Cloned registration plate

FabFifty

Evening. Can anyone out there assist me please? Have today received a Penalty Charge Notice from Ealing Council stating that my vehicle was photographed in a bus lane last week whilst I was in Warwickshire, driving home from work. The make, model and colour of vehicle are exactly the same, the numbers/letters are the same but the actual registration plate is slightly different to mine (I have a blue line around the plate and EU markings).
I've sent an email to Warwickshire police to advise that my vehicle registration has been cloned. Internet advice seems to be to also advise DVLA. In the morning I will compose a letter to Ealing Council refuting the PCN - what information should I include, is there a template letter somewhere that might help? I called into a local post office on my way home from work to post a parcel and have a receipt timed at 17:07, and the offence supposedly occurred at 17:29.
Any assistance gratefully received.

missile

I would be very concerned that this cloned car might cause a more serious offence.

I would get a personalised number asap.

waamo

Are you sure it's been cloned? Anpr "enhances" the image of the plate. It often "guesses" at what the plate is. For some reason councils don't buy top notch, expensive kit to eliminate missreads.

Have you had speeding tickets or anything else to indicate a cloned plate? If not I would suspect a miss read followed by an "enhanced" image.

FabFifty

waamo wrote: »

Are you sure it's been cloned? Anpr "enhances" the image of the plate. It often "guesses" at what the plate is. For some reason councils don't buy top notch, expensive kit to eliminate missreads.

Have you had speeding tickets or anything else to indicate a cloned plate? If not I would suspect a miss read followed by an "enhanced" image.

I've received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) with two photographs attached, showing an enhanced registration number in one of the photos. Should I request a photo that hasn't been enhanced? Any tips much appreciated.

FabFifty

missile wrote: »

I would be very concerned that this cloned car might cause a more serious offence.

I would get a personalised number asap.

Yes, I'm very concerned that this could be the first of many offences committed in my name.

waamo

I would ask for an original picture. I will bet it's unreadable

angrycrow

In cases of genuine cloned plates Dvla are normally happy to issue a different age related plate for the car to avoid further issues. If I remember correctly they do not always charge a fee.

Let your insurer know as well in case the cloned car is in an accident.

cajef

angrycrow wrote: »

In cases of genuine cloned plates Dvla are normally happy to issue a different age related plate for the car to avoid further issues. If I remember correctly they do not always charge a fee.

That is what happened with one of my previous cars after I received two congestion charge bills and several parking charge notices from Hackney council over a period of a few weeks when I could prove I had been nowhere within 300 miles of London on those days.

The fines were cancelled on appeal and the DVLA gave me a new registration for free, when I reported a cloned car to the Met. Police they responded with unless the vehicle is used in a crime it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack in other words we are not really interested .

Car_54

FabFifty wrote: »

I called into a local post office on my way home from work to post a parcel and have a receipt timed at 17:07, and the offence supposedly occurred at 17:29.
Any assistance gratefully received.

Not really relevant It's the car's whereabouts that matter, not yours.

eddddy

I'd guess Ealing follow a similar approach to TfL. So if it was a congestion charge fine, TfL would want as much of the following as possible:

• Details of a crime reference number (from when you report the cloned plates)

• Evidence or independent statements confirming that the car was somewhere else at the time

• Photos of your car showing differences between your car and the car pictured in the bus lane (like the blue line on the number plate)

They will then consider your case, based on what you provide.

Marvel1

missile wrote: »

I would get a personalised number asap.

How is that going to prevent it? It will have a record showing it's original number. As it's reverted back when for example you change vehicle.