DVLA

Multiple Personality Disorder

| Richard Morris

So there have been some changes this week.

When we bought the car in 2024 we put on a personalised number plate: AF17 BOD, to ‘spell out’ A FIT BOD, but we’ve recently had a change of plan and instead decided to register another one with Alison’s initials, AJM. So I got in touch with the DVLA and asked them if they could release a plate for me, which they did: ST24 AJM.  ST because it’s on a Focus ST, 2024 because of its age, and AJM for Alison’s initials.

Because we are planning to sell the existing persona numberplate, we had to first apply online to remove it and put it onto a retention certificate, a process which takes less than 5 minutes.

We were given the car’s allocated registration, RY24 YEK, and given both a certificate number for AF17 BOD so we could assign that one immediately to another vehicle if we wished and a certificate to allow us to get some new numberplate made up, but not the new V% certificate number.

In order to assign our new personal registration to the car, we now needed the V5 number for RY24 YEK, which they post to you and don’t give it to you online or by email. So for the intervening period, to ensure the car was legal and insured, I had to put some new numberplate on and change the insurance, both of which are ‘wasted’ costs.

The V5 then arrived on the Friday, so I was able to immediately go online, assign the ST24 AJM registration number to the ST, slap on some new ‘plates that I’d already had made up, and change the insurance again! Fortunately the DVLA handles the tax/road fund licence so that automatically transferred across.

So in the space of a week, the ST has carried three different registrations!

 

 

 

Special Delivery

| RM

Had a phone call this morning – as promised – from Metropolis letting me know there was some good news and some bad news…

The good news is that delivery of the Sprint GT is on for this Saturday! I just need to arrange my insurance now.

The bad news is that for some complicated reason, they haven’t been able to assign my vanity plate to the bike, so I’ll have to do that just as soon as the registration document arrives.

The other good news is that the weather for the weekend is looking good for some rides out with the other GT :)

And even more good news is that planning is underway for Eurotour 2014 and possibly something else this year…

8000 RM Cherished Numberplate For Sale

| Richard

I recently acquired another cherished numberplate to go with the ones on my car and bike as I did think about getting another vehicle soon and wanted a more memorable ‘plate.

But I’ve changed my mind about that, so I’ve advertised the plate – 8000 RM – on eBay starting on 16th April around lunchtime if anyone’s interested.

The number is currently on a retention certificate and the price includes the DVLA Assignment Fee but not a DVLA change fee if required.
I have seen similar numbers advertised on the trade sites at between £8,000 and £17,000, so I am seeking a realistic price for the ‘plate which I’ll keep and assign to another vehicle of mine later on if it doesn’t sell.
8000 RM

DVLA Accuses Me of Passing Off

| Richard

This afternoon I received an e-mail from the DVLA:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I’m writing to you because your email address has been brought to our attention. You may not be aware but we have trademarked the acronym ‘DVLA’ along with several other logos, and by using ‘DVLA’ in your email address you are considered to be ‘passing off’ against our trademark/name.

I would appreciate your co?operation in this matter by ceasing to use ‘dvla’ in your email address.

Kind Regards

Now in common with every other supplier or Government agency I deal with, I have set up a specific email address for when I deal with them in the format of {suppliername}@{mydomain} so the only people who would see this address is the DVLA themselves.

I’ve told them not to worry their little heads about it. We’ll see what the two jobsworths – the sender and the person copied in on the email – make of it…

DVLA Lincoln

| Richard

The Lincoln office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office have apparently built up a backlog of registrations, etc. Which means that due to their incompetence and inability to cope with what should be planned demand, I cannot get a tax disc or get the personalised registration number for my new car. And that means that I cannot pick up my new car.

So I thought I’d ring them to find out the status. The website for the Lincoln DVLA local office says:

“For enquiries about vehicles: 0300 790 6802 (Textphone minicom users 0300 123 1279).

For enquiries about driving licences: 0300 790 6801 (Textphone minicom users 0300 123 1278).

Please note, all calls are handled initially by our call centre based in Swansea.”

Which would be fine, if DVLA Swansea actually answered their calls. The recorded message I got today says that due to high call demand they cannot answer my call and so it hung up the call.

DVLA Registrations Fail

| Richard

I’m looking to buy a plonker plate through the DVLA Registrations website. This requires you to set up an account and log in. So this morning I registered on the site which then immediately fell over:

“service unavailable
sorry…

This service is temporarily unavailable. Your last action cannot be completed and details have not been recorded.

If you have not received confirmation of a successful transaction then your application has been cancelled.

Please click the button below to return to the DVLA Personalised Registrations home page.”

And that’s how it remains at present: you can search and view the public site but try and log in…