No more DVLA Services at Post office?
Discussion
https://www.betterretailing.com/industry-news/excl...
The most likely outcome is a 12-month extension agreement which will see the contract permanently end on 31 March 2024
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services could be scrapped from Post Office (PO) branches as early as next month, if a deal isn’t agreed offering “fair” remuneration.
In a message sent to postmasters today (23 May), seen by Better Retailing, the PO’s group chief commercial officer Owen Woodley explained that ongoing negotiations since Autumn 2022 had failed to reach an agreement. “Throughout our conversations with the DVLA, our number one priority has been to ensure postmasters receive fair remuneration for transactions, while also covering associated overhead costs,” he said.
As a result, it’s understood the most likely outcome is a 12-month extension agreement which will see the services cease and the contract permanently end on 31 March 2024.
Although this would see postmasters receive improved remuneration, backdated to 1 April 2023, Woodley went on to claim “there is still a chance that the negotiations could fail” because the PO “are simply unwilling to sign up to a deal that does not provide fair remuneration”, which the DVLA are yet to commit to.
DVLA services enable customers to pay vehicle tax, renew driving licenses and apply for international driving permits. Last month, journalist Victoria Coren Mitchell tweeted that on a recent letter she’d received, the only way to carry out any DVLA services was online. “Sorry, just clarify for me again: what is it I do if I haven’t got a computer?” she said.
Woodley advised postmasters to speak to their area manager if they have any questions about the potential impact of the service withdrawal on their branch.
The most likely outcome is a 12-month extension agreement which will see the contract permanently end on 31 March 2024
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services could be scrapped from Post Office (PO) branches as early as next month, if a deal isn’t agreed offering “fair” remuneration.
In a message sent to postmasters today (23 May), seen by Better Retailing, the PO’s group chief commercial officer Owen Woodley explained that ongoing negotiations since Autumn 2022 had failed to reach an agreement. “Throughout our conversations with the DVLA, our number one priority has been to ensure postmasters receive fair remuneration for transactions, while also covering associated overhead costs,” he said.
As a result, it’s understood the most likely outcome is a 12-month extension agreement which will see the services cease and the contract permanently end on 31 March 2024.
Although this would see postmasters receive improved remuneration, backdated to 1 April 2023, Woodley went on to claim “there is still a chance that the negotiations could fail” because the PO “are simply unwilling to sign up to a deal that does not provide fair remuneration”, which the DVLA are yet to commit to.
DVLA services enable customers to pay vehicle tax, renew driving licenses and apply for international driving permits. Last month, journalist Victoria Coren Mitchell tweeted that on a recent letter she’d received, the only way to carry out any DVLA services was online. “Sorry, just clarify for me again: what is it I do if I haven’t got a computer?” she said.
Woodley advised postmasters to speak to their area manager if they have any questions about the potential impact of the service withdrawal on their branch.
My parents - in their late 70s - can't handle a smart phone. It was just too confusing for them, along with lack of instructions (that came with it) and small icons /menus.
However, they have broadband and can use pcs / tablets.
So ultimately this comes down to: how many people genuinely haven't got access to the internet? (Plus the confidence in using it)
The council I worked for had a pensioner who refused to receive their money other than by cheque. They simply did not trust any organisation to have their bank details. God knows what they'd have said if we suggested putting their bank details into a computer (Think Ron Swanson with the internet knowing his address)
So I can well imagine there is a small section of the population who can't or won't use the internet.
This leads us to decide how much does the rest of the public sector subsidise these few? Will there ever come a point where if people don't engage with the internet, they just accept they can't be responsible for a vehicle?
However, they have broadband and can use pcs / tablets.
So ultimately this comes down to: how many people genuinely haven't got access to the internet? (Plus the confidence in using it)
The council I worked for had a pensioner who refused to receive their money other than by cheque. They simply did not trust any organisation to have their bank details. God knows what they'd have said if we suggested putting their bank details into a computer (Think Ron Swanson with the internet knowing his address)
So I can well imagine there is a small section of the population who can't or won't use the internet.
This leads us to decide how much does the rest of the public sector subsidise these few? Will there ever come a point where if people don't engage with the internet, they just accept they can't be responsible for a vehicle?
Ian Geary said:
My parents - in their late 70s - can't handle a smart phone. It was just too confusing for them, along with lack of instructions (that came with it) and small icons /menus.
However, they have broadband and can use pcs / tablets.
I know someone in their late 50's who still has an old tech non-smart phone, and has never used a PC/laptop/tablet, as had a manual job all his life, and never needed to interact with a computer. However, they have broadband and can use pcs / tablets.
He is starting to struggle with life for this reason as services and everything has gone online, such as GP and NHS stuff and lots of everyday stuff.
WonkeyDonkey said:
Another success of privatisation. At least a couple of people made a nice couple of million out of it though at the detriment of everyone else.
