A few days ago my son received a letter from the Malta Transport Authority containing a renewal form for the driving licence.

The fee requested was Lm20 for a 10-year licence. However, to my dismay, a second line states, “With this amount you must include Lm2.50 administration fee (total Lm22.50).”

This fee amounts to a 12.5 per cent of the amount due for the 10-year licence.

I find this most unfair as I am being made to pay a fee in order to have the payment of a licence effected. I contacted the Consumer Affairs Department but was told that the Transport Authority is not on the list of parastatal authorities over which they have control.

Not giving up I contacted the Customer Care Section of the Office of the Prime Minister. I explained the matter to an official who seemed quite surprised to hear of this. He was very understanding and promised he would look into the matter and come back to me.

True to his word he phoned me on my mobile, after an hour, informing me that the charge was introduced last October.

It is a very unfair imposition indeed.

It is highly irregular that the public is being forced to pay a fee to have a licence processed.

Next time round it might well be the car licence.

Martin Diacono

IKLIN