The immorality of the DVLA

[PeckhamRose]

OK opinions sought.

DVLA sold my information albeit for only ?2.50 to a very dodgy car parking company who had no right to have it, as they are bullying and their methods appear very against recommendations set out in various laws. Since I was not the person driving the vehicle at the time, I almost look forward to a day in court, since they have now had debt collection agency writing to me and they will no doubt take that further. (If you are legally riding someone else's vehicle and cause an accident or break the law somehow, it's you not the owner of the vehicle in trouble, right?)

Anyway, further and separate to the above, I have just received my tax disc reminder and - like my tax itself and everything else - I support my local (now getting further away) post office so I pay my tax and tax disc there. But DVLA now offer me a chance of a prize of a Seat CAR if I pay on line, saying they want to encourage the move to a low emission vehicle.

I ride a little motorcycle. It may even be an electric scooter (it's not, but they don't know that as they put these sheets in all their letters). They reckon the offer of a free prize draw is innovative for a government agency. No, it's not. It's a government agency selling out with advertising.

Naive, I know. But it's still wrong!

Discuss.

[Izodia]

I'm amazed that a body such as DVLA can sell your details. But I'm guessing their allowed to as it's a bit like councils selling electoral roll data. The dodgiest post I have ever received as been as a result of this so it's not like they're even discriminating in who they sell to.

Now my boyfriend recently made a right turn where he shouldn't have whilst driving my car (I was in the car too and would have made the same error). In the PCN I received, I could only claim that I wasn't responsible as I wasn't driving if my car had been stolen. Now that seemed strange...I might lend my car to someone but can I really be held responsible for their driving?

As for winning a car, why not? It may not be innovative but it's obviously meant to encourage people to renew road tax the most convenient way for them.

[SteveT]

If a passenger drops litter out of your car window, the driver is held responsible I was told.

I hope your day in court goes well.

[Siduhe]

PeckhamRose Wrote:

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If you are legally riding someone else's vehicle and cause an accident or break the law somehow, it's you not the owner of the vehicle in trouble, right?.

Not necessarily, but it depends heavily on the particular circumstances. If someone has an accident whilst driving your car and causes damage to something or someone, the insurer of the car can be required to pay any successful claim that is made against the driver (if for example the driver doesn't have insurance or cannot be traced) as an "Article 75 Insurer". The insurer can then claim the money it has had to pay out from either the driver of the car or the holder of the policy depending on the precise circumstances.

If you're talking about a PCN or similar, it is the owner of the car that is ultimately liable regardless of whether you were driving or not.

[mockney piers]

This chap got a fine for speeding, a little unfairly methinks; amazed they didn't throw in a dangerous driving charge for some clear tailgating too!!

unfair fine pic

[snorky]

I wrote of this at length re Athena & the Lidl contract & Im assuming this is the same type of thing

this isnt a criminal offence, its a potential civil offence if its a private car parking firm and its all down to breach of contract - they have to prove that you were the driver and that you implicitly accepted their contract when you parked.Even of is went to county court, they cannot make any punitive claim & can only claim fo losses incurred - which is the square root of fuck all when it comes to parking

the car owner isnt responsible for poviding any information whatsoever in a civil matter like this, despite their ( unlawful ) statements to the contrary in thir various PCN lookalike notices they send with carefree abandon.Even tir PCN lookalike notes are fraudulent and an attemot to deceive, so they are already on shaky ground.

You are at no stage under any obligation to confirm or deny that you were the driver, its a basic human right.they have to prove breach of contract by the driver and unless they can prove this, they are stuffed - a cars registered keeper isnt responsible.

The debt collection agency can only get on your case once legal proceedings have been satisfied - i.e in court - tnad that wont happen - they are chancers and get away with it most times without much hassle from the victims

The DVLA supply detials to a large number of parties that may have need for these detials - theres no getting away from that, but unless this was a proper criminal/ traffic offence - including local authority parking tickets - then they will not push this any further they are incapable of doing this and proving it was you

tell them to fuck off in the most polite way you can and never ever admit anything to anyone like this.A short note stating that you will be reporting them for harrasment and a complaint to the local trading standards will soon shut them up.

[BJL]

This has been discussed on Radio 4's You And Yours: only this week, there was a piece about it.

Listen again

The Great Parking Swindle website might also be of interest.

[PeckhamRose]

Hi

Yes I heard that item on You and Yours on Radio Four.

In my case UKPC have simply have not proven the case, refused to answer my reasonable questions, and are bullying.

A great forum consumeractiongroup.co.uk is highly recommended for anyone else and have been helpful to me.

But as for the Seat car - DVLA shouldn't be advertising private companies!

That's like DWP offering a competition to win a job in Tescos!