Bloody out of date PNC
Discussion
I had to take our new (ish) company van back to the dealers this afternoon to have a row with them and get a spare key programmed, however en route I passed a cheeky little tripod mounted black box about 2 feet high sat at the back of an unmarked people carrier thing. Anyway 100 yds down the road are 3 traffic cars, a dog van, and two normal marked up cars with more hi vis jackets in the road than a McNicolas conferance. So plod steped out into road and pulls me ignoring the two cars I'd been behind way under the speed limit conversation goes:
plod: Evening all (alright I made that up
) How long have you had the van
me: about a month why?
plod: You've just passed one of our number plate readers and this vehicle is showing as without a registered keeper
me: well it is registered because I saw the V5 arrive about a week ago, It's taxed from the begining of october, and that means we must either have filled out the form for a change of keeper or had the V5.
plod: who did you buy it from
me: errrrr the Vauxhall dealer it's a new van.
plod: so why is it not registered to them
me: because it's registered to us and we've got the V5 at the office to prove it
plod: yes but its not showing as registered.
me
losing plot at this stage) look what vauxhall did or didn't do with it, before we bought it is not really my fault or problem, we have registered it, taxed it, and insured it which meets all our legal responsibilities. We bought it from a main dealer and it's not unreasonible for me to expect things to have been done properly.
plod: have you got any id on you sir?
me: yes I've got my driving license
anyway, it goes on from there with more inane questions about me and the van before eventually getting "ok drive carefully"
Now my point is I don't mind being stopped and asked about reasonible things but to me this is a complete waste of time. They have spent no doubt thousands of pounds on this new super dooper number plate reader with a real time link to either DVLA or the PNC so that they know in the time it takes to drive 50yds or so all about me, but it all falls over and goes tits up because some muppet has either been sat on their arse and couldn't be bothered to update the system for a four week old change of keeper, or else the database being used on the road side (if it's not real time) hasn't been kept up to date. The end result is a massive drain on resources wasting time stopping people like me because their technology is better than their ability to use it or keep it up to date. Oh yes and to double check myself I even got the V5 out the filing cabinet when I got back and it's all correct !
plod: Evening all (alright I made that up
) How long have you had the van me: about a month why?
plod: You've just passed one of our number plate readers and this vehicle is showing as without a registered keeper
me: well it is registered because I saw the V5 arrive about a week ago, It's taxed from the begining of october, and that means we must either have filled out the form for a change of keeper or had the V5.
plod: who did you buy it from
me: errrrr the Vauxhall dealer it's a new van.
plod: so why is it not registered to them
me: because it's registered to us and we've got the V5 at the office to prove it
plod: yes but its not showing as registered.
me
losing plot at this stage) look what vauxhall did or didn't do with it, before we bought it is not really my fault or problem, we have registered it, taxed it, and insured it which meets all our legal responsibilities. We bought it from a main dealer and it's not unreasonible for me to expect things to have been done properly. plod: have you got any id on you sir?
me: yes I've got my driving license
anyway, it goes on from there with more inane questions about me and the van before eventually getting "ok drive carefully"
Now my point is I don't mind being stopped and asked about reasonible things but to me this is a complete waste of time. They have spent no doubt thousands of pounds on this new super dooper number plate reader with a real time link to either DVLA or the PNC so that they know in the time it takes to drive 50yds or so all about me, but it all falls over and goes tits up because some muppet has either been sat on their arse and couldn't be bothered to update the system for a four week old change of keeper, or else the database being used on the road side (if it's not real time) hasn't been kept up to date. The end result is a massive drain on resources wasting time stopping people like me because their technology is better than their ability to use it or keep it up to date. Oh yes and to double check myself I even got the V5 out the filing cabinet when I got back and it's all correct !
Surely if it is a new vehicle, it is not registered to anyone until it is bought. When you buy a new car you are always the first registered keeper it is not registered to the dealer because it is not isued with plates until someone buys the thing. Sound like this cop was either being anal or needs to RTFM....
Jason is right saying DVLA are a little behind. The information on the PNC relies on the DVLA database. If that’s behind so are we.
As you're aware, ANPR scans number-plates and cross checks them against records held on PNC. If there is a marker or anomaly, it notifies the officer who can do something about it.
It really is a startling piece of kit. In my area the only thing stopping its application being more widespread is not the cost issue, but a man power issue to deal with work it produces.
Regards
Rob
As you're aware, ANPR scans number-plates and cross checks them against records held on PNC. If there is a marker or anomaly, it notifies the officer who can do something about it.
It really is a startling piece of kit. In my area the only thing stopping its application being more widespread is not the cost issue, but a man power issue to deal with work it produces.
Regards
Rob
DVLA are a bunch of Feckwits!
Re-taxed one of my cars last year, and whilst at the post office I noticed that the car was still registered at my old address - ooops!
Filled out the change of address and paid for my tax.
