My private plate removed, but not by me?
My private plate removed, but not by me?
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Jamie-vwi7w

Original Poster:

4 posts

53 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
Hope this is in the right thread -

Odd one today, I had a V778 retention form for my private plate, along with a new V5 come through for my car.

I hadn't requested for my private plate to be removed, so all very strange.

I phoned up the DVLA who have suggested I need to write into another DVLA team to get an answer, but they couldn't understand it either.

I was worried it would be some kind of fraud thing, but I can't see why anyone else would be inclined to do this, especially as it involves an £80 fee to remove it. They would have also needed the V5 and the long number which was issued when my private plate was assigned to do this as well, which is currently locked away.

There was no sign of my details being changed either, so I can only see this being some kind of odd DVLA error.

What's I also find odd - although the DVLA tell me it isn't - is that the new reg supplied on today's V5 isn't my original, in fact it's for a 2014 car when mine is newer than that.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?


alscar

7,552 posts

233 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
As you say most odd.
From the fraud aspect if it s a plate worth a lot of money the £80 fee is perhaps slightly academic.
To put a plate on retention , get assigned a new number and receive a new V5 for the existing car survey requires a bit more inf than just putting in the plate on their portal though ?
Edited to say hit sent too early.
At the very least you would also need the V5 reference ( the 11 digit one ) so has someone else seen that recently ?

Edited by alscar on Thursday 16th October 12:05

Jamie-vwi7w

Original Poster:

4 posts

53 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
No, the V5 has been stored in my locked filing cabinet - still there and no one has had access.

I don't believe it's a particularly desirable plate either. Cost £250 new and it's a bit specific to my name.

I can't see how else it would have been changed, unless DVLA error somewhere.

Not ruling out fraud - Would there be any other angles or benefits to someone doing this?

Doofus

32,411 posts

193 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
Could it be the frist step in somebody transferring the reg to themselves?

Put number on retention
Fill out V778 with new 'owner's' details

alscar

7,552 posts

233 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
Don’t really see that as a result of a DVLA “error “.

Jamie-vwi7w

Original Poster:

4 posts

53 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
So, I persisted with the DVLA and got through to someone actually very helpful, who this time could call through to another team.

Although they couldn't 100% explain it, they said it was likely an admin error or 'glitch', quite possibly when processing a postal form from someone else changing their plate.

Apparently the number plate I was assigned on my new V5 was actually someone else's private one, so a bit of a mess, but he'd said that does make sense.

There were no other signs of fraud or concerns, and without access to my V5 form it wouldn't have been possible either.

So, I'm taking that as the result, albeit after a bit of worry this morning!

Edited to add more context.

Edited by Jamie-vwi7w on Thursday 16th October 12:54

alscar

7,552 posts

233 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
Glad it’s sorted - and I assume they are cancelling the reissued V5 and in effect reinstating the old one whilst also noting their records that the personal plate remains on the car ?
Still sounds very strange though.

Jamie-vwi7w

Original Poster:

4 posts

53 months

Thursday 16th October
quotequote all
Good question.

I have since re-added my private plate back on my car, thus issuing a new V5 again.

That I've been told should now be the end of it.

I do feel for the poor person who's private plate I seemed to have added to my car though and how they sort that out.
That said, I was told that should be of no consequence for me.

Thanks for your input all. A problem shared and all wink