1

A situation that I was in recently got me thinking. Let me state the question first, then give context:

if the DVLA can (legally) say that they do not take (or give) information via email, can I (legally) say that I do not take (or give) information via the post?

The idea behind this is that I don't want to do post, because it takes so long and I don't have any proper proof of what I've sent. That said, this is a hypothetical question, not something that I'm trying to implement -- I am merely interested in the legal nature of it!

I had previously written context here, but the first answer is focused almost entirely on the specific case and why the DVLA have that policy. I understand why this is the case, I am merely asking out of legal curiosity, not have a whinge!

Sam OT
  • 161
  • 4

1 Answers1

2

In general if you receive a letter about something then a court is going to deem that you have been notified, so you can't just declare to the DVLA or anyone else that letters to you have no effect. If you were to try arguing that in a court then the judge would probably also fine you for violating the Silly Buggers (Prohibition of Playing) Act.

On the wider implied question of why the DVLA makes this policy:

  • The trouble with phone calls is that there is no audit trail. So if the DVLA accepted phone notification they would be unable to prove exactly who said what, so you could tell a bunch of lies and then claim it was the DVLA employee's fault for entering it wrong. (Yes, I know phone calls can be recorded, but keeping a record of everything for 6 years is orders of magnitude harder than spot checks for QA).

  • Emails are easier, but still have a tendency to go astray. Also some people don't look at their email regularly or may change their address when they change their ISP. They do however tend to notice when an envelope is delivered.

  • You are legally required to tell the DVLA when you change address, so the DVLA is entitled to assume the address they have for you is good, and hence its your fault if you ignore a letter they send to you.

Paul Johnson
  • 14,252
  • 3
  • 39
  • 63