Hello fellow RRers and apologies if this is in the wrong area.
Those of you with long-standing SORNs, particularly any that were due for renewal between DEC 16 2013 and DEC 15 2014 might want to check you've still actually got SORN. If you fall in that category and your SORN simply mutated into an indefinite I'd like to know please.
The reason is I have a vehicle that falls into that category and yesterday, out of the blue from the DVLA I received an "Unlicensed Vehicle" notification despite having SORNed on 14 DEC 2013 and having email confirmation that I was successful.
I have just filed the following formal complaint with them and we'll see what transpires. Note phone number is not the usual 24 hr one for them..the usual number gives you this new number after you wade through their menus. It also fails to tell you the actual operating hours so you ring it only to find they're shut until tomorrow.
My complaint to DVLA 19 May 2017 1505 hrs
I SORNed R606 TOK in December 2013 having had it trailered here as it was a non-runner. As I wanted it for spares I placed it on SORN on 14th December online and have the DVLA email confirmation dated same day 1710 hrs ref no: 9122591362385322 saying my SORN was successful.
On 16 Dec 2013 the indefinite SORN regulations came into force. I have a couple of other long-term spares/projects that were already on SORN and whose renewal would have come into force during 2014 under the old regulations.
All of these vehicles should therefore be under indefinite SORN. The other vehicles are, as I've checked today following receiving a notice of Unlicensed Vehicle for R606 TOK yesterday! Checking online for R606 TOK details shows it as not SORNED and NOT taxed either since DEC 2013!
I phoned DVLA on 0300 790 6802 today at 1140 hrs and spoke to XXXXX. Firstly I was given the reason for the message as being that they were sending them to everybody whose SORN had shown no activity in a long while. Well it wouldn't would it with indefinite SORN in place?
Then came the partial excuse that the SORN would have lapsed when the original owner sold it to me, until I pointed out that I'd SORNed it on the 14th DEC! Then she had to go off and check "on another system" whence she eventually found my 14th Dec SORN. She asked for my details and phone number so the other case officers could update the records and confirm to me the SORN was back in place.
I gave her my wife's phone number as we are in a poor reception area here and her phone receives better than mine. Apparently DVLA teams can't take email addresses and respond there to (funny that as I'm emailing you).
About 20 mins later my wife gives me her phone with a voicemail message to ring XXXXX on 0300 790 6802 as her message is telling me that because R606 was SORNED 2 days before the new regulations I would have had to renew the SORN in Dec 2014.
That is an absurdity for several reasons:
1) Such an action would negate the very purpose for which the legislation was enacted
2) I didn't have to renew the SORNs on the other vehicles also due in 2014, they simply became "indefinites".
3) No way would your organisation have failed to try to pursue me for failing to SORN and possible payment of your automatic "fees" over such a long period, esp as you had my name, address etc!
4) The DVLA itself, and several motorclubs have the advice published on their web sites saying SORNs currently in force and due for renewal after 16 DEC 2013 will automatically convert into indefinites.
Here is just one from the Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs reposting DVLA's own reminder:
www.fbhvc.co.uk/about-us/news/_article/35/dvla-issues-reminder-on-changes-to-sorn/
The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 were laid in Parliament on 20 November and are due to come into force on 16 December. Any SORN which expires before the regulations come into force (i.e. before 16 December) will be required to be renewed. Any existing SORN which is due to expire after 16 December will not be required to renew and will be treated as an Indefinite SORN.
The voicemail continued to tell me I could do the SORN online.
Now I'm sure you can guess I'm not a happy bunny about this. Firstly I want to know why suddenly after nearly four years you send me this message and also why my SORN of R606 TOK suddenly fell out of your system yet my other vehicles happily transitioned into "indefinites"?
I shall go online and do the SORN but before I do I want confirmation that I'm not going to trigger a procedure whereby I am suddenly going to find myself on the receiving end of demands for payment of charges for not having SORN when I had it already. How many other people have you tried this on with? If we do end up going down that route allow me to advise you now I will be billing you (via small claims if necessary) for my costs and time.
