Motor tax office - what the hell is wrong with them?

CiniO

Anytime I go there for something else than paying motortax, they can't do their work properly.

Few examples.

1. I applies for replacement licence, as I changed the address, and also I wanted to have a categories M and W added to my licence, as I was entitled to them. My original licence was takes, and I was given a receipt and promised my new licence will arrive in the post in next 10 days.
Unfortunately 10 days went past, 20 days, a months and nothing. I rang them, and person I was speaking to was very surprised that someone told me about 10 days, as now they have backlog and waiting time is 2 months.
I told that was absolutely unacceptable for me, as I was planning to travel abroad, and needed my licence. She told me the earlies can be in 2 weeks.
In 2 weeks nothing came in post, so I went to motor tax office, to ask. She said my licence was ready and gave it to me. But unfortunately, only address was changed, but categories W and M were not added. When I asked why they were not added, she got a manager to speak with me, and I was told by manager, that those categories were forgotten to be added to my licence, but I was entitled to drive tractors no matter if W was indicated on my licence or not, and I was not entitled to M, as it's only for people that held B licence before 2006. I held B licence since 1999, but when I mentioned it, I was told that it wasn't an Irish licence (it was Polish licence) and I only swapped for Irish in 2008, so I'm not entitled to it. I checked it later, and there is no mention in legislation that it has to be Irish licence category B. It just has to be B licence, so I'm perfectly entitled to category M, which they don't want to give me.

2. My car was crashed and written off, and later classified by insurance company as a write off. I wanted to get a motor tax refund, but rules are that you only can get refund if there is more than 3 months tax left. My car had 2 months and 29 days on the day it was written off.
My insurance company was willing to pay a refund for motortax, as it can't be obtained as a refund from motor tax office, but they required a statement from motor tax office that motor tax can't be refunded by them.
I provided all documents about the car (including write off documents) to the motor tax office, and asked for a statement motor tax can't be refunded by them. She copied all doc's and said a statement will be posted to me within 7 days. Unfortunately I'm waiting now for over 100 days, and nothing arrived.

3. I passed a theory test for truck licence (category C) and applied for driving permit in motor tax office. That time I was surprised, as I expected them to request all medical certificates, as even I provided them earlier with my licence swap application, I was sure they will request them again. Eventually they didn't, and even I was told my licence will arrive in post withing a month, it actually arrive within a week. That was a positive surprise. But thing's couldn't be so colourful till the end.
My drivers permit in table by category C has in section titled as "restrictions/information" written beside other codes, a code the same as on my normal driving licence by category B and D (70 PL) which means according to leaflet provided "Exchange of recognised driving licence".
That code makes sense on my driving licence, as my category B and D was exchanged from Polish licence.
But can someone please explain me, why my newly obtained learner permit for category C has stated it's exchanged from recognised dricing licence.
What's I'm affraid now, is that if I pass C category test and get a full licence in C, this code will still be there. Therefore if I even in the future will try to exchange my Irish licence for Polish licence, they will tell me in Poland, that it must be some fake, as on Irish licence it will state that category C was exchanged from Polish licence, while on my Polish licence I never held category C.


Is there anything I can do about those 3 things I mentioned?

pudzey101

Just keep going in mate till they give u what u want:) imo it depends on who u get there:) eg alot of lads from waterford i know come to tipperary tax office here because stuff gets done faster + staff are more friendly here:)

I imagine the folks you are dealing with are disinterested in the job, paralysed from the ears up or both.

limklad

I never had this problem with Limerick County Council Motor Tax office except with the wait with long queues at times.
I am surprise they (your motor tax office) never dealt with the Driving Licence there and then at the office. Any time I change address or replace my driving licence and arrive at their door. It was done within 15 mins and all with different people.

si_guru

Is there a cateogory M in Poland?

If not then your B would not cover it - hence why you did not get it.

marzic

you should write a complaint to the tax office first, detailing the issues and c.c to the ombudsman's office, its the only way someone will get any satisfaction from a complaint about local gov / civil service - they hate having to deal with the ombudsman's office.

meathstevie

si_guru wrote: »

Is there a cateogory M in Poland?

If not then your B would not cover it - hence why you did not get it.

Not necessary called category m in other European countries but I'm quite sure it does exist, licence for a moped from 16 years of age on is common all over the EU and a category B licence would allow you to drive it since the only test applicable for a moped licence would be the standard basic theory test.

CiniO

si_guru wrote: »

Is there a cateogory M in Poland?

No. Such category doesn't exist.
Over there everyone over 18 years old can ride moped, without any document required. People between 14 and 18 year old, can pass a small test, and get a permit for mopeds, if they want to ride moped before they are 18.

