retention certificate?

[felixlighter]

Ok now, I know some folks regard personalised number plates a bit sad but I have just purchase a number that was on my first car when I was 17 ( now 60)and saw it for sale by chance from a company that deals in them. After the sale was complete they informed me it could take up to 20 weeks to receive a retention certificate and insisted in me completing a "RETLET FORM"
Question, Is this normal or have I been ripped off as twenty weeks seem an awful long time.
Thanks Steve

[a8hex]

When I bought A8HEX all the paper work came through very quickly, was 17 years ago mind. What with computers and everything, it might take longer now.

[droopsnoot]

It does sound a long time to me, but having said that the only people I've bought plates from are the DVLA directly.

If you've bought it from an agency, it might be because a lot of them don't actually own the plates they are selling, they just advertise them on behalf of the owners, who might concievably still have the plate on a car. So that owner will have to get the plate off and onto a certificate, wait for the paperwork, then transfer it, and wait for paperwork, and it all adds a few weeks on.

[CRA1G]

I don't know what a "RETLET" form is.? but 20 weeks sounds far too long,you will have to be named as the nominee on the certificate which may take 2/3 weeks and then the transfer can be done at a DVLA office while you wait.