Scam website platesbypost

ppclegsr

So I needed a new set of number plates because I had bought some personalised plates from the DVLA. I wanted them to be legal so a google search for legal uk plates turned up platesbypost

So far so good, I entered my details, put in my debit card details into the SAGEPAY payment system (I know I should have used my credit card but hey ho...) and awaited my plates.

What I got was an email which then told me, AFTER I had paid and ordered that I needed to send my ORIGINAL driving licence, or police warrant card (for example) plus the ORIGINAL V5 or Certificate of Entitlement to them before they would despatch the plates.


Now, I had already sent the Certificate and V5 off to the DVLA so did not have the originals, and I would not have ordered if they had told me I needed to send the orignals.

No problem I thought, I will just cancel the order under the distance selling regs, but buried deep in the Website Terms and Conditions they say that as the items are bespoke they are exempt.

So no refunds, and no plates.

I had emailed then approx 10 minutes after receiving the order confirmation email and sent them a scanned copy of the document terms but have yet to receive a reply.

The terms and conditions are carefully worded to claim that they will make the plates up without any documents, but will not post them without seeing the original documents.

I wonder if they have a warehouse full of unclaimed numberplates? - much more likely they just don't bother and rely on not properly informing customers of the contractual terms and conditions.

I suspect I can wave goodbye to £26

annoyed.

soolin

Why is it a scam to request the documents that any maker would need to provide new plates?

ppclegsr

...because as I said they only made it clear I needed to do that after I had paid, and if I had know
I would not have ordered.

maninthestreet

T + Cs not available on their website, only available AFTER you have ordered and paid for the plates. This seems inherently unfair. Report to TS if they do refuse to refund.

antrobus

ppclegsr wrote: »

...because as I said they only made it clear I needed to do that after I had paid, and if I had know I would not have ordered.

No one will let you have any number plates unless you can prove both (a) your identity, and (b) your entitlement to that vehicle reg no.

https://www.gov.uk/displaying-number-plates/getting-number-plates-made-up

antrobus

maninthestreet wrote: »

T + Cs not available on their website, only available AFTER you have ordered and paid for the plates. This seems inherently unfair. Report to TS if they do refuse to refund.

Doesn't this count?
http://www.platesbypost.com/Terms_n_condition.php

wealdroam

maninthestreet wrote: »

T + Cs not available on their website, only available AFTER you have ordered and paid for the plates. This seems inherently unfair. Report to TS if they do refuse to refund.

There is a link to their T&Cs at the bottom of every single one of their webpages.

ppclegsr

I found the T&C's but the unfairness is that they go ahead and allegedly make the plates up without the documents (and hence do not give refunds) but will not send them out.

I mean, why would they do that in that order?

ppclegsr

and as I found out afterwards, lots of posts on pistonheads of people that have fallen for the same trap

vuvuzela

Every page on their website has a link to the page with this info on ;

Documents to Obtain Legal Number Plates

Documents to confirm your identity

One of the following:

* driving licence, whether or not issued in the United Kingdom (UK) (with or without a photo) - this is preferred because it's a secure, government-issued document showing both name and address
* a bill issued by your electricity, gas or water supplier, a landline telephone bill, or a council tax bill (current within the last six months) or rates bill (in Northern Ireland only)
* a bank or building society statement
* a passport, whether or not issued in the UK
* a national identity card issued by the government of a state or territory other than the UK
* a debit or credit card issued by a bank or building society
* a police warrant card
* an armed forces identity card

Documents to establish your entitlement to the registration number
One of the following:

* vehicle registration certificate (V5C or V5CNI) - these are the preferred documents
* the new keeper supplement (V5C/2 or V5C/2NI) of the registration certificate
* certificate of entitlement (V750)
* retention document (V778) (not applicable in Northern Ireland)
* vehicle licence renewal form (V11)
* temporary registration certificate (V379) (not applicable in Northern Ireland)
* authorisation certificate (V948) with an official stamp from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) or Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
* a letter of authorisation from a fleet operator (including lease or hire company) (not applicable in Northern Ireland) - the letter must quote the document reference number from the registration certificate, not the vehicle identification number
Only outlets registered on the DVLA number plates R.N.P.S system can legally supply number plates. If you don't have legal number plates fitted to your vehicle it could fail the MOT and attract the attention of the police

vuvuzela

ppclegsr wrote: »

I found the T&C's but the unfairness is that they go ahead and allegedly make the plates up without the documents (and hence do not give refunds) but will not send them out.

I mean, why would they do that in that order?

Your whinging about being told *after* ordering shows you didn't read the T&Cs that are linked on every page of their site.
They will send the plates if you provide the documents. There is even a range of documents you can provide.