VRT office fun

Matt Simis

A note to anyone planning on VRTing a car any time soon, assuming you bought the car in the UK, check the car model name on the top of the V5 document.
They seem to be so worried about "misconduct" in there that they doggedly stick to whats on the V5.

It said "A6 allroad TDI 2.7 Quattro V6 on ours. The UK Tax people made two mistakes there, its not a TDI (elsewhere on V5 says petrol) and the brand model name is "Audi allroad". Confusingly Audi released the 2nd gen allroad in 2006 as the "A6 Allroad". So as you can imagine the VRT office refused to VRT the car as a 9year old '2000 "allroad", but instead as an 2006 A6 allroad build in '2000. Yes, that retarded.
I had done it all for them online, handed them the statistical code yet was treated like a con-man.
No amount of logical deduction worked:

- The older C5 chassis AR has totally different engine and different BHP to the C6 2006+ AR.
- Clearly the V5 Document is invalid as it already marked as a TDI
- The car year is on the V5 (as year 2000) and their online system lists the A6 Allroad as "from 2006 only". Their own system actually states that yet she still insisted they have to follow the V5. She even checked with her boss.
- I asked her to just check online, I can prove this in 1min. "Well now if I checked online for everyone Id be here all day. Its the customers job to know what car they bought"!?
- They openly stated they have charged several people already likely this (VRT is like double+ the amount if they process it wrong).
- Ive signed a declaration that all the info above is correct, Id be guilty of tax fraud if I was lying, but apparently Im still likely a con-man.

The solution? I had to race to the nearest Audi Garage, pay them EUR20 to write on a "Compliment Sheet" that the car is an "Audi allroad" and a sign it. I was told the EUR20-compliment sheet is a special process they have worked out with the VRO!? The Audi manager also wasnt totally sure on what car the allroad even was (even standing beside it) nor had any idea what a "V5" document was. He also wrote the car down as an "allroad V6/V8". Obviously he doesnt know what the number after V means. AudiChris, a comment would be appreciated, staff training for Sales gone by the wayside or managers just exempt? Whats this EUR20 "specification check", where I had to explain in detail their product to them and help them write the note, word by word, about?

Went back with this "evidence" (including Car Userguide) and she just said "Ok" and proceeded. No photocopies (so much for safeguarding her job) or apology. Then was told the max on Laser card was EUR1500 and the VRT would be EUR1525, "you have to leave now we are closing." No note to say we tried to pay or anything. VRO office minions are just data entry operators, this was her chance to make an executive decision, but apparently they are happy simply not "thinking" and power tripping.


I swear to god, you try to hand them money and its a typical Irish fiasco. Im going to have to be dragged to the VRO for the next car, I dont care what my legal or "moral" obligations are, this is a joke and anyone running from Ferry to VRO is a chump.

Guy:Incognito

The €1500 laser card limit is a bank imposed one and is the same anywhere you can use laser.

kyote00

was in the Navan vro office last year, when the english guy from newcastle was trying to register a car.....huge row ensued about why he needed to pay VRT even though it seemed (to me and everyone else) that he should be exempted....

row ended with the revenue official telling him to "**** off back to "newkey"

It was worth the 2 hour wait just to watch it....:D

Matt Simis

Stekelly wrote: »

The €1500 laser card limit is a bank imposed one and is the same anywhere you can use laser.

I knew that, she didnt (she was putting it through and getting it rejected), its her job...

Guy:Incognito

Matt Simis wrote: »

I knew that, she didnt, its her job...

Could you not just hand her €25 and get her to take €1500 on the card?

Matt Simis

Stekelly wrote: »

Could you not just hand her €25 and get her to take €1500 on the card?

She packed up her paperwork and turned off the PC and had asked us to leave.. It was already after closing time, I guess and besides they dont take cash or credit cards.

Moanin

Back in 2006 I imported an A4 1.9TDI 100bhp and had to do the samet thing ,go to the local dealer in Navan and get them to write on a compliments slip that it was indeed a 100bhp as oppossed to a 130BHP even though the V5 said it was a 100BHP.I'm nearly sure I forked out €100 for the pleasure!

