The Infamous SORN declaration!!?

Question

I have received an £80.00 'supplement' penalty for "failing to retax or SORN" my vehicle. This is despite sending back the SORN declaration to DVLA six weeks prior stating my vehicle is off the road. They say I should have contacted them after four weeks if I had'nt received an 'acknowledgement letter'. This 'acknowledgement letter'  declares that they have received your notification and everything is ok. 
Wait a minute!!!   I have done as they required! 
"Oh no" they say.  "We have'nt received it, therefore, it is assumed you did'nt send it. In any case, you should have have contacted us after four weeks".    "Is that so?"  says I.     "Yes" says she.  "There is a telephone number on the back of the form that advises you to contact us if you have'nt received the acknowlegement letter".

"Is that the form I sent back to you six weeks ago?" I dared ask.  
"Yes" she replied, "But you should have written the number down" 

"But I was'nt expecting it to get lost" says I.

"Does'nt matter" she said, "We did'nt receive it and the penalty is computer generated"

"Does the computer know how or why it was lost?, I asked.

"Don't know and it does'nt matter, we did'nt receive it therefore, the £80.00 'supplement' becomes payable!".

"Does Monty Python work in your department?"

A dialling tone followed.

Does anyone else also feel that NOW is a good time to emigrate to a free country?.

proud walker · Accepted Answer

Any excuse to penalise the law abiding citizen LOL

You should try reading some of their instruction leaflets, especially the one on driving licenses. Gobledegook LOL

? · Answer

I'm afraid it's a fair cop - the car was untaxed, declared SORN, but still on a public road outside your house. To comply with the law, untaxed vehicles must be declared SORN *and* kept on private property. You're probably looking at a nominal fine of around £80, as well as paying the tax backdated to when the previous disc expired, assuming you cough up immediately. It could be more than this, though, depending on circumstances. Hopefully they'll be lenient because it was a genuine mistake on your part, and the car wasn't driven anywhere during this time. As a bonus, if the car was reported to them by someone, there's a fair chance it's a curtain-twitching neighbour. Have you upset any of them lately?

champer · Answer

Ah, the lovely Civil Service . . .  They tried the same thing on me once, it wasn't a SORN notice but something else. However, knowing their reputation for losing things, I'd sent it recorded delivery and was able to prove it. It suddenly was "found" . . . .

I have visions of legions of clerks shredding half their workload so they can go home on time. There must be mountains of waste paper coming out of there daily.

I like the idea of saying you sent the cheque, as far as you were concerned it was settled and why didn't they ring you at the number on the back of the cheque when they didn't receive it?  Nice one, that should give someone pause for thought . . . .

Jesting apart, I ALWAYS keep copies of anything I send to Government Departments, annotated boldly with the date posted and with a "review & chase date".  And hard copies of anything done on line too.

Anonymous · Answer

Been there, dont that, the T shirt must have got lost in the post!

Does not help you at moment, but the answer is SORN on line and save the acknowledging email. Alternately, send the form by recorded delivery - costs about a quid including stamp - and keep the PO stamped receipt slip with your car docs.  If they deny receipt you go online to the PO tracking service and they will tell you when delivered and who signed for it.

Anonymous · Answer

Whenever I send something fairly important I get a free "Proof of Posting" at the Post Office. You just fill in the address on the form, hand it over with the letter, and they stamp the form and give it back to you and they put the letter in their bag. Saves the cost of recorded delivery.

If you sent it, then perhaps send them a polite letter making a categorical signed statement that you sent it, but I doubt it will help you.

A friend of mine was sent a fine and swore blind that he'd sent his SORN off weeks earlier, but a week or so later I was in his car and found the unsent envelope in the door pocket of his car...

desert camel · Answer

they tryed the same with me,the mugs....
i did the same as you,also didn't receive the confirmation..
after 3 letters back/forth they gave up...i payed bugger all,no fines,nowt...that was over 12months now...

they actually tryed the same 3 months ago[diff car]...but i had sent the docs ''signed for'',they tryed to say they never received it...after a little checking on line i rang back with the delivery date and even the persons name who signed for it...the ll not get me again.

Anonymous · Answer

It just so happens I have a SORN form here, everything the woman told you is correct.

The moral of the story is, don't just blindly fill-in forms. Read them as well!

Fellside13 · Answer

Well, It isn't really helpful trying to be a sm&r!4rse when in such a situation.

If it says on the form that you should contact them if something isn't received then common sense would suggest that you make a note of the number!!  Personally, I ALWAYS take a copy of any form that I send just to cover this type of situation.

Marty · Answer

I had the same issues with DVLA. I've since sold my car and now live and work in mainland Europe. Sod Rip Off Britain.

susiebryce · Answer

I'd tell them the £80 was sent to them 4 weeks ago...if they didn't get it, they should have phoned you on the number you wrote on the back of the cheque! Coz they didn't, you assumed they were happy...:-)

The Infamous SORN declaration!!?

15 Answers