DVLA Direct Debit - A Cautionary Tale

[DickieG]

This will be of interest to anyone paying for RFL with DVLA using direct debit, I recently sold a car on which I had been paying for RFL via direct debit, thinking that as long as I had informed DVLA that I was no longer the keeper that would automatically cancel the direct debit, especially as the very next day the car was shown as untaxed, wrong as this month they have continued to take payment. Today I phoned the DVLA and had a decent cat with a helpful chap there who stated that they are unable to refund overpayment over the phone or via email, I'll have to write in on paper, great as recent experience with a few friends is that they appear to be experts at losing paper mail.

To avoid similar problems it's essential to cancel your own direct debit to them as soon as you sell the car, this experience leaves me wondering just how much money is being incorrectly taken from bank accounts by the DVLA and not being refunded for various reasons this is the last time I'll be paying for RFL by direct debit.

[Stickyfinger]

I always do....Gas companies can do the same ....ask how I know

[Hell Razor5543]

I will add to this, if I may. I part exchanged my Xantia on 30th June, and the DVLA was updated. I got a letter from then advising me of this, and that I should receive the Road Tax refund (after their checks) 4 to 6 weeks later. Well, I didn't, so I chased them up on this. I received the cheque 17th October!

[DickieG]

The DVLA are living up to their reputation for bumbling incompetence, on Thursday I received a rather unpleasant email from them stating that I had cancelled the direct debit for a car registered to me and that I must declare SORN blah blah blah etc. The fact that they've sent me acknowledgement that I sold the car a month ago and that I retained the relevant registration and received the certificate of retention three weeks ago appears to be irrelevant to their system's, not impressed but sympathetic to the poor souls having to answer the phones and explain/apologise for the errors to the disgruntled public, how frustrating must it be for them?

[CitroJim]

Shocking isn't it Richard....