wrong reg - ha ha !!!

[stubydoo]

We've been using a courtesy van while one of ours has been damaged/ written off from a local bodyshop.
Anyway, round the owner comes the other morning, proudly waving a NIP for exceeding 40 in a 40 limit (46 actually) from Hertfordshire Bibs.
Wants to know driver's details for that day, so I takes a look at it - lo and behold - WRONG REG. !!! actually reg no. on NIP was *474 *** - van eg is *747 ***

One up to the motorist - result !!

[Hollywood Wheels]

I don't understand. Surely that means some other poor sod with that index is going to be getting the ticket? OR if it was you and they've put the wrong index on the letter, then you still get the fine in the end.....

[justinp1]

Hollywood Wheels said:

I don't understand. Surely that means some other poor sod with that index is going to be getting the ticket? OR if it was you and they've put the wrong index on the letter, then you still get the fine in the end.....

Also trying to patch it together myself!

It may not be as great for the motorist as first thought. I would wait until more than 14 days from the offence before explaining that you do not own and have never owned a vehicle with that registration mark.

They will work out the mistake but by then it will be too late to serve the NIP.

[7db]

But they sent it to the right registered keeper? Looks like a "small slip". Do update us as to the outcome, won't you?

[rude-boy]

Very similar thing happened with a company van I know of. 17 days after the offence, a week after the NIP was sent a request for the photos was sent and a letter confirming that it most likely was the company’s vehicle but that the registration number on the NIP was incorrect.

Nothing more has been heard after more than 2 years.

[twister]

Could it not just be that the bodyshop also has a courtesy van with that reg, and they've simply misread the reg when the NIP arrived and thought it referred to the van they've given you?

[^Slider^]

Well the NOIP has the road details on it, was it you?? Because in todays civilian age you may find they just amend the NOIP if indeed they have the correct vehicle. EVen though the index may be written wrong on the ticket i *think* technically the NOIP may still be valid as it has been served on the RK of the correct vehicle within the correct time frame.

[Stubby Pete]

Just a thought, but I'd delay the returning of the NIP with "not our van mate" until near the end of the 28 days, thus ensuring that they cannot "serve" you within a reasonable time scale.

Otherwise, if the NIP gets ammended and returned to you in a couple of days your driver will still have no arguement, nor will the firm for not knowing the driver at any given time blah blah blah...

[^Slider^]

But if it was him then could the NOIP be deemed to have been served to the RK of the vehicle. But the index is incorrect as a clerical error.

[justinp1]

^Slider^ said:

But if it was him then could the NOIP be deemed to have been served to the RK of the vehicle. But the index is incorrect as a clerical error.

Agreed. I think my way forward of just informing them that the OP does not and naver has owned a van of that reg would not give them enough information to do much with.

From there they *could* reissue the NIP if they legally can with the correct information but they may just forget about it and put it down to a mistake when they realise someone in their department has let £60 slip by not reading a number plate properly.

[^Slider^]

What i suspect is there has been a clerical error, Basically they have the right index from the camera and PNC has returned the garage as R/K. Someone has mistyped the index when typing the NOIP.

Technically if this is the case then NOIP has been served on the R/K. writing back and stating that "we dont own a vehicle of this index" will result in someone checking and then reissuing the NOIP based on the first NOIP being deemed served they now have a larger time frame to issue the correct index. Its 14 days for first NOIP, limit of upto 6 months for futher correspondance / NOIPs.

I would go that tactic tbh as clerical errors are accepted in court and arguning this fact in court will not make alot of difference and its the garage that have to fight it initially. Are they likely to pay out to fight it or just say, you have the index wrong. When they reissue then they will name you with correct index and requesting cash.

Your assuming the garage will fight this and push come to shove in court you cant rely on anyone else helping you except yourself.

CPS: Did you recieve the first NOIP
Garage: Yes
CPS: did you approach the defendant with the NOIP, and did you believe the NOIP refered to your van even though through clerical error the index was slightly incorrect?
Garage: Yes the index is similar and i approached the defendant.
CPS: so as far as you were concered it was your van hired to the defendant which was being used at the time of offence?
Garage: Yes

[stubydoo]

Hollywood Wheels said:

I don't understand. Surely that means some other poor sod with that index is going to be getting the ticket? OR if it was you and they've put the wrong index on the letter, then you still get the fine in the end.....

Checked the reg out on our database -(carwatch, actually) - very informative, turns out that reg no 474 is also an identical white van belonging to the same company that the bodyshop bought reg no 747 from, namely BT.
Also turns out they still own that van, reckon someone at BT disposals dept has put the wrong reg down as sold and notified DVLA accordingly. Our driver was allegedly tucked up in bed at the time of the offence, some 150 miles away.

[bond-007]

Game over so.