Motoring Offence

[decho]

I have just been told by my accountant about a rather large fee relating to my car appearing in my tax account. I have no idea what this is about, whether it is some kind of motoring offence or whatever. I certainly don't know of anything I have done wrong but who knows? I have never receieved any notification about anything either.
Is there anywhere online you can find out whether you have committed a traffic offence which you know nothing about?
Thanks

[Deso]

There is a transfer tax and 'admin' charge to pay when you buy a car. The tax, I believe, is 4% plus â,¬40 admin.

Did you get a receipt for this when you purchased?

Motoring offences would normally be sent to you, either at your address in Fuerte or UK.

[decho]

I bought the car from Orvecame in April 2014 and paid the tax at the time to them.
But this 'fee' is for â,¬1080 ......Yikes!! It just doesn't  seem to give any indication on the paperwork what this is for.

[Deso]

I would try googling anything on the paper work to get a proper idea what it is or at least who it is from.

Did you pay the tax over and above the sale price of the car or was it included in the 'screen price'?

[decho]

Thanks for your help Deso.
No, the tax was shown on the invoice and paid to Orvecame along with the cost of the car and was 13.5%.
The figures don't really tie up as 4% is nowhere near what the fee is.
I've tried translating sections of the 5 pages but most of it is standard apart from the bit that lists my reg no....very puzzling indeed

[Tamkid]

It is probably a long shot, but when you purchase a car the debt from the previous car owner carries over the new owner. It could be something along those lines, good luck in getting it sorted.

[emmi]

Surely your accountant can explain what it is?  I would expect my accountant to do some investigation if it appeared from the authorities.

[decho]

Yes indeed my accountant is going to the Tax Office  ASAP to get an answer....it's just seems so strange. As the previous owners were Orvecame(Cicar) I can't see there being any outstanding debt.
There just seems no indication on the paperwork as to what it's for.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Have you checked on  the Boletin?
http://www.gobiernodecanarias.org/boc/

[decho]

Looking closely at one of the pages I came across the following phrases which seems to suggest its import duty. As I bought from this used car from Orvecame I am surprised at this as I thought they would have taken care of all the paperwork.....or am I missing something? I guess it's a trip down there this morning to find out more...

tourismo national importacion and tipo de derecho

[Deso]

Hopefully, it is just a receipt and not a bill. 

[decho]

Unfortunately I think it's definitely a bill...it's got Embargo plastered all over the pages!

[emmi]

Well, this is a real cliff hanger!  Hope you get it sorted without having to pay - surely they would not be just "trying it on"?

[decho]

Well, this is a real cliff hanger!  Hope you get it sorted without having to pay - surely they would not be just "trying it on"?

So do I Emmi, I come out here to get AWAY from stress!

[Deso]

Methinks a trip down to Orvecame is on the cards, pronto!!

[Deso]

Any news?  We are waiting with baited breath here. 

[decho]

Went down to Orvecame who were very helpful but as much in the dark as me although I did leave the page suggesting it was Import Tax in my scanner so couldn't show them it😟
The only place to find out is the Tax Office and I have a meeting with them on Thursday, so watch this space!

[decho]

One thing I did find out though is that the Embargo is on my car, so if it doesn't get sorted soon they will take my car away!

[Tamkid]

Good luck in the Tax Office Decho, my few experiences have always finished in tears because of the Language Barrier, not the friendliest bunch of people I have met.

[decho]

Good luck in the Tax Office Decho, my few experiences have always finished in tears because of the Language Barrier, not the friendliest bunch of people I have met.

Thanks Tamkid, I'm taking a translator with me to help.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Yes indeed my accountant is going to the Tax Office  ASAP to get an answer....it's just seems so strange. As the previous owners were Orvecame(Cicar) I can't see there being any outstanding debt.
There just seems no indication on the paperwork as to what it's for.

Motoring offences committed by drivers of hire car vehicles that aren't fined on the spot are charged to the hire company, sometimes well after the event. It could be something like this that was only processed after you became the legal owner. You may remember the post I did regarding my Dutch friends who received a parking fine for 601â,¬ seven months after their alleged offence in a hire car. They successfully appealed on the basis that the GPS co-ordinates supplied in the paperwork placed the car out in the sea between Grandes Playas and Lobos!
I hope this is not the case for you as it puts everyone who buys a second hand car at risk of one of these fines appearing out of the blue.
I too await the outcome of your case with bated breath!

[decho]

Yes indeed my accountant is going to the Tax Office  ASAP to get an answer....it's just seems so strange. As the previous owners were Orvecame(Cicar) I can't see there being any outstanding debt.
There just seems no indication on the paperwork as to what it's for.

