SO annoying

[Melly1]

Just spent the most frustrating time trying to renew my tax disc. Went on the website, tried using the first pay option - kept getting so far and then page not found. Then tried the beta version link below the first option, got a step further and then it too got stuck. Repeated both several times ....

Decided to do it by phone. Got to payments, wouldn't accept my debit card, didn't want to use my credit card as would cost £2.50 extra. Eventually realised debit card expired end of July! Went through massive pile of post to find new card. It had a sticker on it saying something about if I wanted to use if for contactless payments needed to first use it in a transaction or at an ATM. S really isn't in the mood for anything spontaneous this weekend ie a sudden trip out to do this. So decided to try using it anyway. Went through the whole process again on the phone and thankfully was successful.

No less stressful than finding a post office that offers the service, queuing with the relevant documents and buying it that way.

Grrr. Thank you for the rant. Needed to get it out of my system.

Melly1

[charles47]

You're lucky in one sense, Melly1 - your replacement card was sent! Twice now I've had a card expire and no replacement card until I queried it.

[bowlingbun]

Hi Melly, that's very odd. The DVLA online disc renewal service is usually wonderful. We have to get a disc for about 10 vehicles each year, even the tax exempt 1909 steam traction engine has to have a disc, although there is no charge! I always dreaded getting the right paperwork for the right vehicle and going to the Post Office. Did you know they are phasing out discs altogether? I can't remember exactly when, but you may just have bought your last ever!

[Melly1]

Charles, that was exactly what I was fearing as I manically went through the "to do" pile of unopened post ... I didn't remember receiving one.

BB it is usually fine, I usually prefer the online to the post office malarkey, but NOT THIS time!

With S in the living room, I was having to appear outwardly calm whilst getting more and more frustrated on the inside.

Melly1

[Sprinter]

Did you know they are phasing out discs altogether? I can't remember exactly when, but you may just have bought your last ever!

You'll still have to buy 'road tax' but you won't have to display a tax disc.
All the changes are here...
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dire ... e-tax-disc

Furthermore, you wont be able to sell the tax if you sell the car. The old owner will have to apply for a rebate and the new owner will have to apply for new road tax.

No less stressful than finding a post office that offers the service, queuing with the relevant documents and buying it that way.
Melly1

I taxed my motorbike a couple of weeks ago and didn't need all the papers I had amassed, just the 'new owner' section of the log book.

Like you, Melly, I spent 52 minutes on the phone yesterday hammering out a new deal on my broadband. Most of that time was trying to get my credit card accepted for the first payment. Eventually got it done when I tried my debit card. Had to have a lie down in a darkened room after that.

[susieq]

I really don't see the sense in phasing out the 'paper' disc - just think of all those untaxed vehicles that are going to be using the roads when they should be off-road and there'll be no-way that the wardens/police will know unless they check every single registration

At least the way it is now it's obvious if a vehicle is untaxed - you wait and see, the revenue from vehicle tax will suddenly go into decline and all of us law abiding citizens will end up having to pay more to make up the difference

[Melly1]

Sprinter, you have my upmost sympathy.

Susie, I agree.

Melly1