Another Day … Another ScumBag

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi MichaelG, there seems to be a lot of these things going around, the thing that surprises me, is the number of people who don’t know when there car tax and insurance and MOT are due, and or how to find out if they are still in date, and they fall for these scams.

Regards Nick.

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Did it have your car registration?

[Robert Atkinson 2]

On Robert Atkinson 2 Said:

Did it have your car registration?

No

and I have already received my genuine V11W in the Mail

Tax actually runs out on 31 July 2025

MichaelG.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

I dont know how they could not be aware regarding their tax or insurance or indeed their MOT.

I only have to look at my car windscreen to check my tax, insurance, DOE [MOT to you ]

Also, the test centre will send me a reminder some weeks before the due date and my insurance will make sure to remind me how much they value my custom, likewise   my local Council will be quick to get their spoke in as well.

So—How could I go wrong ????

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

You would have to be very unaware to respond to an email about car tax that didn’t include your name or car registration even if you don’t know when you tax expires.

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

The scammers do not need know who you are, where you live, what car you have, its registration-number or its legal status. They send out blizzards of theft attempts in the hope usually realised, of catching enough unwary victims to make their crime worthwhile.

Another theft system has raised its ugly head in towns where the meters in public car-parks offer payment by QR codes. The thieves stick their own codes over the official ones, diverting the payment to themsleves and presumably also giving the bank details of the unfortunate motorist who is also now parking without paying, in the Council’s view.  Seeing how some people use their ‘phones to pay in shops, I assume that uses a QR code displayed on the card-reader screen, and wonder if that could be possible for parking-meters.

 

A brief item on the News this morning stated that the Indian police have broken up a gang there who had scammed a lot of people in Britain. Two arrests have been made, presumably of the gang owners.

……

Vehicles in the UK used to have to have their annual Road Fund Licence (tax!) disc displayed in the windscreen, but not the MoT and Insurance. In some European countries the insurance is indicated by a sticker on the number-plate. The tax-disc (not the tax!) was stopped some years ago now though you sometimes see vintage cars with their last disc left still in place like a badge.

It was stopped because it is no longer necessary to display such information.

The Police and other authorities in the UK can determine the tax, MoT and insurance legality of a vehicle very easily and rapidly, via the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency’s web-site.

This site is very clear and easy to use, and some of the information is readable by the public, to help you keep your own car legal, to help potential buyers of second-hand cars, or reporting abandoned vehicles. The public page does not reveal the Registered Keeper of the vehicle (usually but not necessarily the owner, but anyway the person listed as responsible in law for its use on public roads.)

The DVLA and the Insurers inform the keeper of due tax and insurance respectively, but it is up to the individual to know when the MoT expires, and book the test. (It does not apply to vehicles less than three years old.)

 

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

The senders e-maill address would have been a dead ringer.  Any communication I’ve had recently regarding VED has come from ……@dvla.gov.uk.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I wasn’t really expecting so much comment

… The ‘topic’ title expresses my reaction.

MichaelG.

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

Just when you thought things could not get any worse, or the scum cannot sink any lower.

On the 4th of July we visited a Private Hospital on the outskirts of Gloucester. I have been to this hospital before and while their website clearly states Free Car parking. We received this morning a fine for £100 or £60 if paid early.

Dashcam footage shows no parking ticket machines nor any of the usual “Have you Paid and Displayed” signs.

Thus I thought I had better let other Forum members know just to put them on their guard. Especially if they are visiting other such establishments. For my part I cannot think of anything lower. It is bad enough being ill, without having to put up with these scum bags.

As far as I am concerned it is scam and have notified the Police, I am not holding my breath.

Regards

Gray,

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

Another warning:
If you visit a Tesco or other filling station that has “ForecourtEye” signs displayed make sure you get a VAT receipt.
About 4 weeks after filling up at my local Tesco I got  payment demand email from ForecourtEye saying I’d left without paying. Now I don’t dispute filling up even though ForecourtEye’s website didn’t have the photos they claimed too. I’d used “Pay at Pump” which puts a hold on your debit / credit card and then charges the correct amount at the end. Sure enough there was no charge on the card. Somewhere in the process Tesco’s or the bank’s systems failed and the final charge wasn’t made. So I paid for the fuel, but hers the rub: ForecourtEye charged nearly as much again as a service fee. I object to this as it was Tesco’s error not mine. I asked ForecourtEye for copies of the photos and proper VAT receipt(s) for the fuel and charges. Neither have been provided.
Their approach in the inital letter was bullying and they threatened legal / criminal action. Once they had the money they dstopped responding.
It looks like Tesco sells the debt to ForecourtEye for X% of actual amount. I’m sure if I didn’t pay they would just pass it on again to a debt collection agency. At no time do they care what actually happened.
I’ve dropped it partly because the relatively small amount is not worth my time but more because it was causing SWMBO a lot of stress.