ArphaRima

On your Audi dealer bashing. Probably justified.
They were likely being positively unhelpful. After all you didnt buy in the ROI, and were looking for help in NOT giving them any business when their industry is in sh1t..
As for the rest, bureacracy at its best!

-Chris-

Matt Simis wrote: »

The solution? I had to race to the nearest Audi Garage, pay them EUR20 to write on a "Compliment Sheet" that the car is an "Audi allroad" and a sign it. I was told the EUR20-compliment sheet is a special process they have worked out with the VRO!? The Audi manager also wasnt totally sure on what car the allroad even was (even standing beside it) nor had any idea what a "V5" document was. He also wrote the car down as an "allroad V6/V8". Obviously he doesnt know what the number after V means. AudiChris, a comment would be appreciated, staff training for Sales gone by the wayside or managers just exempt? Whats this EUR20 "specification check", where I had to explain in detail their product to them and help them write the note, word by word, about?

I've never heard of a "specification check" or anything similar. If you came to me for the same information, I wouldn't know whether to, or what to, charge you.

Although most Audi salespeople get rusty on Allroad specs & engines (I know I do), they should still know the basics of what V6/V8 means, and how to check it.

In terms of training, as far as I remember, I've only ever done sales process, customer service or finance training with Audi directly (or internally in my garage). All my technical knowledge comes from other sources.
That being said, Audi do have a pretty comprehensive online training resource. Anyone who completes all the courses would know their stuff pretty well. It's not compulsory though.

cianclarke

Wow, that's an absolute joke.. *Insert some civil service bashing here*

Matt Simis

AudiChris wrote: »

I've never heard of a "specification check" or anything similar. If you came to me for the same information, I wouldn't know whether to, or what to, charge you.

Although most Audi salespeople get rusty on Allroad specs & engines (I know I do), they should still know the basics of what V6/V8 means, and how to check it.

In terms of training, as far as I remember, I've only ever done sales process, customer service or finance training with Audi directly (or internally in my garage). All my technical knowledge comes from other sources.
That being said, Audi do have a pretty comprehensive online training resource. Anyone who completes all the courses would know their stuff pretty well. It's not compulsory though.

You should ask about this specification check (ie he types in the VIN and then handwrites it down), it now almost sounds like a "ill scratch your back.." relationship the Garage and VRO have going on there. On the training, assumed as much. Ive never met a car sales person that actually seemed genuinely motivated and enthused for their product (Ive never met you either ). The fact he wrote that the car had a V6 and or V8 engine was ironic since we went to them to clear up any ambiguity. Its real simple, 2.7 = V6, 4.2 = V8.

Are you in Sales though? Surely you have done product training, whats new and different in X model, matching target market with correct car, understanding petrol, diesel, turbo, supercharger etc?

PS: Rusty on allroads? Shame on you, they rock!

Matt Simis

BTW, this happened in Navan, mine and the replies above. Little bit of a trend there, obnoxious behavior and "compliance slips" galore... hmmn?

DaMonk

ya sounds like somebody might be getting a cut of the 'check sheet' or whatever crap they called it.

I downloaded the registration form, filled it in, attached a cheque for the statistical code amount and sent it to ennis vro and they registered it. no vehicle check or anything. I got it in cheaper but the only problem now is the car is registered as a 110hp when its actually 130hp

Vertakill

Stekelly wrote: »

Could you not just hand her €25 and get her to take €1500 on the card?

Pretty sure you can't do that.
Iirc, when I was in there last they had a no cash policy.

So if you under or overpay you can't get change or give them the difference.

This is a real pain in the a$$ if you do out the VRO calculations online, go get a bank draft and go in to pay and the person behind the desk comes up with a slightly different result.

You have to cancel the draft and get a new one and queue up again... ugh.

