After a two week wait, I recieved my letter from VOSA today. All excited I opened it expecting a date for my test. Unfortunately, they have rejected my application as an amateur build. Despite sending a wodge of reciepts (it was a part built project as indicated on the amateur build declaration), bought from a very helpful member of LCB. The receipts covered the parts purchased by the previous owner, and the reciept for sale of the part build rolling chassis + parts, as well as reciepts for parts I have purchased. Add to that, more than 20 photographs, of the build starting at rolling chassis and finishing with what looks like a car!

VOSA have asked me to contact the previous owner and ask them to send a statement letter as to how much work he completed as well as photographic evidence proving he was also an amateur builder. On top of that, I have to resubmit all my photos/receipts, along with a letter from me stating what I have done to the car....

Oh my god. I have wasted an entire evening on this! This is time I need to be in the garage getting it ready...! They sent me a VOSA newsletter re the IVA test. I have until Friday to get them everything they demand. If they are still not happy after the 28th, then IVA for me (this is in writing from VOSA - so not sure where this extension to application date came from on here the other day!?).

Just thought I would share my woe with you lot, as right now, I am feeling thoroughly miffed.

[Edited on 24/2/09 by twybrow]

VOSA can be a nightmare sometimes. If it were me I'd phone Mark Vickers up and tell him although you bought the car as a rolling chassis, it has been compleatly disassembled by yourself and put back togeather. In my experiance phone calls and emails work well with VOSA. if you need a email address for Mark PM me.

jason

U2U

Thanks chaps. I'm ringing them first thing, so I'll let you know how I get on.

I feel for you, mate. I was a bit worried when I sent off my forms, also having bought a rolling chassis. Luckily in those days (2005) they didn't want photos and accepted my Amateur Build declaration with no fuss.

Hope you get it sorted soon

gutted mate that really sucks.

Hope you can get it all sorted out before they make you IVA the car.

maybe the leason here is to tell them nothing about it ever being bought as a rolling chassis. It was simply just a kit of parts.



[Edited on 25/2/09 by Mr Whippy]

Lesson learned the hard way...! It is true - honesty doesn't work!

hi mate
did you get it sorted??
cheers
colin

Did the exact same thing to me, I had to get a letter of declaration from the previous owner stating what work had been done prior to selling the project to myself.

The guy from vosa came over very arrogant at first but as the conversations went on over the course of a week he became very helpfull.

Stick in

Kev

I have just sent my application in and I have also stated that it was part built. I bought mine the backend of 2000 so I haven't got a hope of tracing the first owner / builder.

It was literally only a chassis and donor bits when I got it. But my photos show me working on the chassis as that wasn't entirely complete. So, fingers crossed that will cover it.

Hi, I had exactly the same problem but couldnt contact the previous builder as there was no contact details, I bought the chassis from a 3rd person who had stored the car for 10 years. I phoned VOSA and explained that whislt it was a rolling chassis when I bought it I infact stripped it down and converted it from live axle to IRS, the guy there was very helpful and he then ticked the box saying it was my build. Well worth phoning them.

Regards

Bob

That's a real bummer. Deffo reckon you should make telephone contact and the higher up the better. I would take the "I've been open, honest and not tried to pull the wool over anyone's eyes" tack plus a statement from the guy you bought it from saying that it was only part-built. You can then say you had to dismantle it and re-build.
Presumably the prev. owner wasn't trade in which case he should state that he has no connections with the motor-trade.
Sounds as if it landed on the wrong pen-pusher's desk.
Keep at them.
BOL, Pewe

Update - I have spoken to the chap that sent me the letter. I have emailed him with a letter written by the previous owner (thanks Ray) as well as all o fht ephotographs from the previous owner. He said that would be sufficient. After a bit of conversation, he said he should be able to process it this afternoon. I said i would ring back just to double check everything was in hand...! So fingers crossed, it sounds promising.

Anyone else in the same boat, I would make sure you have this covered today. If your application is not complete by Friday (not just recieved), then it will be IVA for you (straight from VOSA themselves).

Glad you got it sorted mate, I had a conversation with VOSA the othe day, as intend to complete and submit my forms this week, the dat they give is 28th Sat. But i am away this week and the earliest i can send it is fri, recorded delivery to arrive saturday. Vosa don't open on saturdays!
The lady on the phone said it shoud be okay. But what do we thik about this?

Chris - From the paperwork VOSA sent me, this will not be ok. It says they have to be proccesed and accepted by the 28th, not just recieved. Any queries that run over this date will have the fee refunded, and an IVA application letter sent to them! good luck with the process Chris - I for one wish I sent mine weeks ago!

I spoke to VOSA in the last few minutes - they are now processing my application, and the chap assured me there is nothing else that I need to send them. I just hope this isn't a stalling tactic!

I think that what you sent initially is exactly what they often recieve form commercial builders and that sets thier alarm bells off. Once they speak to you then they figure it out.

adrian

Glad that it seams to be all sorted now lets just hope they dont try to screw you on some thing else.

What difference does it make if its a pro or amature build to VOSA, isnt there is only one type of test ? They are all tested to the same standards arnt they.
Mike

Matt had very similar problems, a few phone calls sorted it in the end if I remember correctly! He also had something about reciepts, complete nightmare. Glad I got mine done when I did!

Best to just say you built it yourself, less hassle! And its true anyway because you will have stripped it when you bought it wouldnt you?

Yes flak, I have stripped just about every part. The only part I have not touched is the steering rack. Everthing else about the car has been stripped off at some point.

I am still nervous at to what else is coming at me - i swear the world is against me when doing this car! I thought the SVA test would be the stressful time....!

Thanks for all the support guys. I appreciate it.

You'll get there eventually. Keep on at them until they give in. If the desk monkey wont give you any joy, speak to his manager....

David

Spoke to someone in the VOSA office this afternoon, who said i should be okay with sending it fri. Couldn'y guarantee it but he seemed fairly confident.
He also said that the IVA has a ong way to go before its even ready to implement. They themselves haven't a clue on cost and paperwork process. He seems to thik they might continue doing SVA paperwork.
Lon and short of it, i@m sending it all anyway, got to be worth a go, worst case is they send it back and i have to go IVA, best case, they accept it and i go through SVA.
Fingers Crossed