UK NOVA - a word of warning.

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WOW! I had no idea you guys have to put up with all that!

I thought it was rough getting a VAT number .... only took 3 months, when I can get a sales tax number from most states with a few clicks.

I am glad we revolted when we did .....

Slick
 
WOW! I had no idea you guys have to put up with all that!

I thought it was rough getting a VAT number .... only took 3 months, when I can get a sales tax number from most states with a few clicks.

I am glad we revolted when we did .....

Slick
I think with so many 'bean counters' jobs being lost to computerization, those few remaining have a vastly inflated sense of self importance....

'Public servants' seem to easily overlook the job title...
 
Well I must say I have had nothing but very good service from the DVLA and often received back new paperwork in just a couple of days. Always 2 sides to a coin I guess.
 
WOW! I had no idea you guys have to put up with all that!

I thought it was rough getting a VAT number .... only took 3 months, when I can get a sales tax number from most states with a few clicks.

I am glad we revolted when we did .....

Slick
Worth noting for balance it often goes very smoothly and quickly
 
Yes.... Their arrogance, ignorance, condescending and disbelieving attitude has to experienced to be believed! As you say, the assumption is you must be lying, so please end all this silly nonsense and pay up...
Then the 'legal action' letters start coming... again, you can end this by paying up.... Did get a: 'Detector Vans Are Coming To ***** ******' postcard (My road printed in BIG letters), again, please pay and stop wasting everbody's time.
Then the doorstep calls... 'We owe it to our customers' Fine, but I'm NOT one of your customers... 'May we come in?' NO... My house, my choice who crosses the threshold.. 'We can get a warrant' Really!!! Go try...
Next call nearly got nasty: 'Most honest people let us in'... That almost earned the guy a black eye, but instead I found my solicitor's business card and told him that if I was to be accused of lying, best it be done through proper channels...
Guilty until proven innocent, obviously....
Yep I've heard quite a few stories like that
It's sad really
 
Yep I've heard quite a few stories like that
It's sad really
I did keep one of their 'circulars', you can get the gist of their attitude from the first two and last sentences, quoted here verbatim:
'Our records show this address still has no TV license. We've now passed your address details on to our Enforcement Division for investigation.'
'End this investigation by buying a TV license'
 
My old lady is just dying for the Beeb Police to roll up. Cannot wait to have a go at them. What puzzles me is who on earth bothers to watch their channels and indeed who listens to their radio? Why bother. PAY for their tripe?
 
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Well I must say I have had nothing but very good service from the DVLA and often received back new paperwork in just a couple of days. Always 2 sides to a coin I guess.
Tis a fair point. The last bike I imported was 2019. With the help of folk on here (especially Kommando), I got all my ducks in a row, then I phoned them to make sure I’d missed nowt, and it all happened fuss free.
 
My old lady is just dying for the Beeb Police to roll up. Cannot wait to have a go at them. What puzzles me is who on earth bothers to watch their channels and indeed who listens to their radio? Why bother. PAY for their tripe?
I grew up watching Australian TV so anything is better lol
 
A mate of mine doesn’t own one. He get them knocking on the door telling him their ‘detector van’ has detected a signal at his address. Trouble is, he genuinely doesn’t own one, so all this ‘detector van’ stuff is clearly nonesense!

My mates like you John, but he takes it one step further and will not allow them in on principle “I don’t have a tv, so I don’t need a license. That’s the end of the matter as far as you’re concerned, and in no way does it allow you to disbelieve me or enter my property’ etc. He has great fun with them !

I knew that I didn't have to let him in, and he couldn't have done anything. That's why it took him by surprise.

When he asked could he check around, I said go ahead....he went into the living room , there was one of my Seeleys in there, and 2 motors on the table....."I haven't got time to watch tv" :D

Now, back to the DVLA and NOVA
 
RMV in Massachusetts is very similar where in this state driving is a privilege, not a right. Years ago before on-line transactions I went to one of the RMV offices to get a plate for a Ducati 750 GT, I took my 3 year old son. Things started going down hill when the clerk noticed that the color listed on the B-O-S didn't match the color on the title, one said black the other said white, both colors were on the bike.

Well, she said, I'll have to run this by the supervisor. My son was getting antsy, so I turned him loose, told him that he might find candy behind the counter and off he went. He did a grid search which included going through all the desk tops; he was raising a lot of dust and causing the clerks come off their duty of being part of the problem. The original clerk came back quite flustered, I told her that it was OK if she needed to call the state-house, that we were in no hurry; my son was very happy searching for the candy; she stamped the paper work handed me a plate and registration and asked if I could recall my son; I told here that he was searching for candy and wouldn't stop until he found some or was given some; desk drawers started flying open and we left, me with plate and paper, him with a bag of candy.

So next time you have to suffer at the DVLA bring one of your grand kids...

Best.
 
RMV in Massachusetts is very similar where in this state driving is a privilege, not a right. Years ago before on-line transactions I went to one of the RMV offices to get a plate for a Ducati 750 GT, I took my 3 year old son. Things started going down hill when the clerk noticed that the color listed on the B-O-S didn't match the color on the title, one said black the other said white, both colors were on the bike.

