Refunds for owners affected by Vehicle Risk Rating errors

Refunds for owners affected by Vehicle Risk Rating errors

ACC and the NZ Transport Agency are taking action to ensure that motor vehicle owners who have been overcharged for the Vehicle Risk Rating (VRR) component of their vehicle licencing fee will get refunds.

The current estimated number of people who may have paid incorrect levies is around 9000.

A change in regulations is required in order to place cars in the correct bands. Affected vehicle owners will receive their refunds as soon as possible.

The technical issues relate to imported second-hand cars. The error affecting the greatest number of vehicles was identified by ACC late last year and a programme fix was put in place. However, another programme inadvertently overrode this. The issue was not picked up until some customers contacted ACC about their vehicle banding.

A second issue with data matching of particular variants of cars has also been found. For example, where some Toyota Corolla Spacios have been classified as Toyota Corollas and therefore placed in the wrong risk rating band.

ACC is working urgently with the NZ Transport Agency to resolve the issues and to arrange refunds for all affected car owners. Some refunds will be up to $103.50; most are for lower amounts.

All vehicle owners will save money as a result of the Government reducing levies this year and we want to assure people that the vast majority of New Zealand’s 2.7 million cars are in the correct band for VRR.

Because it is vital that vehicle owners have confidence in VRR, ACC has contracted an Independent Quality Assurance provider to rigorously check that the VRR rules and processes are working properly.

While ACC is moving quickly to fix the errors in its system, it is important that customers can contact ACC so it can keep them up to date with what’s happening. The number is 0800 222 776.

Alternatively vehicle owners can check the list of affected models online: http://www.acc.co.nz/for-individuals/other-motorists/wpc138205

ENDS

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