The DVLA are not a problem as I straightened them out when the car was involved in a crash and they wanted me to provide my insurance details.
What I object to is that the police can authorise work that the keeper has to pay for - note this is not a fine, it’s a fee. Really it’s a stealth fine with none of the safeguards that (adequately or otherwise) apply to fines.
A friend of mine once had his car stolen and recovered less than a km from his house. Nobody told him it had been found, they just had it recovered and charged him over £100 for the pleasure. In that case he was entirely the victim of the crime, and of a simple oversight by the police. Nobody should be able to commit you to a contract with a third party without your knowledge, not even the police.
Had they simply told him “Your car has been recovered at XYZ” it would have involved a 15-minute walk, the sweeping-up of some broken glass, and a drive home. As it was, it involved a bill, impounding of his car, complaints, recriminations, and a really nasty sergeant at York station.
Besides the fact I haven’t owned this car for over a year, this is WRONG on so many levels.
Acting as authorised agent for and on behalf of the local police authority, we recovered the above vehicle: FORD ESCORT G374CEJ Which had been stolen / abandoned / road traffic accident or was used in contravention of road traffic regulations. We have been informed that you are the last registered keeper.
The recovery charge for the vehicle is £105.00 and the storage charge whilst stored there is £12.00 per day.
TAKE NOTICE: that you may collect the vehicle at any time on payment of the sum due to us. Upon failure to collect the vehicle with in 7 days we are empowered by the above regulations to sell the vehicle and defray our costs from the debt through the court.
Arse. After typing all that I can’t be bothered to rant about it.