Cloned Plate - Splash and dash - Solicitor letter arrived
Discussion
Superleg48 said:
Driving off without paying for fuel (Bilking) is a criminal offence.
Why would you not receive a visit from a Police Officer, or at least an invite for tea and biscuits at an appropriate Police Station?
Seems odd that you would just get correspondence from a Debt Recovery Company.
Because there are approximately 25k Bikings a year, which takes up a lot of Police time -Why would you not receive a visit from a Police Officer, or at least an invite for tea and biscuits at an appropriate Police Station?
Seems odd that you would just get correspondence from a Debt Recovery Company.
Officer has to visit petrol station.
View CCTV.
Decide whether it was an honest mistake or an offence.
Conduct checks on reg given.
Conduct checks on the owner.
Contact the owner.
Conduct checks on the driver (if different)
Visit the driver to confirm it's them in the CCTV.
Decide how to dispose of the matter.
Complete any paperwork required.
It's been suggested that petrol stations have pre-pay pumps installed, but the counter argument to that is the lost revenue because customers won't buy items in the shop.
Which one makes the most revenue - Fuel or confectionery??
You'll be surprised how often staff watch someone fill up, but then don't ask the customer if they used a pump.
clockworks said:
Not sure how other petrol stations operate, but the one I worked in (big supermarket chain) had really poor CCTV. When we had a drive-off, we had to get the plates from the CCTV, and fill out a form. After a week, the details were passed to a debt collection agency, who took a big chunk of anything they could collect from the driver.
Because the CCTV was so bad, we nearly always had to guess at one or two digits of the plate, then type our "guess" into the government MOT checker to see what car make and colour came back. If they tallied with the car we could see on the CCTV, we'd use those details. If not, we'd guess another plate and try again.
Because we had to fill in the make, model, colour and plate on the till to clear the transaction, we nearly always got everything correct, and it prevented obvious errors like the OP's.
Yikes, could you imagine that going to Court!?Because the CCTV was so bad, we nearly always had to guess at one or two digits of the plate, then type our "guess" into the government MOT checker to see what car make and colour came back. If they tallied with the car we could see on the CCTV, we'd use those details. If not, we'd guess another plate and try again.
Because we had to fill in the make, model, colour and plate on the till to clear the transaction, we nearly always got everything correct, and it prevented obvious errors like the OP's.
"We didn't get all of the reg, but we guessed until we found a vehicle of the right type and colour"
:0
Maybe it's better that a Debt Collection Agency deals with it
Superleg48 said:
Driving off without paying for fuel (Bilking) is a criminal offence.
Why would you not receive a visit from a Police Officer, or at least an invite for tea and biscuits at an appropriate Police Station?
Seems odd that you would just get correspondence from a Debt Recovery Company.
Pointless reporting to Police - that wont get the garages cash back. They can simply employ debt collectors to recover the debt. Why would you not receive a visit from a Police Officer, or at least an invite for tea and biscuits at an appropriate Police Station?
Seems odd that you would just get correspondence from a Debt Recovery Company.
CanAm said:
No need even for that. The OP has already said he’s going to phone them tomorrow morning. Hopefully they will have a photo, at which point he will point out his vehicle is a motor bike not a private car, and all will be resolved.
Agreed but I doubt if they will just take the OP’s word for that and will not want some form of corroboration Nibbles_bits said:
Which one makes the most revenue - Fuel or confectionery??
"Revenue" (or turnover in £) - will be very high on petrol and much lower on sandwiches and crisps. However, "margin" (or profit %) will be very low on petrol and much higher on sandwiches and crisps.
Undoubtedly "non-petrol" sales are a big contributor to net profit (after rent, rates, wages, utilities etc).
It's best not to focus on the numbers in a vacuum because one logical conclusion might be to stop selling petrol altogether - which isn't very helpful if your company is called "BP" or if your petrol station is in the middle of nowhere and the only reason anyone stops in the first place is to buy petrol.
rockin said:
Nibbles_bits said:
Which one makes the most revenue - Fuel or confectionery??
"Revenue" (or turnover in £) - will be very high on petrol and much lower on sandwiches and crisps. However, "margin" (or profit %) will be very low on petrol and much higher on sandwiches and crisps.
Undoubtedly "non-petrol" sales are a big contributor to net profit (after rent, rates, wages, utilities etc).
It's best not to focus on the numbers in a vacuum because one logical conclusion might be to stop selling petrol altogether - which isn't very helpful if your company is called "BP" or if your petrol station is in the middle of nowhere and the only reason anyone stops in the first place is to buy petrol.
