For our UK taffers: New Tax disc rules - DVLA incompetent, yet again.

[Bikerdude]

How many UK taffers are aware of the new tax disc rules? I only found out 3 hrs ago.

 

https://www.gov.uk/g...cle-tax-changes

 

DVLA said it was "it was mentioned in the budget"... er, like everyone f***ing watches or reads the budget... f***-wits.

 

Here are 3 issues straight off the bat -

• it wasn't mentioned anywhere near enough on other forms of media. If the dvla have known about this for a while, like say for over a year - they could have let me/others know the last time I taxed the bike...
  
• what happens if say your buying a new bike on a Sunday and you don't have access to a post office, the internet or a phone. Assuming you have adequate ins. you then can't legally drive the bike.
  
• As we all know government systems aren't the most reliable, what happens if both the dvla's automated phone service and website are down? Should we then have to wait for their shit arse system/s to come back up..? If someone is miles away from home its unreasonable to expect them to hang around before being able to tax the bike, FFS.
  

When I spoke to the dvla today, 2 of the 3 minions I spoke didn't know all the details listed on their own f***ing website. WTF they could not just make the old system electronic, as in "the vehicle is taxed", like they do in other countries and not tied to the f***ing owner is beyond me.

[stumpy]

it was mentioned on the bbc local news where I am, about 6 months ago, national news never mentioned it. they went through it again yesterday, that's local bbc news.

[Bikerdude]

national news never mentioned it.

I havent watched tv type news either online or on TV for several years now. I get most of my news via online portals. looks like I will have to expand that.

[Airship Ballet]

Known about it for an age now, can't wait to get rid of the tacky disc. I can't really find issue with the minor changes themselves since it makes it a lot easier to catch people dodging it. I mean there's always the usual unconditional "boooo government, boooo tax" thing, but I don't tend to want to go cross-country in a new car I've just bought on a bank holiday. I'm not buying cars or bikes a dozen a week, either.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Airship Ballet

[OrbWeaver]

Known about it for an age now, can't wait to get rid of the tacky disc. I can't really find issue with the minor changes themselves

 

Agreed, as far as I can see these changes make it more convenient for drivers, not less. I've never heard of a Post Office being open on a Sunday in any case, so buying a car on a Sunday would have been just as inconvenient under the old system.

 

Switching to an all-electronic Direct Debit-based system that doesn't require receiving reminders in the post and sending off for a paper disk which you then have to cut out and put in your car seems like a big improvement to me.

 

However, I am not inclined to believe any government propaganda about databases being used to catch tax dodgers. People who buy a car privately and then drive without tax or insurance aren't on any databases in the first place (except perhaps if they have been previously caught and given a criminal record). Sending out automated fines for people who forget to renew their required documents penalises the forgetful or disorganised; it has no effect on criminals whatsoever.

[Airship Ballet]

Well I'm not quite enough of a busy-body to mind what other people do with their taxes. Had they the inclination, this system would be far more accommodating for laying down the law, at least.

[Bikerdude]

Sending out automated fines for people who forget to renew their required documents penalises the forgetful or disorganised; it has no effect on criminals whatsoever.

Exactly, its just another stealth tax.

[Airship Ballet]