Essentially Local May-June 2016

Community
Beware the cloners
Consumer holiday headache?
Reports show that due to improved
number plate checking technology,
criminals prefer to use cloned number
plates taken from vehicles that are upto-date
with MOT, tax and insurance,
rather than making up false plates.
Innocent car owners may receive
speeding tickets for offences they
have not committed and/or visits
from the police because their cloned
number plate has been used on a
vehicle involved in a serious crime.
Shopping The DVLA for keeps gifts and a register souvenirs of is
an number important plate part suppliers, of our who holidays are and
most required of the by time law to we’re check happy evidence with our of
purchases. entitlement What and identity happens, before though, selling if
you a new get plate. home The and suppliers find that must the Gucci also
sunglasses keep records you and bought enforcement in Italy are officers
counterfeit, can take action the where phone this you is bought not done.
in However, France does it is easy not to work, buy or plates the hotel
you online stayed from in overseas have accidently and avoid overcharged
checks, so and this you safeguard are having is far trouble from
these
sorting fool-proof. out the issue.
To avoid becoming a victim
of number plate cloning:
• Obscure your registration number in
any photos of your car you upload
to any website, even if you are
selling it.
• If you are buying second hand,
always ask to see the V5C (the
vehicle registration document).
• Check the MOT dates, compare the
mileage with that recorded on the
The DVLA European database Consumer and look carefully Centre
is part at the of vehicle an EU-wide identification network number of 30
European and engine Consumer identity Centres plates and (ECC-
Net) stickers who offer: for evidence of tampering.
• Advice If you are and concerned information for any UK way,
consumers consider buying who are a different having vehicle.
problems If you buy with a car a with company a cloned based in
another number European plate you risk country; losing both
• Intervention the vehicle and in disputes your money. where the
consumer and trader are unable to
reach If you a suspect positive your outcome. car may have
The UK European Consumer Centre
is co-funded by the UK Government’s
Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills (BIS) and the European
Commission.
There is a European Consumer
Centre been cloned, in every call EU the country, police as and well the as
in DVLA Norway immediately. and Iceland, Your so number you can plate get
help will be and entered advice on at to home a “hot” for problems list and
that traffic occurred police alerted. abroad.
So Motoring if you have organisations shopped and abroad
and publications you need such some as help, the AA contact and the
European AutoTrader, Consumer provide guidance Centre and
tips E-mail: to help ecc@tsi.org.uk
when purchasing a used
car. Telephone The Citizens +44(0)1268 Advice Consumer 886 690
(lines Helpline open on 9am 03454 – 4pm) 040506 can
provide Website: advice http://www.ukecc.net/
should anything go
contact-us/index.cfm
wrong with your purchase .
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