Robert.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

In this quaint little country, one still needs to display ;

A  Tax Disc

B Insurance Disc [Which is NOT  a disc ! dont ask ]

C DOE or NCT.

All this, just to be sure, to be sure !

Does it work, or make any difference ?

Not really, since there are more than 60000 uninsured cars driving around here.

One might ask what are the police doing about it ?

Very little, it would seem. Remembering that this is an Island only 300 miles long by 175 miles wide, the fact that such a situation can exist is little short of amazing.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I parked at my local hospital when going for some test or other. Paid on leaving as required. Few days later got a fine for ‘non payment’. Fortunately I’d paid by credit card and kept the receipt, otherwise I wouldn’t havd had a leg to stand on. Didn’t get any explanation or apology.

On the subject of supermarket forecourts, i filled my car up and it showed 52 litres. The tank capacity is 42 litres. Neither the supermarket nor trading standards showed any interest in what was clearly a faulty pump. No matter how low, I’ve never managed to get more than 40 litres in anywhere else. As it was pay at pump I didnt have the option of not paying

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

If you write to trading standards they are duty bound to investigate

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

The scammers seem to have added the winter fuel payments inspired chaos to their scheme.

I got a text saying that I had not filled in a claim form with the usual follow this link etc!

 

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

My nearest Tesco filling-station with Pay-At-Pump options, one pump has been telling us for months that its receipt-printer is not working, and helpfully suggests using another pump.

Clearly the company cannot be bothered to have it repaired, but why should it? It is one of the huge supermarket chains that have put so many independent businesses out of action, giving us little choice.

…..

I’ve not (yet?) received a bogus “Winter Fuel Payment” claim but have from time to time had strange landline telephone calls trying to sell loft insulation, and claiming the need shown by the entry for my home on some “survey” or “register” or other. Asking what survey, when and by whom, normally terminates the call immediately!

A friend in the building-trade told me one such caller argued with him over the building-standards, and was quite rude when told the alleged standard did not exist. Clearly the cold-callers hope not to ring anyone who knows anything about buildings.

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

I never got my Tax reminder this month but I know it was due so all done and dusted.

All previous years have had a reminder is this the DVLA trying to save money?

I have medical eye issues so have been having a DVLA field of vision test every 3 years and passed every time.

Their reply at times has been very long winded and sometimes a very fast reply.

 

[DiogenesParticipant @diogenes]

You should have gotten one, Windy – if the tax was due at end of July you will probably get one in next couple of days.

– Mrs Diogenes got hers yesterday.

They are still sending them, but are trying to get more people to sign up to getting them by text or email.

On the front of the envelope it says;

“You can now choose to receive vehicle tax reminders by text or email” – and a link to here.

https://www.gov.uk/driver-vehicles-account

..it looks like they’ve given some thought to making it useful..

[bernard towers]

On bernard towers Said:

If you write to trading standards they are duty bound to investigate

Thanks Bernard,

That was one avenue I had not considered. I will be sending our Trading Standards office an email.

Regards

Gray,

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Have you actually contacted the hospital about this?

 

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Both quite a few months ago, evidence lost. Life’s too short,  I just dont use that supermarket, and tell friends and family. Im not going public with the name, dont want a crooked lawyer on my back.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

I never “Pay at Pump”, and always get a receipt/ credit card record at the kiosk.

A friend (A manger in HMRC) was accused by the Police, of not paying. He produced his receipt at the filling station and was credited for a tank of fuel, as compensation.

I avoid car parks where payment is by smart phone, since I don’t have one.

Howard

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I have just seen off the same Road Fund Tax “demand”, and have reported it, blocked the sender and domain and deleted it.

I also received a curious e-mail apparently from an individual called Selena Summat-or-other, and on Outlook, saying something about my use of Google. Which I hardly ever use. Report, block sender but not domain, delete….

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I got my vehicle tax reminder yesterday through the posts from the DVLA, and after having my current car for zero tax for one year, it’s n ow going to cost me £20.00, but it’s still better than my previous cars of £30.00.

Regards Nick.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

… and much better than mine, at £430.00

🙁

MichaelG.

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