“You made our mistake”

I was recommended to email you by a friend. I recently sold my car and sent off the green slip (V5C) to the DVLA for the logbook to be changed to the new owners name. I sent this the next day after I had sold the car by first class post. The DVLA contacted me by letter on 20th May 2011 to say that someone else was trying to claim that they owed the car (which would be correct) and that if I hadn't sent the V5C to do so otherwise to contact them with the new keepers name and address and the date I sold the car. I followed this procedure by phoning them to let them know all of the details they required. I have now been sent another letter dated 17th June 2011 to say that I committed an offence and that court action could be taken. I would be very grateful if you could advise how I could respond?

Asked on 23 June 2011 by AH, Leighton Buzzard

Answered by Honest John

Write back to the DVLA stating that you have conformed to the law and to your duty in every respect and if they take you to court for this you will not only defend yourself with the information you have already given them, you will countersue for your wasted time and will apply for costs. It is necessary for the DVLA to prosecute some people in this way. But the volumes are so great that they sometimes make errors and send their nasty letters to the wrong people.

Tags: dvla legal issues

Similar questions

I was mis-sold a pre-registered car, can I claim for the decrease in the vehicle's value?

I bought a new Volkswagen Golf in October 2017 for my daughter. It cost £17,613 from an online broker and came with a written contract for a new car with first registration in my daughter's name. However,...

My reg plates have been cloned - how do I avoid the speeding charges the other driver is getting?

My number plates have been copied and put on a similar vehicle that is being driven around my area incurring speeding/parking/toll charges. What is your advice?

A car has been fraudulently registered in my daughter's name - how do we get the DVLA to remove her name from the registration?

I was contacted today by a debt collection agency looking for my daughter. It transpires that a car is registered in her name, about which she has no knowledge. A parking fine are is unpaid and a liability...