Santander charging for plate change

chrisfreelander54

I have recently bought the wife a private number plate to celebrate her 30th birthday.

The problem i have is the car is a 10 plate car and is on finance with satander (at a good rate) which due to me do a plate change they have now charged me £30 for the privillage. ([EMAIL="b@$t@RD$"]b@$t@RD$[/EMAIL])

What I want t know is can they do this and why, as this is not really modifying the car.

Also would I be able to complain and get my £30.00 refunded?

Regards Chris

Ian_W

Check your finance agreement but I'd be fairly sure they can make a charge for their admin costs when you make a change that causes them work, like altering the agreement and notifying HPI etc. If it's in the agreement, how can it be unfair for them to enforce it?

Bad news is your car insurer may also make an admin charge for mid-term changes (check the policy) and DVLA will charge you 80 quid to change over.

Nice birthday thought but not without ongoing as well as up-front costs.

Kilty_2

It states very clearly in my Santander Consumer Finance PCP agreement that a £30.00 charge is payable for a change of VRM.

Even worse I bet they'd charge it again if you took the plate off prior to returning the car to them :eek:

Strider590

Check your insurance too, they'll charge for the modification.

People with private plates (or any personalisations) are deemed more likely to be involved in accident... Something to do with having more to prove out on the roads, being quicker to anger and driving more aggressively due to feeling superior to others.

Kilty_2

Strider590 wrote: »

Check your insurance too, they'll charge for the modification.

People with private plates (or any personalisations) are deemed more likely to be involved in accident... Something to do with having more to prove out on the roads, being quicker to anger and driving more aggressively due to feeling superior to others.

Wrong.

It is not a modification.

Insurers *may* charge an admin fee for sending you a new certificate and updating the MID.

Ian_W

Strider590 wrote: »

People with private plates (or any personalisations) are deemed more likely to be involved in accident... Something to do with having more to prove out on the roads, being quicker to anger and driving more aggressively due to feeling superior to others.

Source?

Oh, bloke down the pub? Thought so!! Complete carp!! :T

Strider590

^^ Internet article actually, might have been the AA.... It was about "modifications" and why the insurance companies see more risk in someone who personalises their vehicle, the list included private number plates.

Kilty_2

Strider590 wrote: »

^^ Internet article actually, might have been the AA.... It was about "modifications" and why the insurance companies see more risk in someone who personalises their vehicle, the list included private number plates.

Still wrong though :rotfl: Some insurers won't even charge an admin fee.

MrSmartprice

Strider590 wrote: »

Check your insurance too, they'll charge for the modification.

People with private plates (or any personalisations) are deemed more likely to be involved in accident... Something to do with having more to prove out on the roads, being quicker to anger and driving more aggressively due to feeling superior to others.

What absolute nonsense!

Both OH and I have private plates. We have had them for years and they have been moved to different cars; mine is on its 3rd and hers on its 5th. Not one of the insurance companies has ever charged for issuing new certificates when the plates have been moved from retention to the vehicle.

As for your idea that people with these plates are a higher risk, I just wonder what planet you are on. I say you have made this rubbish up, so can you prove you haven't? Thought not!

Kilty_2

Aviva charged me their standard £18 admin fee when I changed because I had to phone them to do it (online system wouldn't recognise the plate because DVLA online records do not update immediately)

No other insurer did.

passatrider

Strider590 wrote: »

Check your insurance too, they'll charge for the modification.

People with private plates (or any personalisations) are deemed more likely to be involved in accident... Something to do with having more to prove out on the roads, being quicker to anger and driving more aggressively due to feeling superior to others.

Oh how very true!