Bought private plate, vendor changed mind after assigned
Discussion
Bought a plate on eBay, vendor had it on V750. Plate sold for less than assignment fee.
I assigned plate to my car. 24 hours later vendor decided they wanted to cancel the auction, sent me a refund and a message to say they were returning to DVLA for a refund.
I'd already assigned the plates.
They are now accusing me of not being the "purchaser" and having no legal right to assign the plates. Keep insisting they were not mine to assign and V750 was not in my name.
I explained as long as I have paid the owner, the V750 can be in anyone's name, I have the legal right to assign it to my vehicle.
Gov website only allows keeper of vehicle to assign a purchased plate (or a third party with keeper permission) so I am surprised they are surprised I assigned it.
Who's in the wrong here?
On my side, I offered to speak to the DVLA together and explain the problem so he could try and get his plate back or failing that he pays the £80 fee to get it moved off my car again. But he insists he followed eBay rules to cancel the sale and so it is now my problem and he will be going to the DVLA saying I am not the purchaser as he cancelled the transaction and therefore not authorised to assign the plate.
I assigned plate to my car. 24 hours later vendor decided they wanted to cancel the auction, sent me a refund and a message to say they were returning to DVLA for a refund.
I'd already assigned the plates.
They are now accusing me of not being the "purchaser" and having no legal right to assign the plates. Keep insisting they were not mine to assign and V750 was not in my name.
I explained as long as I have paid the owner, the V750 can be in anyone's name, I have the legal right to assign it to my vehicle.
Gov website only allows keeper of vehicle to assign a purchased plate (or a third party with keeper permission) so I am surprised they are surprised I assigned it.
Who's in the wrong here?
On my side, I offered to speak to the DVLA together and explain the problem so he could try and get his plate back or failing that he pays the £80 fee to get it moved off my car again. But he insists he followed eBay rules to cancel the sale and so it is now my problem and he will be going to the DVLA saying I am not the purchaser as he cancelled the transaction and therefore not authorised to assign the plate.
Edited by eshroom on Sunday 9th December 17:01
I'd say he's in the wrong obviously, a sale is a sale. He should have put a reserve on it. However, i would have waited for paperwork before i assigned it to a vehicle. Sounds like you got a bargain so put it on the vehicle asap in case the seller decided it went too cheap, not saying i wouldn't have done the same though.
Freddy88FM said:
Probably because the OP is a reasonable human being open to mediation rather than an out and out a
hole.
No need for insults. It was a serious and reasonable question.
hole.I sold something on eBay last week that went for 99p. I’d hoped for much more, but never occurred on me to renege on the deal.
eBay has tools to set minimum pricing, so I’d argue that the areshole here is the person reneging on deal...
LooneyTunes said:
No need for insults. It was a serious and reasonable question.
I sold something on eBay last week that went for 99p. I’d hoped for much more, but never occurred on me to renege on the deal.
eBay has tools to set minimum pricing, so I’d argue that the areshole here is the person reneging on deal...
You asked why (in light of the vendor making a mistake) the OP is entertaining giving the plate back to him. My reply was that the OP isn't an aI sold something on eBay last week that went for 99p. I’d hoped for much more, but never occurred on me to renege on the deal.
eBay has tools to set minimum pricing, so I’d argue that the areshole here is the person reneging on deal...
hole. You thought that was an insult aimed at you? Not at all.On your final point. As I said. The OP or any reasonable human being would be open to mediation if requested . Namely finding a solution that suits all. You can punish the vendor for their mistake and force them to go through with it. Or you can be reasonable and give it back to them subject to covering your costs. I know which option I'd take. And I'd hope most would do the same. Though I'm certain their are a
holes out there who would not.Got a digital copy of the V750 which I used to assign the plate.
Offered to help him get the assignment cancelled partly just to be decent and partly because I don't want the hassle of having to explain the situation to the DVLA with the seller saying I "stole his plates".
Seller is continuing to refuse he did anything wrong and continues to say I had no right to assign them as he didn't get the paperwork transferred to my name or send me a physical copy of the V750. Says I assigned plates illegally. Even says that as he cancelled the transaction I am no longer even the "purchaser" even though I assigned the plates before he cancelled.
I've again explained to him the V750 can be in anyone's name, and as the purchaser, I still had every right to assign it. But he insists he is calling DVLA in the morning to claim I had no right to assign and essentially stole his plate.
On that basis, I have told him I'll also be calling the DLVA in the morning and look forward to keeping his plates indefinitely.
On a side note, we exchanged to messages yesterday when I offered to pay him extra for his old plates, he answered both messages and at no point indicated he would like to cancel.
Offered to help him get the assignment cancelled partly just to be decent and partly because I don't want the hassle of having to explain the situation to the DVLA with the seller saying I "stole his plates".
