Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

oldtimer · Guest

I renewed the vehicle Tax Disc online for my wife's car on 6.12.10 and received e mail confirming this that day.
The licence did not arrive within the 5 days specified (surprise,surprise).
I diligently followed the instructions in the e mail as to how to inform them of this fact. Noted the phone number and my reference number,the options which I must plump for etc etc.
Dialled the number and female voice declared "This number has been changed" Then proceeded to rattle off a totally alien number while I try desperately to memorise and write it down on another scrap of paper,only to be informed that she would connect me!!!
Now a male voice comes on the line to inform me that THIS NUMBER IS NOT IN USE!!!! and that I need to contact Customer Services.
I didn'.t but may submit it as asketch for a T.V.farce

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

The inner workings of the DVLA would defy the intelligence of a rocket scientist, let alone ordinary folks like ourselves!

If you think this is bad, trust me here, the DVLA are a 100 times better than they were 5 years ago.

I had reason to update a V5C for a 1900 Argyll car for the museum I volunteer in, which required a revision to the engine c.c. section (wrong capacity having been recorded for the previous 50 odd years). I filled out the requesite sections, had it signed by the senior curator and included a covering letter explaning the circumstances for the discovery of the required revision.

Four weeks later we received a letter from the DVLA apologising, saying that the c.c. could not be changed until we included the manufacturers computer code for the engine type! Anybody know of a computer in 1900 - perhaps Bramley AppleMac! Rolling Eyes

victor 101 · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 446 Location: East Yorkshire

This is typical of the modern age, you phone the local car shop for a part and they want to know your registration number, and usualy in Little Britain style they reply 'computer says NO'

Roger-hatchy · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 2135 Location: Tiptree, Essex

It's a govenment department brains are forbidden in the building, they have to be left, if found, at the entrance.

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

Keith D · Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 7:26 am Post subject:

Is it only a problem when you contact your DVLA?

If I try and phone any State or Federal government department, I get a series of numbers I have to click. At the end of this I get thanked and told that my call is important (I'd hardly be bothering to go through this pantomine if it wasn't!) and informed that I have been placed in a queue. During the wait that can go on for an hour or more, I get regular messages that tell me what a wonderful job the government is doing (ha-ha-bloody-ha!) If I hang on long enough without falling asleep, I have great difficulty in understanding the Indian/Indonesian or Phillipino that answers me!

My bank is even worse! They have got this wonderful idea where a computer asks me questions and expects a verbal answer. I haven't met anybody yet that speaks in the right accent for the computer to understand.

And then some comedian tells me how wonderful communications are today. Rubbish, I had far superior service back in the 1960's. Advance Australia Fair!

Keith

Keef · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 371 Location: Sheerness Kent UK

I incorporated this wrong number on their paperwork in a complaint to DVLA sometime ago. They are still advertising it; when they bother to give one at all that is. Sad

Here's a selection of signatures you are supposed to decipher if you want to contact the person you wrote to in order to follow their complaints procedure :-

_________________
Keef - Sheerness Kent UK
62 A40 Farina, 65 VDP 1100, 74 Maxi 1750, 76 Maxi 1750, 77 Maxi 1500HL, 79 Maxi 1750HLS, 80 Maxi 1750
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustinMaxis/

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james.stringer · Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 27

On a more serious note, I have just been advised of a scam which is apparantly doing the rounds here in the UK. It involves an e-mail request from the DVLC asking to confrim the details on your driving licence in order to update their records. There then comes a warning that failure to comply with this request will result in a heavy fine. Attached is an 'official'-looking form for you to fill in on line. The scam is designed to provide the perpetrator with your details. Whatever you do, do not respond to it as it is certainly not from the DVLC.
Cheers.
Jim

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
It's not from the DVLA either. Very Happy

DfT the parent body for all the agencies has been putting out warnings for a while.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

Peter_L · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:49 pm Post subject:

Scams.... When will folk realise that e-mails are not a recognised form of communication. Banks - Governments - Credit Card Co's or any other such organisation never ask for information via e-mail.

. must dash, some nice lady in Nigeria wants to send me some money, but maybe I will fly out and pick it up because I have just been told I have won the lottery.
C U L