But, the petrol stations won't do it because of cost and loss of profits.
The only thing I would do, is send them a letter, recorded delivery, with an invoice for my time.
Thank you for your letter reference xyz123, dated whenever.
This matter does not concern me, I can prove it was not me and I can prove it was not my vehicle.
Either the number has been misread, or my number plate has been cloned. As I have not had the police contact me about this theft, or any motoring offences, I would suggest the former is more likely.
If having reviewed the CCTV footage, you still wish to persue this, I suggest you contact the police, and make your allegations of theft to them.
As this has already taken up too much of my time, I am invoicing you for the sum of £42.53, as an admin fee. Please pay this within 14 days of receiving this letter, otherwise the admin fee will incur an increase of £42.53, for every 14 days you fail to pay.
If you fail to pay its possible that I will take court action.
Thank you
Pony
PS should you pay in full, I will of course donate the fee, to a homeless charity of your choice.
No ?
Thank you for your letter reference xyz123, dated whenever.
This matter does not concern me, I can prove it was not me and I can prove it was not my vehicle.
Either the number has been misread, or my number plate has been cloned. As I have not had the police contact me about this theft, or any motoring offences, I would suggest the former is more likely.
If having reviewed the CCTV footage, you still wish to persue this, I suggest you contact the police, and make your allegations of theft to them.
As this has already taken up too much of my time, I am invoicing you for the sum of £42.53, as an admin fee. Please pay this within 14 days of receiving this letter, otherwise the admin fee will incur an increase of £42.53, for every 14 days you fail to pay.
If you fail to pay its possible that I will take court action.
Thank you
Pony
PS should you pay in full, I will of course donate the fee, to a homeless charity of your choice.
No ?
Pit Pony said:
The only thing I would do, is send them a letter, recorded delivery, with an invoice for my time.
Thank you for your letter reference xyz123, dated whenever.
This matter does not concern me, I can prove it was not me and I can prove it was not my vehicle.
Either the number has been misread, or my number plate has been cloned. As I have not had the police contact me about this theft, or any motoring offences, I would suggest the former is more likely.
If having reviewed the CCTV footage, you still wish to persue this, I suggest you contact the police, and make your allegations of theft to them.
As this has already taken up too much of my time, I am invoicing you for the sum of £42.53, as an admin fee. Please pay this within 14 days of receiving this letter, otherwise the admin fee will incur an increase of £42.53, for every 14 days you fail to pay.
If you fail to pay its possible that I will take court action.
Thank you
Pony
PS should you pay in full, I will of course donate the fee, to a homeless charity of your choice.
No ?
It would have about as much legal weight as me saying anyone who reads this reply owes me £20. And if you don't pay within 14 days I'll add £10 on.Thank you for your letter reference xyz123, dated whenever.
This matter does not concern me, I can prove it was not me and I can prove it was not my vehicle.
Either the number has been misread, or my number plate has been cloned. As I have not had the police contact me about this theft, or any motoring offences, I would suggest the former is more likely.
If having reviewed the CCTV footage, you still wish to persue this, I suggest you contact the police, and make your allegations of theft to them.
As this has already taken up too much of my time, I am invoicing you for the sum of £42.53, as an admin fee. Please pay this within 14 days of receiving this letter, otherwise the admin fee will incur an increase of £42.53, for every 14 days you fail to pay.
If you fail to pay its possible that I will take court action.
Thank you
Pony
PS should you pay in full, I will of course donate the fee, to a homeless charity of your choice.
No ?
martinbiz said:
CanAm said:
No need even for that. The OP has already said he’s going to phone them tomorrow morning. Hopefully they will have a photo, at which point he will point out his vehicle is a motor bike not a private car, and all will be resolved.
Agreed but I doubt if they will just take the OP’s word for that and will not want some form of corroboration rockin said:
Nibbles_bits said:
could be stopped by introducing pre-pay pumps, but the petrol stations won't do it because of cost and loss of profits.
Seriously, have you never seen a "pay at pump" petrol station? Stick credit card in pump, fill up (I think max £60) and drive away.
rockin said:
Nibbles_bits said:
could be stopped by introducing pre-pay pumps, but the petrol stations won't do it because of cost and loss of profits.
Seriously, have you never seen a "pay at pump" petrol station? Stick credit card in pump, fill up (I think max £60) and drive away.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff