Hi everyone Im sure this has probably been covered several times before but I really do need advice.

About 5 weeks ago I received a last chance letter telling me that I needed to SORN my vehicle because it was still taxed but I had swaped the insurance over. I had been trying for months to do it online because my brother had told me that was the easiest way but every time I tried it told me it did not recognise the document reference number. I therefore emailed DVLA several times asking for advice and telling them the system wasnt working but got no response on any occasion (trouble is I dont have the emails now because it was months ago and last montht he server went down and deleted all the emails (yay technology)

anyway I found out from someone else that because it was still taxed I had to send the tax disc back for a refund and declare it SORN on the V890 form I think it was. 2 days after that letter I sent the form off. However havent heard anything back from them until last week (4 weeks after the last chance letter) with a penalty (£50 or £100 if not payed straight away). However I have emailed DVLA about this and to be honest they are as much use as a chocolate teapot. But they did say one thing that really got me angry. I made the mistake of not sending it recorded, never again, and they said in this email that if it wasnt sent recorded I have to wait 6 weeks before I can chase it up.

Now this doesnt seem fair to me. I have to wait 6 weeks before I can chase anything up but they're allowed to send a fine within 4 weeks. I sent the form with the tax disc (it had just under 2 months left)so now I have no tax disc and the tax runs out this month so cant claim a refund now. Im assuming either royal mail have lost it or more likely the DVLA which means Ive also lost that tax refund which I was really relying on as I have no income at the moment. Of course I have read about several court cases against them which they have lost because the judge has agreed that they cannot prove they didnt receive it, which brings me to my next point.

coincidentally the first line of the email I have just received from them states "due to the large volume of mail we receive we cannot prove receipt of your application unless recorded" and Im sure I read somewhere that there was no duty upon the sender to send it recorded. (obviously I will from now on)

If anyone has had any similar experience or advice I would seriously appreciate it as this has stressed me out so so much and is making me ill. Is it a case of giving in to their threats and paying it (not sure how Im going to pay iit as dont have that money, the bike was being prepared for sale because I could no longer afford to keep it because of my circumstances. I really wish it wasnt but at the moment its like talking to a brick wall . I just dont see it fair how they can not respond to my emails, tell me personally they cannot prove they didnt receive the form yet can get away with charging me when Ive done everything possible to declare it sorn.

thanks everyone - and apologies for the long post.