CAR LICENCE RIP-OFF

I AM writing this letter because I am concerned about the Department of Transport’s failure to send accounts in respect of Motor Licence Renewals.

The arrogant reply is that one should be aware of expiry dates. But what is the amount involved? Do you pay your rates, telephone account and electricity without knowing the amounts involved? By the same token try to find the right departments to get this information. You will spend the whole morning on the telephone trying to do this.

As an 80-year-old pensioner I don’t do internet transactions.

In my opinion this is a way in which the Department of Transport hopes to gain by levying fines on gullible motorists for an understandable oversight resulting in late payment of licences through no fault of their own. How have I arrived at this conclusion? This has happened to me before and also last month. Now I have the proof.

After failing to send me a renewal notice in August for my car, my licence duly expired with a penalty imposed for late payment of R155 and a fine of R500 for displaying an expired licence. My wife’s car licence is due at the end of September. It is now September 14 and no notice of renewal has been received. A close friend has two cars and both licences have expired because of an absence of renewal notices. I can only come to the conclusion that the department is being underhand as well as being dishonest and very unhelpful to say the least!

Why not inform the public officially that licence renewals will no longer be sent.

It is time the Department of Transport is being taken to task.

Signed by a very disgruntled motorist.