Postby Grumpy-b » Thu Jan 15, 2009 9:56 am
I have recently been in contact with my local DVLA office, (ie go and visit them because you are not allowed to telephone or e-mail them) with regard to my reshelling of my Multispace project.
The guidance from Swansea was just re shell it, stamp the chassis number on and then tell them about it. Local office was adamant this was wrong. However they wont come and see me / the vehicle / shell now, they will only inspect it once completed at their office (actually on the sreet in Ipswich on double yellow lines!!) Then they will decide if I can stamp it . or if theywant to give me a new Chassis number, or if they want to give me a new age related plate.
Even though I have the Documents from Citroen with the shell, DVLA now want me to get a letter from Citroen UK saying that they made the shell!!
And to finally add insult to injury, I live in suffolk, 20 miles from the DVLA office, but my workshop is across the border by 4 miles in essex, so they cant Inspect it anyway, I would have to go and discuss it in person with the Chelmsford office 35miles away (DOnt forget you cant talk to e-mail them). The term Jobs worth does leap to mind.
I also work for a Government body and we have been expressly instructed to deal with pepole and not be overly officious, so the DVLA attitude is actually contrary to Government intentions, particularly with regard to the inabilility to telephone or e-mail an office or inspector.
The best advice is take lots of Photos, have documentation, keep receipts, and be polite but persistent. Dont be afraid to ask to speak to someone higher. After my initial discussions with Swansea, and a visit to my local office where no one was able to speak to me, no subsequent promised telephone call happened. I therefore phoned swansea and insisted I wanted to make a complaint, I also insisted that I would not discuss it with the call centre operator, but demanded a Supervisor, remember to take operatives names at all times. Once I had a supervisor and stated my Complaints, especially the initial duff Swansea info, they couldnt have been more helpful. Even arranging the local office to call back.
Remember to be polite but firm, dont lose it and dont swear.
Grumpy-b