DVLA ACCUSED OF INCOMPETENCE - AGAIN!!

THE DVLA has been accused of incompetence after an investigation by Parker’s revealed that it was supplying incorrect information to motorists in three quarters of VED rate enquiries.

Acting on a tip-off from a reader, the price guide publisher contacted the DVLA with 100 separate enquiries regarding taxation charges for some of the vehicles worst affected by the changes to the VED rates.

Cars registered between March 2001 and March 2006 that emit more than 225g/km CO2 will be liable for a £300 charge in road tax for 2009, before moving up to a £430 or £455 charge in 2010.

Parker’s claims that out of the 100 enquiries made by telephone and email regarding these vehicles, 76 of cars were quoted the wrong tax charge for at least one of the three years about which enquiries were made. Only one in ten enquiries received a completely correct response.

Parker’s calculated the average enquiry to be out by £104.44.

“The biggest area of concern, and confusion among DVLA call centre staff, surrounds what is happening in 2009,” said Parkers.

“Cars that emit more than 186g/km CO2, but registered between March 2001 and March 2006, will move from Band F to Band K – a rise of £90. Most of the call centre staff that Parker’s spoke to were unaware of this and instead mistakenly placed the cars into bands L or M – the bands they will be in from 2010. We were advised that the cost of road tax will be £415 or £440 – depending on emissions – rather than the £300 it actually is.”

Kieren Puffett, Parker’s editor, said: “This is a worrying time for car buyers with rocketing fuel and tax costs; the DVLA has only added to this worry. There’s no information on the VED changes on the DVLA or Direct Gov websites and to make matters worse, call DVLA call centre staff have caused panic amongst car owners by giving out false information about a shock rise in the cost of road tax.”

The DVLA responded to Parker’s findings, saying: “Thank you for bringing this issue to DVLA's attention. The Agency apologises for the confusion caused in our responses to both you and to any callers to DVLA regarding the VED rates in 2009. DVLA has taken appropriate steps to ensure that we are now giving out correct and consistent information."