3-4 weeks later I get a snotty letter from DVLA stating that as I failed to notify them of a change of Keeper I was being fined (I think it was £30 or £40 quid) W.T.F
on the phone to them and get connected to some dopey bint who tells me that I have got to pay the fine
IT HASNT CHANGED KEEPER - IVE MOVED FFS, LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN THE OWNER OF THE BLOODY CAR IS THE SAME ITS JUST A DIFFERENT ADDRESS
she replies: I can see that now! can you confirm that in writing to us so that I can get the fine quashed.
me; WRITE TO YOU - NO ! I filled in the back of the log book when I taxed the car and sined it you have got it in bloody writing. Is my extortionate road fun licence paying your wages and paying for your incompetance?
her: there is no need to be rude sir, the car is on my screen as having two keepers.
me: Hang on I bought it new! I was the first recorded keeper.
her: Oh, well you now show as the first keeper and as the second keeper.
me; Dont be ridiculos
her; thats what it shows.
me: what can i do about it?
her: well it doesn't really make a differance, you still own the vehicle so you dont need to worry.
I tried to explain that should I wish to sell the vehicle at a later date it would be worth less money due to it showing that it had a previous keeper etc. she couldnt quite grasp the situation and told me to put it in writing.
I did - no joy.
Re-taxed one of my cars last year, and whilst at the post office I noticed that the car was still registered at my old address - ooops!
Filled out the change of address and paid for my tax.
3-4 weeks later I get a snotty letter from DVLA stating that as I failed to notify them of a change of Keeper I was being fined (I think it was £30 or £40 quid) W.T.F
on the phone to them and get connected to some dopey bint who tells me that I have got to pay the fine
IT HASNT CHANGED KEEPER - IVE MOVED FFS, LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN THE OWNER OF THE BLOODY CAR IS THE SAME ITS JUST A DIFFERENT ADDRESS she replies: I can see that now! can you confirm that in writing to us so that I can get the fine quashed.
me; WRITE TO YOU - NO ! I filled in the back of the log book when I taxed the car and sined it you have got it in bloody writing. Is my extortionate road fun licence paying your wages and paying for your incompetance?
her: there is no need to be rude sir, the car is on my screen as having two keepers.
me: Hang on I bought it new! I was the first recorded keeper.
her: Oh, well you now show as the first keeper and as the second keeper.
me; Dont be ridiculos
her; thats what it shows.
me: what can i do about it?
her: well it doesn't really make a differance, you still own the vehicle so you dont need to worry.
I tried to explain that should I wish to sell the vehicle at a later date it would be worth less money due to it showing that it had a previous keeper etc. she couldnt quite grasp the situation and told me to put it in writing.
I did - no joy.
Marcos Maniac said: DVLA are a bunch of Feckwits!...
Yep, they have my old scooter down as being an Inveco 50cc truck rather than an Italjet...
Reminds me of when I had my Orange MTB stolen from my house - it took four phone calls from the investigating orificer to understand that the bike was silver and the manufacturer was Orange...
Edited to feel shame for having a scooter.
>> Edited by Captain Muppet on Tuesday 5th November 07:50
Mel, if it's any consellation, I bought a car with no tax, taxed using the appropriate method (ie, going to see the dopey bint in the PO), and at the same time had the keeper changed - TO ME!
This was in February (
Is that how you spell it?)
April - Pulled because the DVLA show the car untaxed. Fair enough, plod checks car etc and I go on my way. Got a chirp of the front tyre as I pulled away in a rage, forgot that a Traffic car was sitting next to me
May - Letter from DVLA saying that I will have to give one of them a bonus because "According to our records vehicle L556 PSR, Registered to Stuart Brindle at ... has not been SORNed.
I phone the Glasgow office, the woman confirms I have to pay the fine and asks me If I would like to pay by Credit/Debit card? My Reply "I'm not paying your Fg fine because I Taxed the Fg car in February!"
Taxed car again in August.
September - Another poxy letter from the DVLA, this time saying that I didn't inform them of the change of keeper and would need to send one of there employees to Alaska to two weeks!
WTF?! Phone Glasgow, yes you didn't inform us of the change of keeper.
Who's the keeper?
Mr Stuart Brindle.
THATS ME!
Oh, sorry!
And Today, Your car does not appear to be taxed....
This was in February (
Is that how you spell it?) April - Pulled because the DVLA show the car untaxed. Fair enough, plod checks car etc and I go on my way. Got a chirp of the front tyre as I pulled away in a rage, forgot that a Traffic car was sitting next to me
May - Letter from DVLA saying that I will have to give one of them a bonus because "According to our records vehicle L556 PSR, Registered to Stuart Brindle at ... has not been SORNed.
I phone the Glasgow office, the woman confirms I have to pay the fine and asks me If I would like to pay by Credit/Debit card? My Reply "I'm not paying your F
g fine because I Taxed the Fg car in February!" Taxed car again in August.
September - Another poxy letter from the DVLA, this time saying that I didn't inform them of the change of keeper and would need to send one of there employees to Alaska to two weeks!
WTF?!
Phone Glasgow, yes you didn't inform us of the change of keeper. Who's the keeper?
Mr Stuart Brindle.
THATS ME!
Oh, sorry!
And Today, Your car does not appear to be taxed....
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