No Car Tax Fine - Please help?!

[slinkee]

I traded in a car last November and didn't realise I had to send the yellow slip off to the DVLA (I know - stupid me!) Last week I recieved a letter forwarded on from our old address demanding payment of £80 for the car not being taxed in the December. I immediatley rang the company and rang the DVLA and realised my mistake so sent off the yellow slip and a copy of the invoice from the garage showing what date we purchased the new car/traded in our old car to the DVLA. I also sent a copy of the reciept to the company chasing the payment. I recieved a letter from them today demanding immediate payment as I didn't send the yellow slip off so am liable for the payment. I was told on the phone though that I should send in the letter I recieve from the DVLA saying the car is no longer mine but I haven't recieved it yet. What do I do? Do I have to pay it? Does anyone know if the letter I recieve from the Dvla wil be backdated to November and will this be sufficient? Any advice greatly appreciated!
I just put this in Chat and realised this might be a better place to put it!

By not sending off the bottom slip you have broken the law. The car (and tax and fines etc.) is your responsibility until you have done that. As a result of this I am not sure you would have any rights to not pay - but they may take this into account.

What letter are you expecting to receive from DVLA? I don't recall recieving anything from them under normal circumstances when I have sold cars other than the logbook for the new car (which actually has nothing to do with the old car). Have they told you they will send you a 'curtesy letter' of some kind saying that you sold teh car 6m ago?

The DVLA will send me a letter stating as from such and such a date that I am no longer the registered keeper and am not liable for it etc (standard letter). My DH said anyone who sells or trades in a car should recieve a letter from the DVLA. I did speak to the DVLA yesterday as I was so worried and they confirmed it would be backdated to when I traded it in. I am liable until this letter is recieved but once letter is recieved and I send a copy to this company who are chasing me then I won't be liable.

I would wait until you get the DVLA letter.

The debt collection company have got a vested interest in getting their money - they probably don't care who from particularly. They know who and where you are so you are the obvious first target. If you can prove you are not the owner then they will probably look elsewhere.

Can you find out if anyone bought the car ? The new owner should have registered it as well - so there should be a paper trail in both directions - yours that you forgot and the change to new ownership.

I will try and hang on until I get the letter from the DVLA. I hope they dont take any action in the meantime! I don't know if the garage would tell me if and to whom it was sold. The collection agency have seen a copy of the sales invoice though with the details of the car in question used as part exchange. I guess they will only accept the DVLA letter as proof though. I am worried now about having a bad credit rating or something or does this only happen if it goes to court? I can't imagine they would take me to court though when I have advised them they will recieve a letter witin the next 4 weeks and sent in a copy of the sales invoice as some kind of prrof to show I'm not lying. Plus its not a huge amount (£80)

Slinkee, how has this panned out for you? The exact same thing is happening to my parents - they taxed a car last September for a year, but have since sold it and my dad forgot to send off the slip. They are being pursued for non-payment of car tax, again for the sum of £80, and have been corresponding frantically with DVLA and the debt collectors since this started for them in June, but today they got the solicitor's letter threatening imminent legal action. Did you get the letter from DVLA confirming you are no longer registered keeper, and did it shut up the debt collectors?

Hope you can reply because I'm desperate for my poor elderly parents who are forgetful as old people are.

fluffyanimal, i don't know if you will see this. I only just saw your post (was slinkee and name changed) I too recieved a letter today from sol's threatening legal action. I just wondered what happened with your parents? thanks

I forgot to send off the slip when I sold my car (I gave birth 4 days after so I felt I had a valid excuse). I then got a letter many months later saying I hadn't taxed it. I wrote to the DVLA explaining I had sold the car and gave them the new owners details (luckily I still had those). They then very quickly (within a week) sent me a confirmation letter stating that they had updated their details and I was no longer the registered owner of the vehicle. That was then the end of the matter with the tax.

Hope that helps someone.