Motoring offences committed by drivers of hire car vehicles that aren't fined on the spot are charged to the hire company, sometimes well after the event. It could be something like this that was only processed after you became the legal owner. You may remember the post I did regarding my Dutch friends who received a parking fine for 601â,¬ seven months after their alleged offence in a hire car. They successfully appealed on the basis that the GPS co-ordinates supplied in the paperwork placed the car out in the sea between Grandes Playas and Lobos!
I hope this is not the case for you as it puts everyone who buys a second hand car at risk of one of these fines appearing out of the blue.
I too await the outcome of your case with bated breath!

Thanks Tamara I remember your post and since then I am very careful not to park down there, although dozens of cars are still parked there every day. If I've done something wrong I will pay the price for it but I try very hard to stick to the rules and what really bothers me is that the first I knew about this was when my accountant was preparing my Tax forms for 2016,  it was flagged on my account.

[Deso]

If this turns out to be a case of a past infringement and you did a debt check when you bought the vehicle which came up clear, you would have thought this would be defence enough.
Otherwise, even though you have done things correctly, you still end up copping for the penalty. 

Anyway, good luck with your visit today.

[decho]

Ok, so here's the story...not good but never mind.

There was a speeding fine issued in Nov 2014 for â,¬300. We were not using the car at the time but a friend was. We weren't even on the island. They sent out the recorded letter asking who was driving which I never got despite being recorded delivery...was not on the island at  the time and nothing was left in the mail box. So on non disclosure it was tripled to â,¬900 and then when passed to  the Tax people another â,¬180 Euros added. So total bill comes to â,¬1080....Nice!
Don't think there is much can be done, just have to pay it and put it down to experience, what is disturbing is the breakdown in communication meaning you can rack up this kind of fine without knowing anything about it! A VERY expensive lesson!

Still it's a lovel day here🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞

[emmi]

Oh dear, not a good outcome. Maybe a word with your friend
who committed the offence?
Hope you wished the Tax Office Feliz Año nuevo !
On a serious note though, it is a problem when you don't receive post.  I NEVER receive post at my house even though it is in central down town Caleta.  I often wonder if a letter lies lurking somewhere containing  bad news. Note to self - a visit to the main post office in Antigua is now in my diary to try and get to the bottom of the problem.

[decho]

Oh dear, not a good outcome. Maybe a word with your friend
who committed the offence?
Hope you wished the Tax Office Feliz Año nuevo !
On a serious note though, it is a problem when you don't receive post.  I NEVER receive post at my house even though it is in central down town Caleta.  I often wonder if a letter lies lurking somewhere containing  bad news. Note to self - a visit to the main post office in Antigua is now in my diary to try and get to the bottom of the problem.

Have to say the guy in the Tax Office was quite sympathetic, only doing his job and said it might be worth going to Traffico...but then that means having to go down to Rosario again and pay for the translator again...and so the cost goes up even more...with probably no positive outcome.

Yes indeed I will be having a wee word with my friend. To be fair though anybody can get done for speeding although I know myself I do try to keep within the limit although it's easy sometime to drift upwards without realising. But if we had known about it we could have paid up quick and got 50% discount so â,¬150 and the matter would be finished with, that's what's really annoying. I wonder if the recorded letter is still at the local post office? And would they give it to me as I don't have the yellow slip that should have been left?

[emmi]

Yes I agree speed is sometimes hard to keep low.  I was stopped and fined last year for speeding - and I NEVER speed! But at least it was done and dusted on the spot. Was pulled in and fined.
I think at Trafico, there is an English speaking officer. It might be worth a try if you have the time and inclination. If they know the facts, they may be sympathetic and reduce the fine. And pigs might fly!

[Tamkid]

Hi Decho, that's a bit of a bsrd, absolute rip off in the first degree, but something to think about. Keep an eye on your bank account outgoings, I know a couple on Tamaragua that had the same speeding fine taken out of their account three times.

[gattaca66]

That is really harsh, decho, I sympathise. Like the great majority on here, I hope, I try my darnedest to abide by all the traffic rules, especially speeds, but I too lend my car to family when they visit, and have probably just been lucky so far.

I also share emmi's problem of erratic post in Caleta, not helped by the fact that every property around here has at least two different numbers on the gate, and it's entirely possible others among us could have fines we are not aware of. Does anyone know if it is possible to check online anywhere, to see if anything is outstanding? Yes, I know, but thought I'd ask!

[decho]

this is just ANOTHER lesson learned...I have done this so many times since buying out here in 2013.
Never mind the sun is shining, it's been lovely and warm today and nobody died!