Penalty point duration

homewardbound11

Hi
I'm wondering if there are people whom are having excessive delays in penalty points coming off your licence .
My offence occurred on the 9th of sept 3 years ago but in calling the hotline number today it will be December .
The offence was posted out to me and paid within 2 weeks of the offence occurring .

The lady on the phone ( snotty and dismissive) said it goes to the fines office before it can be processed .
I ask how in the name of God can it take 3 months to process .

I should have already known state bodies involved . Efficiency would be unheard of.
Either way it's going to cost in insurance terms due to this delay.

Stheno

It's the date the points were applied that counts, not the date of the offence.

homewardbound11

Got that .
Yes technically it's 3 years . But the delay and the uncertainty of the delay means that overlapping points could easily occur. As in my case .

CiniO

homewardbound11 wrote: »

Got that .
Yes technically it's 3 years . But the delay and the uncertainty of the delay means that overlapping points could easily occur. As in my case .

Points are valid for 3 years from moment they are issued.
If you were told they are expiring in December 2015, it means you were awarded those points in December 2012.
It's exactly 3 years, so hardly any uncertainty or overlapping.

Yes - there are delays with awarding point after offence was committed and fine paid, but that's a different matter.

homewardbound11

I'm afraid overlapping can happen. If processed efficiently I would have had 2 points coming off my licence now but instead I am stuck with 4 till Christmas . As it happens my insurance is due for renewal in a week so my quotes unfortunately have to reflect this and it's costing .

By the way . For anyone driving allot, this week I passed 10 speed vans already . All be it almost 1,000 Kim's completed . They must be short on numbers or money .

Stheno

homewardbound11 wrote: »

I'm afraid overlapping can happen. If processed efficiently I would have had 2 points coming off my licence now but instead I am stuck with 4 till Christmas . As it happens my insurance is due for renewal in a week so my quotes unfortunately have to reflect this and it's costing .

You could also take the view that if you drove more carefully you'd not have any points and could save yourself money?

CiniO

homewardbound11 wrote: »

I'm afraid overlapping can happen. If processed efficiently I would have had 2 points coming off my licence now but instead I am stuck with 4 till Christmas . As it happens my insurance is due for renewal in a week so my quotes unfortunately have to reflect this and it's costing .

By the way . For anyone driving allot, this week I passed 10 speed vans already . All be it almost 1,000 Kim's completed . They must be short on numbers or money .

Yes, but if processed efficiently, you would be awarded penalty points straight away after your offence, and had to declare them to your insurer then in September 2012.
As they were only applied in December 2012, you didn't need to inform your insurer about those points until then.

Either way you get full 3 years with points.

FlickBean

Were points only on your license for 2 years before, or has it always been three years?

thebiglad

homewardbound11 wrote: »

I'm afraid overlapping can happen. If processed efficiently I would have had 2 points coming off my licence now but instead I am stuck with 4 till Christmas . As it happens my insurance is due for renewal in a week so my quotes unfortunately have to reflect this and it's costing .

By the way . For anyone driving allot, this week I passed 10 speed vans already . All be it almost 1,000 Kim's completed . They must be short on numbers or money .

Your insurers will ask you a specific question - any points/convictions in last 3 years (generally) - if the points are dated more than 3 years ago then regardless of whether or not they remain on your licence due to 'admin delays' you do not have to declare them - just answer the question honestly and to the best of your knowledge.

homewardbound11

AnSwering multiple posters.

Yes I reported to my insurer before the December points were included but to be fair I did not receive a letter to when the were to be applied . I only got the original fine and to at it in 21 days . Which I did. So is it normal to receive a letter when the point would be assigned.

Re driving more carefully .
Try it some time . When you do over 1000 km a week.
Usually careful driver response is from someone who doesn't really drive a lot .
So I missed a 58 in a 50 . Be realistic not judgemental, I am an extremely carful driver and as most speed cameras were in 50 zones it is very easy to keep at the same speed as the traffic in front without knowing u slipped 8 Kms over.

CiniO

homewardbound11 wrote: »

AnSwering multiple posters.

