PCN received-plate cloned?
Discussion
Just returned home from holiday to find I've been sent a PCN for parking a white Vauxhall on a street in Manchester on the 2nd August.
I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
I was just wondering if I should regard this as either an error by the Civil Enforcement Officer, keying in the Vauxhall's reg incorrectly or proof that my car had been cloned. If it's been cloned, who would I report it too?
I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
I was just wondering if I should regard this as either an error by the Civil Enforcement Officer, keying in the Vauxhall's reg incorrectly or proof that my car had been cloned. If it's been cloned, who would I report it too?
I had this from a council in a city I've never been to. The PCN had my number plate but the car make and model were totally different. I contacted the council about it but they insisted on going through with it. I contacted the police and got a crime number as I also thought my plate may have been cloned.
I can't remember what the next stage was called but I submitted my defence by letter including the crime reference number and a front and back picture of my car. I was quite prepared to go to court on this and see it through to the end. I suspect it was just a mis-read letter of the plate or something that somebody had innocently made.
The council failed to submit anything so I won by default.
I can't remember what the next stage was called but I submitted my defence by letter including the crime reference number and a front and back picture of my car. I was quite prepared to go to court on this and see it through to the end. I suspect it was just a mis-read letter of the plate or something that somebody had innocently made.
The council failed to submit anything so I won by default.
Edited by Aunty Pasty on Monday 16th September 19:34
Paul Dishman said:
Just returned home from holiday to find I've been sent a PCN for parking a white Vauxhall on a street in Manchester on the 2nd August.
I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
I was just wondering if I should regard this as either an error by the Civil Enforcement Officer, keying in the Vauxhall's reg incorrectly or proof that my car had been cloned. If it's been cloned, who would I report it too?
If you've just had the one PCN (so far, fingers crossed) maybe it's just a misread rather than a clone? Have you seen the photo?)I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
I was just wondering if I should regard this as either an error by the Civil Enforcement Officer, keying in the Vauxhall's reg incorrectly or proof that my car had been cloned. If it's been cloned, who would I report it too?
Paul Dishman said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
If you've just had the one PCN (so far, fingers crossed) maybe it's just a misread rather than a clone? Have you seen the photo?)
No, just the PCN.I’ve emailed GMP saying that I think my car may have had its plate cloned.
Good luck
Paul Dishman said:
Just returned home from holiday to find I've been sent a PCN for parking a white Vauxhall on a street in Manchester on the 2nd August.
I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
That's fairly easy to prove then. Different colour, make and location. When our car was cloned, it was only the location that was at fault (and the trim level of the car). Having to prove you were somewhere else proved to be troublesome when the local London borough council took two months from the alleged offence to actually send out the PCN. Had one from TfL and two from City of Westminster, all denied and eventually upheld and cancelled. I reported the clone to my local police force and to the MET.I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
chopper602 said:
Paul Dishman said:
Just returned home from holiday to find I've been sent a PCN for parking a white Vauxhall on a street in Manchester on the 2nd August.
I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
That's fairly easy to prove then. Different colour, make and location. When our car was cloned, it was only the location that was at fault (and the trim level of the car). Having to prove you were somewhere else proved to be troublesome when the local London borough council took two months from the alleged offence to actually send out the PCN. Had one from TfL and two from City of Westminster, all denied and eventually upheld and cancelled. I reported the clone to my local police force and to the MET.I've just appealed against the PCN on the grounds that although the plate given is on my car, it's not white, not a Vauxhall and certainly wasn't in Manchester on the date in question. Not least because the last time I was in Manchester was sometime in the early 1960s, but mainly because I live in Devon so it wasn't my car.
It has most likely been cloned, you may have more fines come through. Luckily your car looks very different from the cloned car so it should be straight forward to appeal with photos.
You need to report online or by phone to police. Give them the description of the cloned car & how it is different from yours. This will be uploaded onto the anpr system & the car will get pulled when seen by a camera.
They usually only keep the cloned plates on short term. You are lucky that they used a different make and model. It becomes very tricky when it’s the same make/ model/ colour. Then it comes down to studying the fine photo for any small difference.
You need to report online or by phone to police. Give them the description of the cloned car & how it is different from yours. This will be uploaded onto the anpr system & the car will get pulled when seen by a camera.
They usually only keep the cloned plates on short term. You are lucky that they used a different make and model. It becomes very tricky when it’s the same make/ model/ colour. Then it comes down to studying the fine photo for any small difference.
Same happened to two friends of mine.
1- My ex
Her car is black 04 Astra.
Exact same model and colour of car with matching rag was snapped in a Bradford bus lane.
Problem was her car was easily proved to be on a car ferry to Jersey at that time.
2- friend, matching reg was snapped in a bus lane somewhere.
Problem, his car is a dark blue Octavia estate, vehicle snapped was a silver full size Transit van.
Both tickets got squashed.
1- My ex
Her car is black 04 Astra.
Exact same model and colour of car with matching rag was snapped in a Bradford bus lane.
Problem was her car was easily proved to be on a car ferry to Jersey at that time.
2- friend, matching reg was snapped in a bus lane somewhere.
Problem, his car is a dark blue Octavia estate, vehicle snapped was a silver full size Transit van.
Both tickets got squashed.
Our sons 2023 MB had its plate cloned, PCN + speeding tickets sent. Despite photo showing his plate on an 04 Golf took him 6 months to get it all sorted! Finally had to force them to give a Met Police official letter as he got stopped a bunch and the cloner continued to rack up fines.
Considering the database of registration numbers to make and model is publicly available online to anyone, this thread prompts two questions.
Why don’t cloners choose a number that matches the type and colour of their vehicle, thus making it less likely to get pulled by an inquisitive ANPR cop?
Don’t highway enforcement forces do a routine check that the registration number on a PCN is for the right type of vehicle, before sending it out?
Why don’t cloners choose a number that matches the type and colour of their vehicle, thus making it less likely to get pulled by an inquisitive ANPR cop?
Don’t highway enforcement forces do a routine check that the registration number on a PCN is for the right type of vehicle, before sending it out?
Granadier said:
Don’t highway enforcement forces do a routine check that the registration number on a PCN is for the right type of vehicle, before sending it out?
Pretty sure these are all 100% automated, why pay someone to double check before sending, when they can get you to do it for them. Bonus if they dont notice and pay up anyway.I once had some council PCN for my black Volvo S60 and next to this information was a picture of a blue Hino panel van, plate was almost identical but misread as mine.
.:ian:. said:
Granadier said:
Don’t highway enforcement forces do a routine check that the registration number on a PCN is for the right type of vehicle, before sending it out?
Pretty sure these are all 100% automated, why pay someone to double check before sending, when they can get you to do it for them. Bonus if they dont notice and pay up anyway.I once had some council PCN for my black Volvo S60 and next to this information was a picture of a blue Hino panel van, plate was almost identical but misread as mine.
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