Seller is continuing to refuse he did anything wrong and continues to say I had no right to assign them as he didn't get the paperwork transferred to my name or send me a physical copy of the V750. Says I assigned plates illegally. Even says that as he cancelled the transaction I am no longer even the "purchaser" even though I assigned the plates before he cancelled.
I've again explained to him the V750 can be in anyone's name, and as the purchaser, I still had every right to assign it. But he insists he is calling DVLA in the morning to claim I had no right to assign and essentially stole his plate.
On that basis, I have told him I'll also be calling the DLVA in the morning and look forward to keeping his plates indefinitely.
On a side note, we exchanged to messages yesterday when I offered to pay him extra for his old plates, he answered both messages and at no point indicated he would like to cancel.

You could be extra difficult here and transfer the plate back onto retention but granted in the name of a friend (ideally with a totally different name to you)
Sounds like you’ve been fair so far but the sellers just being a total dick tbh - I’d start being difficult back
Can’t see the DVLA wanting to get involved myself, it’s hard enough getting through to speak to someone fullstop never mind a fraud/claim/complaint type person!
Sounds like you’ve been fair so far but the sellers just being a total dick tbh - I’d start being difficult back
Can’t see the DVLA wanting to get involved myself, it’s hard enough getting through to speak to someone fullstop never mind a fraud/claim/complaint type person!
alorotom said:
You could be extra difficult here and transfer the plate back onto retention but granted in the name of a friend (ideally with a totally different name to you)
Sounds like you’ve been fair so far but the sellers just being a total dick tbh - I’d start being difficult back
Can’t see the DVLA wanting to get involved myself, it’s hard enough getting through to speak to someone fullstop never mind a fraud/claim/complaint type person!
Do this. I’ll be the nominee. Sounds like you’ve been fair so far but the sellers just being a total dick tbh - I’d start being difficult back
Can’t see the DVLA wanting to get involved myself, it’s hard enough getting through to speak to someone fullstop never mind a fraud/claim/complaint type person!

I'm interested to hear the outcome of this.
But in no way did you steal the plates, you bought and paid for them.
A thief doesn't usually pay for items.
If they call DVLA to inform them you've stolen them they'll more than likely point him to the Police to get a crime number.
Seller should have put a reserve on.
But in no way did you steal the plates, you bought and paid for them.
A thief doesn't usually pay for items.
If they call DVLA to inform them you've stolen them they'll more than likely point him to the Police to get a crime number.
Seller should have put a reserve on.
The plate was sold via eBay. Did the sale go through complete and be logged as such on eBay?
If so then how could the seller then cancel the auction? If you had paid for it and this was done correctly through eBay then it is a completed transaction. The only further actions would be sending the item to you and confirmation of your receipt of it.
I suggest you check with eBay re this. Also keep all details as evidence of the sale as proof.
If so then how could the seller then cancel the auction? If you had paid for it and this was done correctly through eBay then it is a completed transaction. The only further actions would be sending the item to you and confirmation of your receipt of it.
I suggest you check with eBay re this. Also keep all details as evidence of the sale as proof.
Auction ended. I messaged seller to confirm the sale and ask about physical number plates. He said auction was for assignment only. I messaged back saying if he has access to them I'm willing to pay for them so I don't have to get more made up. He replies saying that's fine. At that stage, I assumed the sale is done and dusted and assign plates from an image of the form he included in the listing (apart from anything else, I wouldn't want that form to be in the public domain any longer than it had to be. Imagine a scenario where he posted the form to me but someone else had assigned the plates in the meantime - would he believe me and give me a refund?)
sospan said:
The plate was sold via eBay. Did the sale go through complete and be logged as such on eBay?
If so then how could the seller then cancel the auction? If you had paid for it and this was done correctly through eBay then it is a completed transaction. The only further actions would be sending the item to you and confirmation of your receipt of it.
I suggest you check with eBay re this. Also keep all details as evidence of the sale as proof.
eBay do allow sellers to cancel transactions for certain reasons (item out of stock, item damaged before dispatch etc.) he must have picked one of these. Being able to get a higher price elsewhere is not one of eBay's allowed reasons.If so then how could the seller then cancel the auction? If you had paid for it and this was done correctly through eBay then it is a completed transaction. The only further actions would be sending the item to you and confirmation of your receipt of it.
I suggest you check with eBay re this. Also keep all details as evidence of the sale as proof.
Seller is talking nonsense. You cannot change the name of the purchaser on a V750. He won't get a refund from the DVLA as it has been assigned. He offered it for sale and you bought it and he accepted those terms. He doesn't have a leg to stand on. If he goes to the DVLA and says his plate has been stolen first question will be how did you get the certificate and it is clear he provided you with the information. Take a screen shot of the ebay details to show he offered it for sale and keep a copy of the V750 or whatever he provided the reference number on. He is just being a dick now as he wants more money. Return it to him if you want to if he pays the
£80 but he wont get a refund from DVLA as it has been assigned
£80 but he wont get a refund from DVLA as it has been assigned
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