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Drivers stranded by car tax 'glitch' after Swansea transfer Drivers stranded by car tax 'glitch' after Swansea transfer
(about 1 hour later)
An Armagh driver has been left stranded, with a car he cannot drive, after he tried to tax his car on Monday and the computer said no.An Armagh driver has been left stranded, with a car he cannot drive, after he tried to tax his car on Monday and the computer said no.
Gerry Gormley went into Lurgan post office on Monday and tried to pay his car tax - but he was told that the computer declined his application.Gerry Gormley went into Lurgan post office on Monday and tried to pay his car tax - but he was told that the computer declined his application.
The problem follows the switch of Driver and Vehicle Agency services from Coleraine to Swansea last month.The problem follows the switch of Driver and Vehicle Agency services from Coleraine to Swansea last month.
The DVLA said technical difficulties had affected a small number of drivers.The DVLA said technical difficulties had affected a small number of drivers.
Mr Gormley said that when he rang Swansea, they said: "A lot of these cars are not on the database since we took over from Coleraine.Mr Gormley said that when he rang Swansea, they said: "A lot of these cars are not on the database since we took over from Coleraine.
"We can't tax your car, someone from Swansea will ring you in the next two or three days.""We can't tax your car, someone from Swansea will ring you in the next two or three days."
He is still waiting for a reply.He is still waiting for a reply.
Mr Gormley went to the local police station to establish whether he could still drive the car.Mr Gormley went to the local police station to establish whether he could still drive the car.
"A young lad said they were aware that there was a problem and a lot of people could not get their cars taxed," he said."A young lad said they were aware that there was a problem and a lot of people could not get their cars taxed," he said.
"In the meantime, we have a car sitting in the driveway that is insured and MOT-ed and we cannot use it.""In the meantime, we have a car sitting in the driveway that is insured and MOT-ed and we cannot use it."
He has not been able to get an answer and feels exasperated.He has not been able to get an answer and feels exasperated.
"He couldn't give me an answer, nor could Swansea," he said."He couldn't give me an answer, nor could Swansea," he said.
"How long are we going to have to wait - Is it a week or a month? What about anybody with a fleet of buses or 20 or 30 taxis to tax? What are they going to do? Park the whole lot up until Swansea sorts this out?""How long are we going to have to wait - Is it a week or a month? What about anybody with a fleet of buses or 20 or 30 taxis to tax? What are they going to do? Park the whole lot up until Swansea sorts this out?"
"This lad said quite a few people have been asking the same thing."This lad said quite a few people have been asking the same thing.
"There have been quite a few people needing tax to commute. If you park your car nowadays and have no tax disc, it would be lifted and impounded - so who pays that fine?""There have been quite a few people needing tax to commute. If you park your car nowadays and have no tax disc, it would be lifted and impounded - so who pays that fine?"
A DVLA spokeswoman said:"The recent changes to vehicle registration and licensing services in Northern Ireland have been delivered in full consultation with the Driver and Vehicle Agency and stakeholders in Northern Ireland.A DVLA spokeswoman said:"The recent changes to vehicle registration and licensing services in Northern Ireland have been delivered in full consultation with the Driver and Vehicle Agency and stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
"We worked closely to address any anomalies identified between the two systems and as a result, the majority of Northern Ireland records were successfully merged with DVLAs on 21 July."We worked closely to address any anomalies identified between the two systems and as a result, the majority of Northern Ireland records were successfully merged with DVLAs on 21 July.
"However, there have been some technical difficulties for a small number of vehicle records that have migrated from Northern Ireland, which has resulted in a small number of customers having difficulty taxing their vehicle, particularly if they have recently changed their registration number."However, there have been some technical difficulties for a small number of vehicle records that have migrated from Northern Ireland, which has resulted in a small number of customers having difficulty taxing their vehicle, particularly if they have recently changed their registration number.
"We are working to resolve this issue quickly for our customers and apologise for any inconvenience caused.""We are working to resolve this issue quickly for our customers and apologise for any inconvenience caused."
In July, DUP MLA Michelle McIlveen said the switch to Swansea had been causing problems for local car dealers. In England, a car must get an MOT test after three years; in Northern Ireland, the test is due after four years.
"Where a car is registered in England in June 2011 and then sold in Northern Ireland in July 2014, a dealer can find himself being told that an application for car tax will not be processed because the computer system will state that it requires an MOT," she said.
"At the same time, the vehicle cannot be MOT'd in Northern Ireland because it is not old enough. In dealing with a situation such as this, Swansea, after some negotiation, agreed to process the application but it would take up to four weeks."
Such delays were a problem for dealers, she said.