Got a letter from debt collection for £180 saying my car was untaxed

[PinkBump2022]

I got a letter from a debt collection agency saying on 14th April my car was untaxed and I now owe a fine of £180 to this debt collection for dvla. I never got a letter from dvla and as far as I know my car wasn’t untaxed as I use it all of the time…… do I have to pay this debt collection agency? How can I find out if it’s all genuine? Would I have heard from dvla first before the debt collection?

Most frustrating thread I've seen in a while.
OP do as you've been asked and check your docs and the DVLA website. Then maybe give the DVLA a call if not clear.
If you don't want to do any of that then there's a list of who the DVLA use for debt collecting if you simply search it.

It’s a scam

How do you think we will know whether you should have got the letter or not? Are people really this incapable of managing their lives?

And would the DVLA use a debt collection agency as a first step ?

Very much doubt it mtyself

They only fine you if your car is untaxed for >3 months, so an April date for a December renewal stacks up.

Contact the DVLA and ask them if it’s legit.

Sounds like a scam. Give the dvla a call on 0300 790 6802.

I fell into the trap of being untaxed. I do mine by direct debit, and got a note that it was due for renewal, and stupidly assumed it would still be automatically taken from my account ! I suppose its because a lot of renewals for insurances etc ate automatically renewed. Got a reminder from DVLA though not a fine

If you have been paying every month then you have nothing to worry about. That said could it be for a different vehicle? Did you get the slip from the DVLA when you got rid of your previous car saying you were no longer the registered keeper?

Don't waste your time trying to contact a service that is rubbish post covid, if their online system says you are taxed ignore the letter, if it says you aren't get it done asap. What good would spending half an afternoon on hold do?

Is it showing as taxed on the gov.uk website? Is your renewal date on there correct? Did the payment leave your account in December as expected?

If the answer is yes then the letter is either an error or a scam.

Don't call the number on the letter or follow any web links but report it to the DVLA as a mistake)/fraud.

Contact DVLA direct. Do everything direct with them. If a debt was owing, although sounds like a scam to me, pay he DVLA direct and let them liaise with the debt management company to cancel any information they have provided to them.

I mean you only have to check online to prove it?? Check your payments have all gone through and check online tax checker then you can send them that info.