Oh god! Now, for a long time, I've held the DVLA in high respect, promptly returning my forms, being very easy to work with and most helpful.
However, this opinion is now totally changed..
Basically despite best efforts my car has yet to pound the tarmac in anger (apart from a few high speed runs on the way to the MOT to bed the brakes and running gear in). Due to failure after failure of post, people and components the car finally made it to it's 3rd MOT ready to roll, going straight through without any majors or any important advisories. I was so happy, finally, after being stuck at home for 6 weeks I could get out and find a job.
I think the minors that were mentioned are as follows:
- Handbrake high (which is interesting, as it clearly isn't...)
- Slight corrosion near NSR suspension mount (which is true)
- Slight play in OSF wheel bearing (which I've fixed)
It was a great relief to have finally crossed that hurdle. Proudly, with all appropriate documentation in hand, I stormed into the local post office to claim my free tax disc! My car, being built before 1973 (I think the official cut off date is May 1973) is exempt from paying road tax, so I save myself 180 quid a year. Flashing my documents to the expert members of staff, they instantaneously identified the V5 incorrectly registering the class of the vehicle. I could not claim my free tax disc. Neither could I pay for tax.
"Ah" I thought to myself (or words to that effect - I can't repeat them here). Managing to withhold my fists from becoming embedded in their faux wood desks, I stared at one of them till they told me what to do.
She rifled through the documents, filling out the appropriate change of class section and told me to post them to the DVLAs head office in Swansea, where they would complete the change and send the V5 back.
What frustrates me is this is just pointless paperwork getting in the way again of the car being returned to the road - for the sake of the word "Historic" on the V5 - which, shall we not forget, clearly states the vehicle was registered in January 1971 and probably built even earlier. She had the tax disc in her hand with nothing preventing her handing it out. Next time I shall not forget that if I own a tax exempt vehicle it must be classified as historic......Live and learn!
Anyway, with the documents in the post and en route, I left it a few days - I rang up the DVLA after the letter was due in the post (to arrive at theirs) to check they had recieved it and all was in order. They confirmed that it had not been processed yet, but, indeed - changing the taxation class would be no issue and I'd have it back within two weeks.
A week later I still did not have it. So I rang them up, only to be told they COULDN'T CHANGE THE TAXATION CLASS OR ISSUE ME WITH A TAX DISC
Hang on, is this not the DVLA's head office? No, instead, I have to go to my local Luton office (hours drive) with MOT, V5, insurance certificate, get it re-registered, get issued with a disc, then can finally drive it.
I appreciate that I could have found this out (somehow) but being told by a member of staff of the postoffice, then by a member of staff of the DVLA Swansea itself, I was fairly happy all was in check.
Why! Why could the DVLA head office not simply change it themselves? What happens if you live in Swansea and need a taxation change? Do you drive to another local town's office to get it done?
What's happened to just using your head and getting things done as opposed to creating pointless paper chases! Now I have to wait for the documents to be returned, after waiting pointlessly for nigh on two weeks, car degrading in the drive, then go with parents for a two hour joyful round trip to the DVLA Luton (where it's obvious something else will go wrong)....
Arg!
However, this opinion is now totally changed..
Basically despite best efforts my car has yet to pound the tarmac in anger (apart from a few high speed runs on the way to the MOT to bed the brakes and running gear in). Due to failure after failure of post, people and components the car finally made it to it's 3rd MOT ready to roll, going straight through without any majors or any important advisories. I was so happy, finally, after being stuck at home for 6 weeks I could get out and find a job.
I think the minors that were mentioned are as follows:
- Handbrake high (which is interesting, as it clearly isn't...)
- Slight corrosion near NSR suspension mount (which is true)
- Slight play in OSF wheel bearing (which I've fixed)
It was a great relief to have finally crossed that hurdle. Proudly, with all appropriate documentation in hand, I stormed into the local post office to claim my free tax disc! My car, being built before 1973 (I think the official cut off date is May 1973) is exempt from paying road tax, so I save myself 180 quid a year. Flashing my documents to the expert members of staff, they instantaneously identified the V5 incorrectly registering the class of the vehicle. I could not claim my free tax disc. Neither could I pay for tax.
"Ah" I thought to myself (or words to that effect - I can't repeat them here). Managing to withhold my fists from becoming embedded in their faux wood desks, I stared at one of them till they told me what to do.
She rifled through the documents, filling out the appropriate change of class section and told me to post them to the DVLAs head office in Swansea, where they would complete the change and send the V5 back.
What frustrates me is this is just pointless paperwork getting in the way again of the car being returned to the road - for the sake of the word "Historic" on the V5 - which, shall we not forget, clearly states the vehicle was registered in January 1971 and probably built even earlier. She had the tax disc in her hand with nothing preventing her handing it out. Next time I shall not forget that if I own a tax exempt vehicle it must be classified as historic......Live and learn!
Anyway, with the documents in the post and en route, I left it a few days - I rang up the DVLA after the letter was due in the post (to arrive at theirs) to check they had recieved it and all was in order. They confirmed that it had not been processed yet, but, indeed - changing the taxation class would be no issue and I'd have it back within two weeks.
A week later I still did not have it. So I rang them up, only to be told they COULDN'T CHANGE THE TAXATION CLASS OR ISSUE ME WITH A TAX DISC
Hang on, is this not the DVLA's head office? No, instead, I have to go to my local Luton office (hours drive) with MOT, V5, insurance certificate, get it re-registered, get issued with a disc, then can finally drive it.
I appreciate that I could have found this out (somehow) but being told by a member of staff of the postoffice, then by a member of staff of the DVLA Swansea itself, I was fairly happy all was in check.
Why! Why could the DVLA head office not simply change it themselves? What happens if you live in Swansea and need a taxation change? Do you drive to another local town's office to get it done?
What's happened to just using your head and getting things done as opposed to creating pointless paper chases! Now I have to wait for the documents to be returned, after waiting pointlessly for nigh on two weeks, car degrading in the drive, then go with parents for a two hour joyful round trip to the DVLA Luton (where it's obvious something else will go wrong)....
Arg!