DVLA Are Taking Me For A Ride

In life it seems very much like you have to deal with idiot after idiot after idiot.

So the latest gripe with two, one being the DVLA and the second being their hounds AKA Philips Collection Services LTD.

Here is where the story starts, it was around the 7th Of November 2006. My wife and I had gone over Manchester with another lady called Diane. On our return we’d come over the Pennines and past the Stocksbridge bypas, we wasn’t too far from Rotherham or Sheffield but as you do, we got stuck in some standing traffic near a round-a-bout, now this road is a good two or three miles in clear sight (ie before the first bend takes the road behind us out of view), anyway this white van driver comes ploughing down at national speed limit, I could see him in my rear view mirror, I knew he wouldn’t be able to stop, I then saw the tyres smoking as he stepped on his breaks, This all happened within seconds and I shouted out ‘Hold on tight’. The van driver said he didn’t see us, but how he didn’t I have no bloody idea, that road is long in sight and it was a clear day, perhaps he should of gone to spec-savers.

Anyway that’s pretty much the story, although of course there is more to it.

I knew the car would be a write off, but had to wait for the insurance company to confirm, so in the meantime I made my Renault Laguna SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice) I left the vehicle off road and awaited my insurance companies instructions.

My insurance company then confirmed the vehicle was a write off which was a sad day for me, I’d had this car for years it hadn’t let me down once and was always good with fuel. They then asked for my log book also known as V5C I believe and they would deal with DVLA, so I sent them what they required, and also sent a covering letter to the DVLA to inform them the vehicle was a write off and would no longer be in my name or possession. It was so long ago, but I’m sure I called the DVLA to inform them of the vehicle first and they advised me to send this covering letter as I didn’t have the log book any longer.

Time went on and then I started to receive letters telling me they had issued an £80 penalty against me for failing to renew my car tax. So I tried to call the number provided and got the automated response something like “We’re experiencing high call columns at present please call back later” or something to that affect. I decided to stop calling after a while as I wasn’t going to keep wasting my time and money calling them to correct their mistake.

I then received a letter from an unprofessional company called Philips Collection Services LTD, I called them hoping for a more human response and instead I got some woman who acted and responded like she should be working at the bottom of a fast food chain. (No offence meant to people working those jobs, and although stereotypical, most often those in that type of job tend to lack people skills – Not all the time though I know).

She wouldn’t deal with me till I gave her my phone number, I knew they’d hound me if they had it but hey I’m the innocent guy here and hoping to sort out someone’s incompetence, but she was rude, there was no compassion to the actual situation and said there is no proof I was right and therefore I’m wrong, so she called me a lier and because of the situation technically a thief.

The call ended with me angry and telling her to ‘Go Screw Herself’. Yes I know I shouldn’t have but it was like banging my head against a brick wall, very mind numbing after a while.

I’m now receiving harassment calls from this company, and stupid text message to my home phone number, I think they should know that harassment is a serious matter, and I may contemplate legal action.

So I’ve now written to the DVLA and to Philips ‘unprofessional and rude’ Collection Services LTD, here is my letter:

Timothy Bowers
## ######## ###
##########
Doncaster
#### ###

12th May 2008

Philips Reference: *#######*
DVLA Reference: *########*

Re: *Renault Laguna RT – ######*

Philips/DVLA

I’m writing the same letter to both Philips Collection Services LTD & DVLA, to save my time which you both apparently like wasting.

The above mentioned Car was involved in a road traffic accident (RTA), on the 7th November 2006 where a van driver hit the rear end of the vehicle whilst in standing traffic coming up to a roundabout, it was believed the insurance company would write the vehicle off and as such a SORN notice was made on-line with the DVLA, however until my insurance company had confirmed these details I choose to keep hold of the log book. After the insurance company had assessed the damage they did in fact confirm the vehicle was to be written off.

My insurance company then requested my log book, which I sent them and in addition to this I also forwarded a letter to the DVLA informing that my vehicle would no longer be on the road or in my ownership.

I was away from my home from the 15th December 2007 until the 26th February 2008 I was then to leave the country on the 2nd March 2008 for a 2 week honeymoon. Between my return dates I obviously read my mail and noticed a letter from the DVLA informing me of this £80 fine, because the SORN had run out and the DVLA wanted to charge me for a late licensing penalty. I tried calling the number provided and got the message “We’re experiencing high call volumes at the moment, please try again later”, and then the automated response hung up on me.

So here are the issues, you were informed that the vehicle was written off and would no longer be in my ownership (You can either claim incompetence or blame the Royal Mail I don’t care) I believe back then I may of even called the DVLA before sending the letter to inform you and was in fact told to send that covering letter. When I received your penalty notice I tried calling your number numerous times but after a while of getting the same response mentioned above and then hung up on I decided to stop wasting my time and my money.

I’ve now been contacted by Philips Collection Services Ltd, who are rude, arrogant, unhelpful and show no compassion when this is quite clearly not my fault. The young lady on the phone had poor telephone manners and wound me to the point that I lost my temper. She refused to deal with me until she had my personal phone number (I initiated the call to sort this problem out), which will no doubt now be used to harass me for these funds I don’t owe.

In all honesty I don’t expect too much from the DVLA after all your pretty much the government, you fail the British public and Philips Collection Services Ltd compliment your outfit in an unprofessional way.

I’m now having to spend more time and more money sorting this problem out, I’m not entirely sure why I even have to write yet another letter, this is after all 2008 most companies in this era have something referred to as E-mail or at least FAX, some companies are even happy just dealing with matters like this over the phone.

I’d appreciate it if this matter could now be dealt with correctly as you can I have no intention of paying a penalty which has been applied falsely. I would also appreciate my costs being recovered for:-

Paper
Stamps
Envelopes
Phone charges
Time

The sum of £80 + Damages would cover the costs I’ve incurred and the time I’ve been force to waste by you, along with the rudeness from the young lady that would perhaps be more suited to working in a fast food chain.

Kindest Regards
Timothy Bowers

EDIT: September 2008 – Just to add, if you read my later blogs you will find that the DVLA admitted fault and compensated me with a cheque for the grand total of £10 . I noticed today that a search for my name revealed this article on the front page of Google, so I thought I would make this addition to show that everything is now sorted.