Cloned Plate - Splash and dash - Solicitor letter arrived

[RichTT]

So it looks like some scrote has cloned the plate on my motorbike and performed a splash and dash at a petrol station 500 miles away from me in London.

I've received a letter from QDR solicitors demanding payment within one week. Letter is dated 16th Feb and I only returned home from work today on the 27th.

Several items prove my innocence in this regard. Firstly that I wouldn't have been able to fit £56 worth of petrol in my bikes tank, secondly i was under self isolation at home and thirdly it's 500 bloomin miles away.

I don't want this to impact credit scores or anything like that so when I phone them Monday is there anything I need to be further armed with in order to ensure this gets dealt with quickly?

[RichTT]

Appreciate all the feedback everyone. Phoned them this morning and at least started the process. The lad on the phone actually thought that I was going to be paying the debt but soon put him right. I've requested the CCTV footage but it has to come from the petrol station in question. These companies have the bare minimum to go on before starting proceedings. They had a vague description of the driver, medium height, casual clothes, face mask, no details on the vehicle in question and no cross reference to the plate vs the vehicle.

Basically did the below and will have to wait on the CCTV photo to then get on to the BIB to get a CRN.

QuattroDave said:

Contact debt recovery, tell them it's not you
Request CCTV footage
Review footage and if it is your reg call up police and get a crime reference number
Pass CRN back to recovery agency

[RichTT]

I'll wait until I get the CCTV photo before calling the police i think. I'll just follow the protocol they suggested as I'm sure they've had this plenty of times before.

[RichTT]

threadlock said:

Any update please, RichTT?

Nope, not heard a thing yet. As someone else suggested I might not hear anything again but it would be odd if that was the case.

[RichTT]

So the debt recovery agency got in touch finally with the evidence. The photo is grainy but certainly looks like the correct reading of the plate.

http://imgur.com/gallery/NEt8VRH

Due to this taking so long I am now overseas until at least early June. I've submitted an online crime report and will wait on hearing back from them before I reply to the email.

Will see what happens next.

[RichTT]

M4cruiser said:

So that's SM19WRD recorded on DVLA as a black Astra, which is what it looks like.

Jeez, didn't even check that plate. Well done, yes that's what it would be. Might even just reply to the solicitors with that?

[RichTT]

BlackWidow13 said:

... which needs a road tax renewal!

It's just been traded in on Friday past so they will have notified DVLA and will be untaxed now.

[RichTT]

martinbiz said:

aestetix1 said:

If it was mis-read you could be in for a windfall.

Requesting the wrong person's details from the DVLA is a breech of the Data Protection Act. It is their responsibility to make sure they get the right plate.

When this went to court the fine was £750 plus costs. So if it is mis-read you should point this out and suggest that £750 is suitable compensation for mis-handling your personal data and wasting your time.

Here we go! Link to a source for this case would be nice

Did anyone have any more information on this as I would be more than happy to plug them for some cash as I've wasted a lot of time on this.

[RichTT]

Rushjob said:

Hopefully I'm not being thick here but you have told them that the vrm they've referred to is a bike haven't you??

Yeah discussed this with the chap I spoke to on the phone when I first got the letter through. But wanted the evidence before I made any other moves. I mean even he hadn't seen the evidence CCTV shots. They just get handed the slip with the supposed vehicle details and I'm assuming they go to the DVLA from there.

[RichTT]

I replied to the email with the evidence on the 8th of April. Last night I received a reply from them. At least it was within the stated 28 day response time. I mean really, how long does it take to read and respond to an email?

[quote]Dear XXX,

Our Client: British Oil Security Syndicate Limited

Location: COCKFOSTERS SF CONNECT

Client Reference: XXX

Our Reference: XXX

Outstanding Balance: £74.42



We write further to your recent email.



In light of the comments you have made, we have referred this matter to our client, and will return to you in due course. The above account has been placed on hold during this time.



Should you require any further information, please contact us
[/quote]