Email: CaRT will not accept licence money

I am just writing to tell you of an experience we recently had with CaRT. I live on a narrowboat that my father purchased about four years ago and so the boat licence is registered in his name, now the main details are out of the way I'll move on with the story.

Sadly my father died six weeks ago just as the boat licence was coming up for renewal. It ran out last week and so my brother phoned CaRT, firstly to let them know that dad had passed away, and then to explain that dad's estate had gone to probate and because the boat now has no licence he asked what we should do.

CaRT then said they would send a change of ownership form. We made another call to CaRT explaining that dad still lawfully owns the boat and we would like to pay the boat licence, because of course it needs paying for insurance and mooring purposes.

The answer we received was: "I'm sorry we can't accept the money from you." After speaking to more than four of CaRT's staff the answer was still the same, the end result it seems is that CaRT don't want the money for the licence!

So now I have two questions, does anyone at CaRT know what probate is and how long it could take? I do! The second question is, why don't CaRT want money for a boat still on the canal, when the money is offered to them?

Its fair to say one of CaRT's employees suggested we get the solicitor to send the money. I refused with the explanation that I would then have to pay to get him to do that and I don't actually understand why the source matters.

CaRT spend a lot of their time and boaters money chasing down late or none payers ,we want to pay and are not allowed to do so!

Regards P Wells.