Yes I reported to my insurer before the December points were included but to be fair I did not receive a letter to when the were to be applied . I only got the original fine and to at it in 21 days . Which I did. So is it normal to receive a letter when the point would be assigned.

Yes, normally you should receive a letter informing you that you received penalty points and stating at what date they were applied.
This must have happened in December 2012.
So if you were renewing f.e. in October 2012, then you didn't need to inform your insurer about penalty points, as you didn't have them yet.

Re driving more carefully .
Try it some time . When you do over 1000 km a week.
Usually careful driver response is from someone who doesn't really drive a lot .
So I missed a 58 in a 50 . Be realistic not judgemental, I am an extremely carful driver and as most speed cameras were in 50 zones it is very easy to keep at the same speed as the traffic in front without knowing u slipped 8 Kms over.

Driving carefully or safely has nothing to do with obeying the speed limit.
Don't worry.

Stheno

homewardbound11 wrote: »

.

Re driving more carefully .
Try it some time . When you do over 1000 km a week.
Usually careful driver response is from someone who doesn't really drive a lot .
So I missed a 58 in a 50 . Be realistic not judgemental, I am an extremely carful driver and as most speed cameras were in 50 zones it is very easy to keep at the same speed as the traffic in front without knowing u slipped 8 Kms over.

My last mileage claim was for 1666 kms between the 2nd and 9th September.
So I'd say I drive a bit, my claim the following week was for about 600kms

I tend to use my speedo rather than the traffic in front.

homewardbound11

Stheno wrote: »

My last mileage claim was for 1666 kms between the 2nd and 9th September.
So I'd say I drive a bit, my claim the following week was for about 600kms

I tend to use my speedo rather than the traffic in front.

You should know better then. Re judgemental comments

Stheno

homewardbound11 wrote: »

You should know better then. Re judgemental comments

Why? I'm not the one complaining about having points?

homewardbound11

Stheno wrote: »

Why? I'm not the one complaining about having points?

???

homewardbound11

Just saw you are a moderator . You must be a bundle of laughs . Might as well sin bin me now .

Odyssey 2005

Op. As soon as your points are off your licence (know the date,don't wait for the letter) inform your in's company and they should give you a refund. I did this about 3 weeks ago with Aviva and got refunded almost €60 with no problems or haggling. The lad on the phone told me very few do this.

Cabaal

homewardbound11 wrote: »

Try it some time . When you do over 1000 km a week.
Usually careful driver response is from someone who doesn't really drive a lot .
.

I know a chap that does a good bit more then that, has been doing it for years. 0 points.

Just drive more carefully and watch your speed, it's pretty simple

homewardbound11 wrote: »

Just saw you are a moderator . You must be a bundle of laughs . Might as well sin bin me now .

Stheno, like myself does not moderate the Motor forum. As such we are normal users in this forum the same as everyone else incl yourself.

There title of moderator has nothing to do with their posting style in this forum, same as it doesn't for me.

Del2005

thebiglad wrote: »

Your insurers will ask you a specific question - any points/convictions in last 3 years (generally) - if the points are dated more than 3 years ago then regardless of whether or not they remain on your licence due to 'admin delays' you do not have to declare them - just answer the question honestly and to the best of your knowledge.

The points only go on your licence after you get a letter from the RSA. So you don't need to inform your insurance company till you get the letter, if you tell them when you where caught the fault is yours not an admin delay.
By not informing your insurance company 3 years after getting caught but not 3 years after the letter you are leaving yourself open to having your policy cancelled, at best, which then becomes loads of fun when looking for a new policy or will you lie about that also.

sunnysoutheast

Del2005 wrote: »

The points only go on your licence after you get a letter from the RSA. So you don't need to inform your insurance company till you get the letter, if you tell them when you where caught the fault is yours not an admin delay.
By not informing your insurance company 3 years after getting caught but not 3 years after the letter you are leaving yourself open to having your policy cancelled, at best, which then becomes loads of fun when looking for a new policy or will you lie about that also.

The points come into effect on an effective date given in the letter, if I remember right? In my case, 3 pts on September 9ish for an offence on June 20ish, can't remember exactly.

I just scanned the letter and sent in to chill. No impact on premium.

You also have to notify any policies on which you are a named driver according to them.