Those of you with long-standing SORNs, particularly any that were due for renewal between DEC 16 2013 and DEC 15 2014 might want to check you've still actually got SORN. If you fall in that category and your SORN simply mutated into an indefinite I'd like to know please.
The reason is I have a vehicle that falls into that category and yesterday, out of the blue from the DVLA I received an "Unlicensed Vehicle" notification despite having SORNed on 14 DEC 2013 and having email confirmation that I was successful.
I have just filed the following formal complaint with them and we'll see what transpires. Note phone number is not the usual 24 hr one for them..the usual number gives you this new number after you wade through their menus. It also fails to tell you the actual operating hours so you ring it only to find they're shut until tomorrow.
My complaint to DVLA 19 May 2017 1505 hrs
I SORNed R606 TOK in December 2013 having had it trailered here as it was a non-runner. As I wanted it for spares I placed it on SORN on 14th December online and have the DVLA email confirmation dated same day 1710 hrs ref no: 9122591362385322 saying my SORN was successful.
On 16 Dec 2013 the indefinite SORN regulations came into force. I have a couple of other long-term spares/projects that were already on SORN and whose renewal would have come into force during 2014 under the old regulations.
All of these vehicles should therefore be under indefinite SORN. The other vehicles are, as I've checked today following receiving a notice of Unlicensed Vehicle for R606 TOK yesterday! Checking online for R606 TOK details shows it as not SORNED and NOT taxed either since DEC 2013!
I phoned DVLA on 0300 790 6802 today at 1140 hrs and spoke to XXXXX. Firstly I was given the reason for the message as being that they were sending them to everybody whose SORN had shown no activity in a long while. Well it wouldn't would it with indefinite SORN in place?
Then came the partial excuse that the SORN would have lapsed when the original owner sold it to me, until I pointed out that I'd SORNed it on the 14th DEC! Then she had to go off and check "on another system" whence she eventually found my 14th Dec SORN. She asked for my details and phone number so the other case officers could update the records and confirm to me the SORN was back in place.
I gave her my wife's phone number as we are in a poor reception area here and her phone receives better than mine. Apparently DVLA teams can't take email addresses and respond there to (funny that as I'm emailing you).
About 20 mins later my wife gives me her phone with a voicemail message to ring XXXXX on 0300 790 6802 as her message is telling me that because R606 was SORNED 2 days before the new regulations I would have had to renew the SORN in Dec 2014.
That is an absurdity for several reasons:
1) Such an action would negate the very purpose for which the legislation was enacted
2) I didn't have to renew the SORNs on the other vehicles also due in 2014, they simply became "indefinites".
3) No way would your organisation have failed to try to pursue me for failing to SORN and possible payment of your automatic "fees" over such a long period, esp as you had my name, address etc!
4) The DVLA itself, and several motorclubs have the advice published on their web sites saying SORNs currently in force and due for renewal after 16 DEC 2013 will automatically convert into indefinites.
Here is just one from the Federation of British Historical Vehicle Clubs reposting DVLA's own reminder:
www.fbhvc.co.uk/about-us/news/_article/35/dvla-issues-reminder-on-changes-to-sorn/
The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 were laid in Parliament on 20 November and are due to come into force on 16 December. Any SORN which expires before the regulations come into force (i.e. before 16 December) will be required to be renewed. Any existing SORN which is due to expire after 16 December will not be required to renew and will be treated as an Indefinite SORN.
The voicemail continued to tell me I could do the SORN online.
Now I'm sure you can guess I'm not a happy bunny about this. Firstly I want to know why suddenly after nearly four years you send me this message and also why my SORN of R606 TOK suddenly fell out of your system yet my other vehicles happily transitioned into "indefinites"?
I shall go online and do the SORN but before I do I want confirmation that I'm not going to trigger a procedure whereby I am suddenly going to find myself on the receiving end of demands for payment of charges for not having SORN when I had it already. How many other people have you tried this on with? If we do end up going down that route allow me to advise you now I will be billing you (via small claims if necessary) for my costs and time.