It’s hardly to the detriment of ‘everyone else’ - the vast majority of people aren’t using the post office for this stuff.No doubt the privatisation could have been handled better, but on the other hand it’s forcing modernisation which was unlikely to have happened otherwise.
catso said:
I'd prefer not to use the Post Office for DVLA related stuff. I recently needed to change the tax category of one of my bikes and was told I could only do it at the post office, would have been much easier online.
Though I can see why some would prefer to go to the Post Office.
I had the same when buying an ex-Motability car from Car Shop. Luckily there was a very helpful lady working at the Post Office, as Car Shop were no help whatsoever. I even had to ask for my part ex back so I could drive myself to the PO. Not sure why it can't be done online like everything else ?Though I can see why some would prefer to go to the Post Office.
No business is going to make a loss because some older folk arent able to operate a smartphone or PC, this is what privatisation brings, there is no scope for anything that makes a loss even if it provides a service.
I get that some folk really cant use a computer, but most can and there a lot that could, and by and large its easier, having to go to the post office to tax your car seems nowadays like a cruel and unusual punishment and the staff were looking for any opportunity to not take your money off you "Thats a cover note, not a policy" etc etc.
Same with banks, nobody is going to wait for those 80, 90 plus to do their banking in person via cheques, keeping a branch open that costs hundreds of thousands a year and otherwise is for cash businesses to covert a little into back into the electronic economy. I had to go in a branch as I got paid for a car in cash, only two in front of me, both old ladies doing all their banking in person, 20 minutes stood behind them, one arguing as they had given her 90 odd year old mother cash when she has dementia, she had a card, she asked, they verified it was her so what else could they do ? But no, rattle on and on for 20 plus minutes.
Sometimes things change, means some of us may get lost by the wayside, if we dont make some attempts to keep up, my parents, mother in law, uncles etc are all in their seventies and eighties and can do a lot via tech, and once you get to a certain point its not the tech thats the problem, its mobility and you have to get someone else to do it all for you anyway.
I get that some folk really cant use a computer, but most can and there a lot that could, and by and large its easier, having to go to the post office to tax your car seems nowadays like a cruel and unusual punishment and the staff were looking for any opportunity to not take your money off you "Thats a cover note, not a policy" etc etc.
Same with banks, nobody is going to wait for those 80, 90 plus to do their banking in person via cheques, keeping a branch open that costs hundreds of thousands a year and otherwise is for cash businesses to covert a little into back into the electronic economy. I had to go in a branch as I got paid for a car in cash, only two in front of me, both old ladies doing all their banking in person, 20 minutes stood behind them, one arguing as they had given her 90 odd year old mother cash when she has dementia, she had a card, she asked, they verified it was her so what else could they do ? But no, rattle on and on for 20 plus minutes.
Sometimes things change, means some of us may get lost by the wayside, if we dont make some attempts to keep up, my parents, mother in law, uncles etc are all in their seventies and eighties and can do a lot via tech, and once you get to a certain point its not the tech thats the problem, its mobility and you have to get someone else to do it all for you anyway.
Purchase a car which is registered as a disabled vehicle so therefore tax exempt, to change the classification back to non tax exempt, this has to be done at the post office, (perhaps it can be done by post), it can be taxed at the same time so therefore can be driven straight away, this cannot be done online.
Sold your car but lost the V5 so need to request a new one and tax it, this can be done at the PO with a V62 (I think) form, new V5 ordered, car taxed at the same time, probably can be done by post but how long will that take, this cannot be done online.
Sold your car but lost the V5 so need to request a new one and tax it, this can be done at the PO with a V62 (I think) form, new V5 ordered, car taxed at the same time, probably can be done by post but how long will that take, this cannot be done online.
survivalist said:
WonkeyDonkey said:
Another success of privatisation. At least a couple of people made a nice couple of million out of it though at the detriment of everyone else.
It’s hardly to the detriment of ‘everyone else’ - the vast majority of people aren’t using the post office for this stuff.No doubt the privatisation could have been handled better, but on the other hand it’s forcing modernisation which was unlikely to have happened otherwise.
Cannot remember the last time I went to the post office for DVLA services, it would have been when you had to go in person with your insurance and MOT certificate to buy road tax.
Apparently road tax went online in 2004, so nearly 20 years. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-number-o...
If you still do not know how to tax your car online after 20 years then there really is no hope for you.
Apparently road tax went online in 2004, so nearly 20 years. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-number-o...
If you still do not know how to tax your car online after 20 years then there really is no hope for you.
Joey Deacon said:
Cannot remember the last time I went to the post office for DVLA services, it would have been when you had to go in person with your insurance and MOT certificate to buy road tax.
Apparently road tax went online in 2004, so nearly 20 years. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-number-o...
If you still do not know how to tax your car online after 20 years then there really is no hope for you.
Post Office DVLA services isn't just taxing a straight forward car, there are services you just can't (ie not allowed to) do online. Apparently road tax went online in 2004, so nearly 20 years. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-number-o...
If you still do not know how to tax your car online after 20 years then there really is no hope for you.
As said above if you don't have a passport you can only renew your driving licence at a PO.
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