Matt Simis wrote: »

She packed up her paperwork and turned off the PC and had asked us to leave.. It was already after closing time, I guess and besides they dont take cash or credit cards.

I thought, in most of these government run places, that once you get in like, 10 mins before closing they can't close up until your done?

I was pretty sure the tax place worked like that in Naas.

DaMonk

Vertakill wrote: »

Pretty sure you can't do that.
Iirc, when I was in there last they had a no cash policy.

So if you under or overpay you can't get change or give them the difference.

This is a real pain in the a$$ if you do out the VRO calculations online, go get a bank draft and go in to pay and the person behind the desk comes up with a slightly different result.

You have to cancel the draft and get a new one and queue up again... ugh.

Would you not just bring a cheque book with you?

Vertakill

I didn't have a cheque book back then and for whatever reason, I don't have one now.

But yeah, that would've been a hell of a lot more convenient.

caprilicious

I feel sorry for the folks in the VRT office, they don't make the rules just have to abide by them!
I was in my local VRO recently and the dogs abuse the poor guy was getting from a v loud Polish guy giving him dogs abuse because he had to pay VRT on his car.
He was a big muscley skin head, not the type of guy I'd fancy to have screaming in my face during the course of trying to do my job!

I do agree though, it is frustrating the no cash & €1500 laser card limit rule, I'd brought in a car a few years ago and had paid cash no probs, when I went back recently I hadn't realised the change of policy so wasted my lunch break from work queuing up to register the car only to discover the change & had to waste another lunch break going back to register it grrrr.


My other half had a Landrover Defender & obviously when the previous owner had imported it the VRO didn't know/werent told the model as the log book had 'Landrover Other' on it.
It did raise some questions when he later sold it :rolleyes:

JHMEG

That's sh1t, matt.:mad:

Stekelly wrote: »

The €1500 laser card limit is a bank imposed one and is the same anywhere you can use laser.

Per transaction. Speaking from personal experience that could easily have been put through as 2 transactions... I've done it a couple of times myself.

Skyuser

DaMonk wrote: »

Would you not just bring a cheque book with you?

What happens if the cheque bounces.

denisor

MattSims, Mind me asking what deal you did on the Allroad?, if you rather not discussing on tread please PM me. Did you have much choice buying, how do you find the car, what spec is it. etc.

Denis

Matt Simis

denisor wrote: »

MattSims, Mind me asking what deal you did on the Allroad?, if you rather not discussing on tread please PM me. Did you have much choice buying, how do you find the car, what spec is it. etc.

Denis

Well, I guess the original point of thread has been made and replied to and Im a bit calmer now, so no harm answering here.

Nothing particulary special about finding it, it was actually one of the very cheapest models on Autotrader, a garage was selling it on behalf of a customer (local Vet) who had already purchased the replacement from them, didnt care about the selling price, so they priced it aggressively, but wouldnt budge on the pricing, it was already trouncing the competition.
Usually on 2.7T (in particular, but any car really) Id be very dubious about buying from the lowest priced examples. But, I queried it anyway and it had full service history with Audi (which I confirmed) and had both turbos, rear air suspension and transmission changed last year (£8k serving spent with the garage), as well as the regular service items. The only visible prolem with it is some scratching and wear on the paintwork (the vet really used it as intended!).

Since getting it Ive fixed the rear wiper, changed the battery and alternator, put on new wheels, RS6 exhaust, Hotchkis sports anti-sway bars, lowered it with VagCom and remapped to 310bhp.

It has (as stock) full leather, Sat Nav + TV, power seats with memory, Solar Sunroof, cargo net, roof rails, tow hitch, air suspension. allroads are generally spec'ed at quite good S6 class levels, bearing in mind the allroad was in the position the Q7 now occupies in Audi's lineup. I purposely went for the 2.7t petrol over the 2.5diesel for the tuning ability plus the fact that diesel engine is ancient and not that good for mpg anyway. Plus the 2.7t is the same BiTurbo engine as in the B5-S4/B5-RS4, the best Audi's of recent years!