I had exchanged my driving licence in November. I did not receive any bill. I thought it was their problem not asking for their money. I knew the bill would arrive some day. Last time I had something to do with a cantonal authority, it took them three months to issue my (residence) permit. This is a different authority, well, still it's Canton de Vaud, I did not feel bothered to try finding out where the problem was and eventually I completely forgot about all this...

Today I received an envelope from the "Service des automobiles". There was the 2nd "rappel" (dated February 18) that adds CHF 25 extra + CHF 20 charge for finding my current address.

The problem was that I had (officially) moved the day before getting the licence. The form I handed in contained the new address, but there was the old one in my residence permit. I specifically told the lady what the new address was and that the address in the permit was old.
For some reason they used the old address from the permit.


What are my options? Should I immediately pay all they want me to pay and forget about it? Should I try to talk to them and explain it all? Any chance of convincing them it's all their fault?

I would personally prefer to pay the original bill and then argue about the rest. But none of the previous correspondence actually reached me. All I've got is a bill for CHF 45 + 25 and a bill for CHF 20...

Thanks for any kind of help.

Argue it if you have the time and inclination. Else pay it. It's 45chf.

dave

I think most authorities assume you will pay for the post to send stuff after you, so I think arguing will be a tough job.

I tried to do the same today with UBS since they increased their Maestro fee without telling me, and I thought I pay for a year since opening the account but you don't, you pay per calender year. Anyway, they are obliged to inform me of price changes and they had not, but still they refused. Make of that what you will, but my point is, it is hard to argue and win.

Don't you have you mail forwarded to your new address. It's quite cheap foe the first 12 months. You would have already saved CHF45....

I had decided to pay, it was only CHF 45 extra. The office is a long walk uphill and my French is poor.

Still I felt none of this was my fault and I sent an e-mail. I got a reply that they remove the extra CHF 45 and will send a new bill for the proper original amount only. Unbelievable. I had no way to prove that it's their fault. Only they've got the form, it's them who searched for it to see who was right. I am really pleased...

Now I shall see whether I can get my money back. It doesn't matter that much now. What mattered was the fact who was right.

Thanks for your advice ...

This is rarely the case in most disputes. It more about who is prepared to settle, and the risk and effort involved in proving the case. Insurance companies for example don't fight for a principle unless a precendent could be set.

If it had taken you 1000chf of your time to make a 45chf point, would you still do it ? There is no right answer, but there is a pragmatic answer.

dave