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DVLA lost forms

SteveWallace - 29/5/14 at 01:39 PM

Having sent off my DVLA registration forms (by registered post), I waited until their guidance said that I should have my certificate back to allow me to get number plates and then phoned them today. Went something like this...

"I'm phoning because your guidance says that I should if I hadn't heard from you within two weeks of posting my forms to you. I Posted them on the 12th May"

"sorry, but that's not two weeks yet, please call back when two weeks have passed"

"Yes it is ..."

"Oh yes, your right, can I have your name, address and VIN number please"

"Ok, its ...."

"I'm sorry, we have no record of that application"

"When do you make a record of the application?"

"When we have finished processing it and sent it back to you"

It carried on like this for a while and the person on the end of the phone (who to be fair was trying to be helpful) said that she would raise a lost application investigation with the 'New Registration Department' and that I had to wait 7 working days for them to draw their conclusions. Half an hour later I got a call from someone at the DVLA...

"Hello, I was asked to phone you but I don't know what its about"

I then explained what it was about (again), followed by...

"I'm sorry, I work in the 'Personal number plate' department and I cannot help you, I'll have to pass your enquiry on to the 'New Registration Department'

If it wasn't raining so I cannot use the car anyway, I would be getting very p***ed off by now.

daveb666 - 29/5/14 at 01:48 PM

Yep, poor isn't it.

See my thread from last year where I went through the same problem; a lengthy issue to their chief-exec had my forms found within 2 hours.

I called daily, at 9am, midday, and 3pm prior to sending the mail.

My timeline -

July 22nd - Take docs to DVLA Leeds; appoint made for an inspection at Leeds DVLA @ July 29th
July 29th - DVLA Inspection complete
7th August - Phoned DVLA to check progress - they've no idea where my application might be
8th August - Phoned DVLA again as didn't get a phone call yesterday. They've no idea where my application is. There is nothing on the system, anywhere.
9th August - Phoned DVLA - application still can't be found
12th August - Phoned DVLA - application confirmed as officially lost
14th August - New application documents received
14th August - New application document sent back to DVLA
15th August - DVLA complaints office phones and tells me the application is found
19th August - Tax disc and receipts all received back
20th August - MAIDEN VOYAGE!

SteveWallace - 29/5/14 at 02:00 PM

Yep, loosing the forms seems to be a standard part of their process.

Given that you have to send the original IVA certificate and receipts with the application, how did you get on the second time around with only copies?

daveb666 - 29/5/14 at 02:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by SteveWallace
Yep, loosing the forms seems to be a standard part of their process.

Given that you have to send the original IVA certificate and receipts with the application, how did you get on the second time around with only copies?

The lady I spoke to on the phone said the fact they were only copies didn't matter. The day after I'd sent my second application the documents were found and all returned to me.

coozer - 29/5/14 at 02:43 PM

So, gone are the days of getting the plates on the same day as IVA..

Its time for Vosa to do the reg at IVA IMO..

Or, how do dealers get your new tintop reg and tax disc straight away?

myke pocock - 29/5/14 at 03:50 PM

Ah now Coozer. Thats a good one. Its cuz they is speshul and we is not!!!
When my forms went in for SVA and I had not heard I phoned and was told they didnt have a record of receipt. Then checked with the PO and they gave me the details of the person who had signed for them. Rang Swansea back and they said they didnt know who that person was and didnt have the forms! Had to re-submit and only got them there a few days before the cut-off SVA/IVA time. Good job I called in the first place.

big_wasa - 29/5/14 at 04:28 PM

Vosa are no better. I put in a Vic application on line last Wednesday that should result in them ringing me for payment and a date with in three working days for a 20min test for a dent.

corrado vr6 - 29/5/14 at 09:03 PM

Hi,

If you want a true answer as to wether your application has been received or not try emailing this lady as she was very helpful with my application after I was told it was lost!

I was passed on this email by someone off here

Michelle.Oliver@dvla.gsi.gov.uk

Good luck

SteveWallace - 30/5/14 at 05:16 PM

UPDATE

Rather than wait the prescribed 7 days (starting from yesterday) whilst they were investigating my lost application, I decided to phone the DVLA again (BTW you need option 3 then option 7 from their menu). The person I spoke to said that they were still looking but, because I had phoned again, he would assign a higher priority to the search. An hour later I got a call from someone else saying that they had found it and that it would be processed next week. He also gave me his direct contact details if I needed to check progress again.

All being well, I should be on the road next weekend, but I will believe it when I see it. Half expecting to get a letter asking me to provide evidence of which mine the metal for the chassis came from or some such!!

The lesson seems to be that if you want progress, then phone them every day.

MsD - 3/6/14 at 07:05 AM

At least you're making progress now!

Out of interest, which dvla address did you send the forms too? Ive heard of a few different ones being used with a varying amount of success!

Mark.

daveb666 - 5/6/14 at 02:41 PM

quote:
Originally posted by SteveWallace
UPDATE

Rather than wait the prescribed 7 days (starting from yesterday) whilst they were investigating my lost application, I decided to phone the DVLA again (BTW you need option 3 then option 7 from their menu). The person I spoke to said that they were still looking but, because I had phoned again, he would assign a higher priority to the search. An hour later I got a call from someone else saying that they had found it and that it would be processed next week. He also gave me his direct contact details if I needed to check progress again.

All being well, I should be on the road next weekend, but I will believe it when I see it. Half expecting to get a letter asking me to provide evidence of which mine the metal for the chassis came from or some such!!

The lesson seems to be that if you want progress, then phone them every day.

Sorted yet?

SteveWallace - 6/6/14 at 07:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MsD

Out of interest, which dvla address did you send the forms too? Ive heard of a few different ones being used with a varying amount of success!

Mark.

Its not obvious which DVLA address to us. For better or for worse, I sent mine to: MASET VC15A, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1DZ.

Progress is now being made, albeit slowly. I phoned them again yesterday and they gave me my registration number over the phone. They were just about to generate a tax disc and I was told that the tax disc and the certificate to allow me to get the number plates made up will be with me early next week.

Whilst I am disappointed that their timetable has slipped again (the will have taken 4 weeks to do a 2 week process), at least I now know that I put the correct information into the correct forms and that its on its way.

I'll do a summary of the whole process and which forms I used etc in a separate thread once I have hard evidence in my hands that its worked.

SteveWallace - 7/6/14 at 09:45 AM

V5C arrived in this mornings post, so off to the motor factors to get the plates made up

Weather is looking shocking for the next few days though

corrado vr6 - 7/6/14 at 10:26 AM

Great news!!!!

Enjoy

[Edited on 7/6/14 by corrado vr6]