warning for UK expats

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:26pm

6 replies311 views7 members subscribed

Willlyn2021

Posts: 27

2 helpful points

Location: Benissa

Joined: 20 May 2021

This information may helpful

A week ago last Monday my wife went in Denia hospital and she died on Wednesday, very suddenly. How ever I collected-her belongings including her campervan last Tuesday to return it to our home and then to the UK. Unfortunately the Benitatxell police stopped me asked for my driving licence which is a bran new Spanish one and that was illegal, Then the Spanish van insurance that too was illegal and the temporary ITV which was done and passed due to the long covid lock-in. that too was illegal. They then said something about it being sorned. I did not know what that was. However the police then conficated the vehicle and said that sorn meens that the vehicle is totally unfit for the road as said by the UK driving office. They have said that due to sorn the camper can never ever be driven on the roads again and have refused to release it to a grua to transport it back to the UK.

I read on the DVLA site that the police are absolutely wrong. To unsorn it it must be transported to the UK and kept off the road, You then apply for an MOT, carry the email with confirmation and if it passes the DVLA are informed and they then take the tax from the bank and remove the sorn which they have permission. THAT'S JOB DONE..

So be warned

For me this is the very last straw. I am going to collect my wife's ashes slam the door and at 85 return to the UK. We own our house but I have had just about enough of Spain.

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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:04pm

Pix Elated

Super helpful member

Posts: 1221

1066 helpful points

Location: Villamartin

Joined: 13 Apr 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:04pm

Willlyn2021 wrote on Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:26pm:
This information may helpful
A week ago last Monday my wife went in Denia hospital and she died on Wednesday, very suddenly. How ever I collected-her belongings including her campervan last Tuesday to return it to our home and then to the UK. Unfortunately the Benitatxell police stopped me asked for my driving li...

Read more...

...cence which is a bran new Spanish one and that was illegal, Then the Spanish van insurance that too was illegal and the temporary ITV which was done and passed due to the long covid lock-in. that too was illegal. They then said something about it being sorned. I did not know what that was. However the police then conficated the vehicle and said that sorn meens that the vehicle is totally unfit for the road as said by the UK driving office. They have said that due to sorn the camper can never ever be driven on the roads again and have refused to release it to a grua to transport it back to the UK.
I read on the DVLA site that the police are absolutely wrong. To unsorn it it must be transported to the UK and kept off the road, You then apply for an MOT, carry the email with confirmation and if it passes the DVLA are informed and they then take the tax from the bank and remove the sorn which they have permission. THAT'S JOB DONE..
So be warned
For me this is the very last straw. I am going to collect my wife's ashes slam the door and at 85 return to the UK. We own our house but I have had just about enough of Spain.

So sorry to hear what a nightmare you have had at a time when you are at your most vulnerable.

Unfortunately it appears no one in any position of power has the first idea of the rules and laws in Spain.

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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:18pm

camionpilot

Helpful member

Posts: 433

194 helpful points

Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 19 Feb 2018

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:18pm

Pix Elated wrote on Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:04pm:
So sorry to hear what a nightmare you have had at a time when you are at your most vulnerable.
Unfortunately it appears no one in any position of power has the first idea of the rules and laws in Spain.

Sent you a pm .

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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:19pm

DUI

Very helpful member

Posts: 382

593 helpful points

Location: Denia

Joined: 6 Nov 2021

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:19pm

Willlyn2021 wrote on Thu Nov 25, 2021 1:26pm:
This information may helpful
A week ago last Monday my wife went in Denia hospital and she died on Wednesday, very suddenly. How ever I collected-her belongings including her campervan last Tuesday to return it to our home and then to the UK. Unfortunately the Benitatxell police stopped me asked for my driving li...

Read more...

...cence which is a bran new Spanish one and that was illegal, Then the Spanish van insurance that too was illegal and the temporary ITV which was done and passed due to the long covid lock-in. that too was illegal. They then said something about it being sorned. I did not know what that was. However the police then conficated the vehicle and said that sorn meens that the vehicle is totally unfit for the road as said by the UK driving office. They have said that due to sorn the camper can never ever be driven on the roads again and have refused to release it to a grua to transport it back to the UK.
I read on the DVLA site that the police are absolutely wrong. To unsorn it it must be transported to the UK and kept off the road, You then apply for an MOT, carry the email with confirmation and if it passes the DVLA are informed and they then take the tax from the bank and remove the sorn which they have permission. THAT'S JOB DONE..
So be warned
For me this is the very last straw. I am going to collect my wife's ashes slam the door and at 85 return to the UK. We own our house but I have had just about enough of Spain.

Really sorry for your loss and I understand it’s a very difficult time for you.I don’t understand about the illegal licence,ITV and insurance.If possible could you elaborate so I might be able to understand better?

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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:58pm

Kimmy11

Legendary helpful member

Posts: 6870

12563 helpful points

Location: Formentera Del Segura

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:58pm

Hi Willlyn2021,

I responded to your post in another thread:

"Hi Willlyn2021,

I'm sorry to hear of the sudden loss of your wife.

Have you checked whether you late wife's vehicle has a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice)? If you know the vehicle's registration number, you can check its status here:

https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

It is illegal to drive, or even park, a SORN vehicle on a public road, so if the police can prove that, it would explain their actions. However, if you can prove otherwise, via the DVLA website, this may help retrieve your late wife's campervan.

I hope you're able to resolve this."

Kind regards,

Kim

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 3:12pm

Willlyn2021

Original Poster

Posts: 27

2 helpful points

Location: Benissa

Joined: 20 May 2021

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2021 3:12pm

DUI wrote on Thu Nov 25, 2021 2:19pm:
Really sorry for your loss and I understand it’s a very difficult time for you.I don’t understand about the illegal licence,ITV and insurance.If possible could you elaborate so I might be able to understand better?

Yes I'll explain.

In 2020 my wife had made arrangements to import the camper which is not very old. During the struggle to get it imported there came a question that a certificate of Conformity was required and that had to be COLLECTED from VW VANS Liverpool who imported the van.

Well we all know the B****** covid entered the seen and we were told we could not travel. By the end of the year the quarantine hotel then came in but there was no way we could afford the fees. In the meantime I got my license changed to a Spanish one passing all tests got the van ITV in preparation and it was already with full Spanish insurance. All we needed now was the certificate and the blessing of the police. Then there was a gap and we could travel BUT my wife was sent to Denia Hospital very ill on 25/10/21 and sent home on the 28th. During the next 17 days she became so very weak that we sent her back on Monday15th nov and she died on the 17th Now I just wanted to collect her ashes and get the hell out of Spain but the police confiscated HER camper saying that the UK had condemned it and it can NEVER GO ON THE ROAD AGAIN due to sorn. I was not aware that the dvla had put this block on it.

I looked up the details of sorn and how to get it removed, It's simple. Put the camper on a transporter, take it back to the UK and offload it of the road. Now you book the MOT, collect the email of confirmation of the mot date and now drive it to the testing place. when it passes the station informs the DVLA and they collect the road tax from the registered bank and the camper is fit to drive. But the camper must be back in the UK. The police local are very wrong to say that it has been condemned in the UK by the DVLA. As I said the camper is my late wifes property and she would be responsible. This is as you say a nightmare and now if they don't release my wife's property then although we owned this house I will just walk out and leave the after funeral problems and the house. I 've lost my loving wife and now we've lost our camper van, enough is enough. I am now here at 84y with now way to get to shops or carry out the after funeral duties, so I am loosing nothing, I no long want anything I'll pass everything to the RAFA & thr RB Legion.