Dear Editor - The much publicised media campaign by the DVLA in prompting people to tax their vehicles on time is to be commended but my recent personal experiences have left me at a total loss!

My car tax ran out on December 31 and I visited Aston Fields Post Office last Wednesday at 2pm to renew my tax.

Imagine my surprise when the post office was closed but with a large notice stating the Christmas closing time on December 31 was 4pm!

A small print below then stated that this closing time was not applicable to those Post Offices that normally closed early on a Wednesday! As I do not frequent post offices regularly, I was unaware that my local PO closed on a Wednesday afternoon.

Attempt number two. I visited Aston Fields Post Office on Friday, January 2, and was delighted to find the post office was open!

Unfortunately, as I went to pass my documents and cheque to the counter clerk, she advised me that they were unable to "do car tax" as this post office was within three miles of the main post office in Bromsgrove town centre!

The lady went on to say that I could now look forward to the appalling queues and congestion in the town centre or I may like to drive to the other side of town and visit Fairfield Post Office, which apparently is able to administer car tax as it is outside the boundary!

This leaves the question when is a post office not a post office.

This experience leaves me dismayed at the system we have and how the powers that be feel that having people queue outside in bad weather and suffer the inconvenience of the town's parking system outweighs the advantages of using a local post office.

It doesn't seem that long ago that we were all being encouraged to use our local services, no wonder local village businesses are dying on their feet.

I was unable to visit Bromsgrove town centre as I had other pressing engagements, so I'll attempt to tax my car over the next few days. Interesting that the Minister of Transport said in a TV interview that the period of grace in taxing a car was going to become obsolete in the near future, meaning instant fines for the motorist. If my experience is anything to go by it seems this could be another 'easy money' project on behalf of the government of profiteering off the genuine motorist.

Dismayed Motorist, Harwood Park