forgot to tax my car

[Zuise.e]

I went to spain last year for the summer and when I got back hubby was sharing my car as his broke. My car tax had ran out on 31st August and I didn't notice, nor did I get the usual reminder. Anyway my ex kindly noticed and pointed it our to me near the end of October!!! just a day before I was going to spain again, so I waited until i got back, had the MOT done and finally taxed it in November - they wouldn't let me backdate the tax more than 30 days - waited for my fine - nothing!!
Incidently - while the labour conference was on we drove daily past the mobile unit which scans your car and goes "yabbadabba do" when an untaxed vehicle passes it - allegedly!....... still nothing!!
So a few weeks before Xmas I got a letter saying my untaxed car was spotted parked on 5th september. I filled in the form and sent it back. Then got another letter telling me I shouldn't rely on reminders and after careful consideration they have decided i should ignore the previous letter about paying the fine (I didnt have a previous letter) and they are now taking me to court. So a couple of days ago the previous letter arrives stating that I must pay the fine by 5th jan amount being £0.00..........!!!
Not sure what to do - other than tell them it was a genuine mistake - as people do make (for example 2 backward letters and a fine for £0.00) I don't want to go to court!

 

[Kim Lawless]

I would get all your evidence together and inform that in writing of their c**k up. Advise them that you will be more than happy to attend court and show the magistrate just how incompetant they are. Hopefully, they'll withdraw the summons. Good luck. xxx

 

[Lellipop]

I did the same thing last year totally forgot to tax the car and when I remembered I went to the post office they wouldn't backdate but they gave me a letter to send to the dvla and I at to pay a fine. I wont forget again :twisted:

 

[EllaX]

i never get reminders about my tax - i never had one since i got my personalised number plates. its easily forgotten xx

 

[Susie H]

Not had court summons for car tax but have had one leaving stage coach without repaying my training fee's. they were totaly unresenable about it and insisted that work related stress followed by a breakdown was not a good enough resone for leaving!
Anyway citersons advise said to gather all my evedence and wait for the summons, when you get it there is a bit where you get to contest the summons, you write on it everything that has happened and give photo copys of all your evedence. the clark of the court has a look at it all and makes the desision as to weather or not you need to go to court.
Being able to show you were out of the country and the postal c**k up should help.
Good luck.
Oh yer for me, the day before I was due in court I had a letter from Stage coach stateing that due to my circomstances they were droping the case.
Probebly scared I would sue them for harasment:twisted:

 

[LBR]

HI,

I had to buy my car tax as it was to run out 31/12/05. I didn't get a reminder and this confused me.

When I went to the post office they did go ahead and give me the tax but the woman in the post office said that there was a period where my car was untaxed? Which she couldn't understand nor I - the car was bought new 14 July, then I changed the number plate at the DVLA in Dundee in August and they gave me a new tax disc.

Wait and see, 6 months time it will be the same carry on - no reminder.

So much for their computers knowing when you don't have any tax on your car. They do't know when you have either?

 

[Buggy]

Honey, hate to hit you with the bad news but you're gonna have to plead guilty. there is no law to state the DVLA have to remind you. the ball is totally in your court and the law says its down to you. if you try to argue it out it will only go against you. trust me, i worked in criminal law for about 10 years.

your best bet is to go in, plead guilty, explain the situation but say you understand it was your responsibility, it won't happen again and just say how sorry you are and that you got it sorted as soon as you realised your mistake.

I'm trusting you haven't got any previous so for a first offence you'll probably get off lightly. its not a major crime, so don't bother to see a solicitor before hand because it will cost you. When you get to court ask to see the duty solicitor (this is a free service), who will advise you what to say in court and if they've got time they'll come and speak for you in court. the more you apologise the more lenient they'll be. trust me.

 

[Buggy]

ps. they will have evidence that your car was spotted on 5th September too, so you're stuffed basically. like i said apologise apologise apologise. chances are you won't get the maximum fine anyway.

 

[Zuise.e]

Thanks for your replies - yes I did intend to plead guilty - they have said in the letter they have photo evidence. I just think it's such a performance for a genuine mistake - I'm prepared to pay the fine -why can't they leave it at that! I've never done it before, I've been driving for 20 years! what a waste of tax payers money taking me to court....... I wonder what that costs!! should be using it for proper criminals (grumble grumble)
d'ya think a low cut top might help lol!

 

[Buggy]

Low cut top? you never know luv. might get some pervy old magistrate LOL.

one time my brother sold his car and bought a new one. so got the tax disc out of his old car and put it in his new car (he TOTALLY thought he could do this) and drove to the post office to get a new tax disc. on his way (how unlucky is this) he got pulled by the police (spot check) who spotted his tax disc had a different registration place written on it and did him for FRAUD!!!!

He had no choice but to plead guilty and now has a conviction for Fraud. poor bloke has to declare it YEARS later as he is a children's nurse and when you work with kids your convictions always have to be declared (with most jobs you don't have to declare them as they are "spent" after 3 years).

Imagine having to put fraud on your job applications. LOL. would have been better for him to have just got done for no tax