Well, she said, I'll have to run this by the supervisor. My son was getting antsy, so I turned him loose, told him that he might find candy behind the counter and off he went. He did a grid search which included going through all the desk tops; he was raising a lot of dust and causing the clerks come off their duty of being part of the problem. The original clerk came back quite flustered, I told her that it was OK if she needed to call the state-house, that we were in no hurry; my son was very happy searching for the candy; she stamped the paper work handed me a plate and registration and asked if I could recall my son; I told here that he was searching for candy and wouldn't stop until he found some or was given some; desk drawers started flying open and we left, me with plate and paper, him with a bag of candy.

So next time you have to suffer at the DVLA bring one of your grand kids...

Best.
Unfortunately all of the Reginal offices were closed some years ago
All correspondence is with the head office by phone, letter etc
 
Unfortunately all of the Reginal offices were closed some years ago
All correspondence is with the head office by phone, letter etc

Pretty much the same here now. Having most RMV services online helps keep the ire down. My insurance agent gets my title work done and knows how to round any sharp edges.

Based on what has been written into this thread makes me feel sorry for you Brits, and gives me a glimpse of what is coming across the pond to the US. I recently read that London has restricted what and when non-electric vehicles may enter or leave the city. Not living there, I can't say if this is true or not.

Best.
 
Interested to know how much a television license cost each year ?
don‘t you also pay fees and taxes on your tv or cable provider ?
or is the tv reception just thru the air with an antenna ?
 
Interested to know how much a television license cost each year ?
A UK TV licence is currently £159 ($218) per year.

don‘t you also pay fees and taxes on your tv or cable provider ?
or is the tv reception just thru the air with an antenna ?
The UK isn't the only country that has a 'TV tax'.

"A television licence is required for each household where television programmes are watched or recorded as they are broadcast, irrespective of the signal method (terrestrial, satellite, cable or the Internet). As of September 2016, users of BBC iPlayer must also have a television licence to watch on-demand television content from the service."

 
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Interested to know how much a television license cost each year ?
don‘t you also pay fees and taxes on your tv or cable provider ?
or is the tv reception just thru the air with an antenna ?
Yep you pay the TV licence and also your cable/satellite fees
You are paying the license fee solely to watch BBC
But there are ways of not receiving BBC which are becoming popular and many people are doing so
At least we don't have to pay for a radio licence and a dog license anymore
And I expect to see the TV licence go the same way
 
You are paying the license fee solely to watch BBC
If that was true I would not need a license, but if you watch any terrestrial or satellite live TV but not any BBC channels, then you still need one. You need to go on demand 100% delayed viewing, no Freeview or Sky or FTA UK Satellite channels and no BBC on demand or on demand live events (so no live sports events on amazon Prime as an example).


The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

  • watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
  • watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
  • download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.
This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

So even if you watch or listen to no BBC content at all you are stuffed, you end up paying for a service you do not use.
 
If that was true I would not need a license, but if you watch any terrestrial or satellite live TV but not any BBC channels, then you still need one. You need to go on demand 100% delayed viewing, no Freeview or Sky or FTA UK Satellite channels and no BBC on demand or on demand live events (so no live sports events on amazon Prime as an example).


The law says you need to be covered by a TV Licence to:

  • watch or record programmes as they’re being shown on TV, on any channel
  • watch or stream programmes live on an online TV service (such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, etc.)
  • download or watch any BBC programmes on BBC iPlayer.
This applies to any device you use, including a TV, desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, games console, digital box or DVD/VHS recorder.

So even if you watch or listen to no BBC content at all you are stuffed, you end up paying for a service you do not use.
Hmmmm I didn't know that
I don't watch anything on BBC
I never watch any mainstream TV anyway
 
Here in Jolly Old Denmark, they had the same system with a license fee, which pays for the running of the public service channels, TV, radio and on the net. This is why there's no adverts on DRTV (and the same system applies to the BBC on the other side of the Ditch).
Same story, quite a lot of people don't actually own a TV but they all still use DRTV or radio or web content, just didn't pay for it, so the solution is to simply drop the license and include it in the income tax system. Simpler, less admin and everybody gets to contribute.

We also have commercial channers and stations, but I find commercials really irritating. Nothing like the US though, where the commercials are scattered throughout the program, but irritating none the less.
 
'..so the solution is to simply drop the license and include it in the income tax system. Simpler, less admin and everybody gets to contribute.'

Whilst I can see the logic in that, there is NO WAY I want to be taxed to pay the wages of Gary Lineker, Graham Norton and all the other overpaid talentless t*ss*rs that suck off the BBC. I think I'd have trouble sleeping if that ever came about..

At least with politicians we can vote them out of office once in a while, this gathering of freaks just multiplies and festers each year, unchecked and unwanted....

(Apologies to OP for getting away from those fine fellows in Swansea again)
 
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