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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think the DVLA should take responsibility for this?

48 replies

MrsBobDylan · 20/04/2021 18:34

We bought our home via probate two years ago. Previous owner's adult granddaughter still has her driving license registered to our address.

Six months ago she bought a new car. I know this because the new keeper papers arrived at our house.

She has subsequently got two PCN's and the DVLA have told me that they can't do anything because only the license holder can make address changes.

I have an email for this woman's uncle and have emailed him twice and the DVLA four times. I have also been in touch with the Council who issued the PCNs who advised me to contact the DVLA.

I am really worried and stressed. We have a lot going on at the moment and now I'm concerned these PCNs will eventually cause bailiffs to come knocking.

What do I do? Why isn't there some kind of means for dealing with someone who knowingly and fraudulently uses an address which isn't theirs?

OP posts:
Ilovepugs22020 · 20/04/2021 18:36

Just throw the letters in the bin and don't worry about them

Mamamia456 · 20/04/2021 18:44

Send the PCNs back to the council with not known at this address and let them deal with it. You're making this your problem when it isn't.

If it ever gets to the bailiff stage, which is highly unlikely then deal with that if and when it happens.

Original poster
MrsBobDylan · 20/04/2021 18:45

I like your user name @Ilovepugs22020 because I do too! If I throw them away will it be ok? Won't they come knocking for their money at some point?

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsBobDylan · 20/04/2021 18:47

Ok, that's good. Does anyone know if it could affect my credit rating? What if she has an accident and insurance needs to be involved?

OP posts:
Seeline · 20/04/2021 18:48

I would return to sender with 'not known at this address' written on the envelope.

itsgettingwierd · 20/04/2021 18:48

I'd send to person who issued the PCNs with a note "owner of that car does not reside at this address"

I'd take screen shots of this for you're evidence. But of course they cannot force you to pay for them because you don't own the car and it's not registered to a resident of the address.

HarrietOh · 20/04/2021 18:48

Absolutely can not affect your credit rating at all. Credit ratings belong to people not addresses, seems a very common misconception!

Poppins2016 · 20/04/2021 18:48

@MrsBobDylan

I like your user name *@Ilovepugs22020* because I do too! If I throw them away will it be ok? Won't they come knocking for their money at some point?
I wouldn't throw them away. Return them to sender and make it clear the owner of the car doesn't live there.

If you throw them away you may just end up with more contact being made!

Theunamedcat · 20/04/2021 18:49

Do you have photo id and proof your the legal occupants of the property? Like a council tax bill? Just flash those at any bailiff and give them any forwarding address you have they can't take your stuff for someone else's debt

Apparently dvla are supposed to fine you about a thousand pounds for not changing address in reality they CBA

Seeline · 20/04/2021 18:49

What did you do with the new registration documents? I would have returned those to the DVLA

Ilovepugs22020 · 20/04/2021 18:49

They might but won't hassle you. I had debt collectors coming to mine for the last house owners and they were fine once I showed proff of who I was and my council tax bill. Or as other have said just return to sender

viques · 20/04/2021 18:50

Send them back, not known at this address. Register the letter and keep the receipt. I would add in the uncles email address too because I am mean!

Thedutchessofhastings · 20/04/2021 18:51

This will come back to bite her. If the PCNs are ignored, she will end up with a conviction for failure to provide the driver details which will come with lots of points and a large fine. She is silly to ignore it and I can’t see what she stands to gain. It shouldn’t have any come back on you though as any debt will be in her name.

viques · 20/04/2021 18:52

I would also shred the new keeper papers. She’ll need them if she sells the car on. Oops.

GrumpyHoonMain · 20/04/2021 18:52

The council doesn’t care because debt collection agencies have ways of finding people. In fact they probably already have. Just chuck the papers in the bin

Sleepisoverrated150 · 20/04/2021 18:54

I had bailiffs knock on our door once for unpaid bills by the previous owner. They were really nice and polite. Explained the situation, showed them my ID and they never bothered me again

UhtredRagnarson · 20/04/2021 18:54

Six months ago she bought a new car. I know this because the new keeper papers arrived at our house.

That’s strange because she will have filled in the new keepers slip on the log book and will have put her own address where she currently lives. There’s no reason why her driving license being under you address would cause her new log book to come to your address.

jgw1 · 20/04/2021 18:54

@Ilovepugs22020

Just throw the letters in the bin and don't worry about them
Throwing away someone else's post may well constitute delaying its delivery which is a criminal offence under the Postal Act 2000.
notagainmummy · 20/04/2021 18:55

The DVLA won't even take calls relating to driving licenses at the moment. A simple 'not taking calls' message!

Betty000 · 20/04/2021 18:56

You need to send everything back marked with not at this address. Don’t get involved with emailing etc. Do not throw them away as they will keep on coming, you need to let the senders know she doesn’t live there anymore. No need for phone calls to dvla etc just return all correspondence, the granddaughter will have some hefty fines to pay!!

skeggycaggy · 20/04/2021 18:56

Don't worry, we had bailiffs call twice at our house (Two seperate debts) for previous occupants, it was no stress at all to tell them the person didn't live there.

skeggycaggy · 20/04/2021 18:57

So I mean, even if the bailiffs do come it wouldn't be a big problem. Just ignore it, you don't need to solve it. Its a problem mounting up for her not you!

CarmelBeach · 20/04/2021 18:58

I had a driving licence come to my address that wasn't for me. They cancelled it right away. Sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs bit does DVLA have a fraud department? I was worried about someone else using our address as ID.

When it arrived here, I scanned a photo to them and then cut in half after they confirmed cancellation.

CarmelBeach · 20/04/2021 18:59

@UhtredRagnarson

Six months ago she bought a new car. I know this because the new keeper papers arrived at our house.

That’s strange because she will have filled in the new keepers slip on the log book and will have put her own address where she currently lives. There’s no reason why her driving license being under you address would cause her new log book to come to your address.

So she registered the car to OP address?
UhtredRagnarson · 20/04/2021 19:01

So she registered the car to OP address?

Unlikely. It makes no sense. She’ll want the documents sent to her own address.

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