA?

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Orcade-Ian:
Sorry folks,
My fault with the opening comment having just taxed the bike and a car - that was just a throw-away statement and realise that disparity will probably never change - my apologies!
My gripe is not about the differences between vehicles but the almost fraudulent way they collect 2 months tax on the same vehicle at change of ownership.  If they calculated VED on a daily basis like other organisations can, then the most you might lose is 1 day each - fairer.
The other part of my annoyance is declaring Sorn which applies immediately if there are refunds but at the end of the month where no refund is applicable.

As far as a petition goes, perhaps it might do no good but not having a petition will CERTAINLY do no good either!

Ian

cooleronthecoast:
I know what you mean Ian.   I sold a car to my son at the end of the calender month, intentionally so neither of us lost any money (i.e. a months tax) but the b*****ds said I hadn't informed them I'd sold it prior to the end of the month (which I definitely had) and charged me anyway for the following month.  With hindsight I should've cancelled the direct debit (I paid monthly for that car) but I thought it would end automatically when I sold the vehicle.

Kelly E:
I just read this and I feel sorry for you guys. I'm not sure what sorn is or how your tax system works but it seems confusing. We have a one time fee vintage license plate for vehicles 35 years and older in our state. My friend and I have ten bikes between us and all but two are old enough to be on vintage plates. Without the vintage plate system there's no way we could have ten bikes to choose from when it's time to ride.
One thing is the same though. Battling the department of motor vehicles is a pain in the butt no matter where you live. 8)

MCTID:
My two pennyworth (for what it's worth).

Golden Rule number one: ALL Government Departments are crap ! If they had to run their Departments like a normal business, most would be out of business or bankrupt within months ! Fact.

Governments, Ministers and MP's are elected (supposedly) to represent their Constituents, but don't actually have any interest in mundane stuff like Vehicle Tax, Registrations and MOT's etc as they are too busy running the country (Government and the party of Government) or they are too busy telling the party in Government how to do their jobs (H.M. Opposition Party). We - the Voters therefore have no voice, no say and no chance !

Most Government Departments have little clue about running a business so their Systems and Forms are mostly 'not fit for purpose'. Designing a Form (online or paper) is an Art which few can manage well. When you are designing a Form that 66 Million Users can easily follow is nigh on impossible because in an audience of 66M, there will be many thousands who simply don't fit the model it was designed for. Sitting down face to face with a human to explain why your situation is unique and needs special attention is simply not allowed, so you have no chance of getting a fair hearing.

The concept of making the 'Customer' tell the truth, getting their problem resolved ASAP and if they tell lies they understand and accept they will be severely punished is alien to Civil Servants, so the onus is on the Department to ensure that everything is 100% rather than it being down to the 'Customer' to make an accurate - and legally enforceable declaration just isn't allowed. 

Most Civil Service Departments employ a large number of 'Agency' or 'Short Term Temps' as the Government wants us to believe that the Civil Service is not 'Top Heavy' with Staff (although it actually costs more in the long run, but these costs are hidden or come out of easily disguised 'other' funds) which takes the pressure off Government, Ministers and Heads of Sheds in the Civil Service. As such workers may not be with the Department next week or next month, their training is minimal, and as I have already pointed out, where the Systems and Forms are unworkable or so cumbersome or difficult to follow, even their own personnel can't understand or apply any consistency when out of the ordinary situations crop up.

I have spent many years as an Accredited Lead Auditor and have audited many leading Companies in many different fields. I have also undertaken many Accident and Incident Investigations (to find out exactly what went wrong and to put suitable controls in place to prevent it happening again) and have been responsible for writing and developing Management Systems (including Forms and Monthly and Annual Reports), and over many years I have reached the conclusion that the Civil Service is inept, and 'Not fit for purpose' ! My simple solution - if I was reporting to the Transport Minister - would be to streamline the Systems and Forms so that 90%+ could use them online and for the other 10% where things are not so easy, have local or Regional Offices where the Customer can speak to a skilled and experienced Operator or make a face to face appointment, pay a reasonable Fee to talk through their situation and leave with the problems resolved satisfactorily and everyone would be much happier. The Fee would pay for the Offices and some Operators could work from home using Flexible Working arrangements which as this Pandemic has shown, is a thoroughly logical and desirable option in today's world.

Lastly, they only get away with such a crap service because we let them ! WE pay the wages of these people. I will happily write a 'round robin' letter for sohc Members to send to their MP.......I'll happily do it, but to have any effect, a lot of members will have to send it to their MP's. What do members think ?

Orcade-Ian:
Thanks for that very frank and thorough reply,
It is much more than I had hoped for - even though I knew there were like minded folk out there.  Most of us are members of other forums too and I have heard this rather unfair situation (and others) being discussed regularly.  Even today, Philward is having hassle regarding the intransigence of the 'computa says no' brigade.  A situation I have had before.

I would be very happy to send a letter to my MP and distribute it to as many as possible.  He acted successfully on my behalf a few years back over a DVLA registration document issue - no need to expand on that unless anyone is especially interested.

I think the Gov petition system has to reach 100,000 signatories (Hm, signaTORIES!)
before it would be looked at - surely we can achieve that?

Ian

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