If not then your B would not cover it - hence why you did not get it.

I didn't get it, because people who are issuing licences don't know the rules.
Of course my B licence would cover M licence as well.

(b) For the purposes of subparagraph (a) a driving licence shall, in addition to the categories set out in column (2) of the Table above, be regarded as a driving licence in respect of the category M where the person held a driving licence in respect of any of the categories B, EB, C1, EC1, C, EC, D1, ED1, D or ED, at any time during the period of 10 years preceding the commencement day.

Above legislation commenced in 2006. I held B licence from 1999.

Gumbo

CiniO wrote: »

1. I applies for replacement licence, as I changed the address, and also I wanted to have a categories M and W added to my licence, as I was entitled to them. My original licence was takes, and I was given a receipt and promised my new licence will arrive in the post in next 10 days.
Unfortunately 10 days went past, 20 days, a months and nothing. I rang them, and person I was speaking to was very surprised that someone told me about 10 days, as now they have backlog and waiting time is 2 months.
I told that was absolutely unacceptable for me, as I was planning to travel abroad, and needed my licence. She told me the earlies can be in 2 weeks.
In 2 weeks nothing came in post, so I went to motor tax office, to ask. She said my licence was ready and gave it to me. But unfortunately, only address was changed, but categories W and M were not added. When I asked why they were not added, she got a manager to speak with me, and I was told by manager, that those categories were forgotten to be added to my licence, but I was entitled to drive tractors no matter if W was indicated on my licence or not, and I was not entitled to M, as it's only for people that held B licence before 2006. I held B licence since 1999, but when I mentioned it, I was told that it wasn't an Irish licence (it was Polish licence) and I only swapped for Irish in 2008, so I'm not entitled to it. I checked it later, and there is no mention in legislation that it has to be Irish licence category B. It just has to be B licence, so I'm perfectly entitled to category M, which they don't want to give me.

I was under the impression that M cannot be added anymore, you must do a separate theory test for anything motorbike related nowadays.

CiniO wrote: »

2. My car was crashed and written off, and later classified by insurance company as a write off. I wanted to get a motor tax refund, but rules are that you only can get refund if there is more than 3 months tax left. My car had 2 months and 29 days on the day it was written off.
My insurance company was willing to pay a refund for motortax, as it can't be obtained as a refund from motor tax office, but they required a statement from motor tax office that motor tax can't be refunded by them.
I provided all documents about the car (including write off documents) to the motor tax office, and asked for a statement motor tax can't be refunded by them. She copied all doc's and said a statement will be posted to me within 7 days. Unfortunately I'm waiting now for over 100 days, and nothing arrived.

this also sounds like lazy insurance company staff. the rule for a tax rufund is plain and simple and on the website in black and white. you must have 3 full months remaining and you cannot count the month in which to apply for the refund in. so for example, if you apply for a refund today (October), then your tax disc must be valid until end of January 2012 minimum, it sound like you didnt meet these conditions, so i dont see what the problem is there?

CiniO

kceire wrote: »

I was under the impression that M cannot be added anymore, you must do a separate theory test for anything motorbike related nowadays.

I quoted relevant regulations few posts above.

this also sounds like lazy insurance company staff. the rule for a tax rufund is plain and simple and on the website in black and white. you must have 3 full months remaining and you cannot count the month in which to apply for the refund in. so for example, if you apply for a refund today (October), then your tax disc must be valid until end of January 2012 minimum, it sound like you didnt meet these conditions, so i dont see what the problem is there?

There problem is that I asked for a little piece of paper saying "We are not able to refund motortax for CiniO, signed Motor tax office staff", which was requested by my insurance company.
I was told there was no problem with such statement, and it will be posted to me. Sadly it never arrived. I can see a problem here. Don't you?

unkel

CiniO wrote: »

they can't do their work properly

You'll be surprised that the public service in Ireland has greatly improved in recent times

20 years ago it took an average of 2 years to get a phone line switched on in your house

wmpdd3

It really depends on the office, I have heard of people traveling to Tipp and Dungarvan to get things done quicker but I find Waterford very efficient, I never had to wait more that 10 days for a licence.

CiniO

unkel wrote: »

You'll be surprised that the public service in Ireland has greatly improved in recent times

20 years ago it took an average of 2 years to get a phone line switched on in your house

Heh nice

I remember 20 years ago in Poland my father with the other lads from our estate had to go down with the shovel to dig a rows for telecom lines, as this was the only way to get a phone line quickly to a new estate.

So I think Ireland was not bad at all