Number plate cloning has become a rampant issue across the UK, causing thousands of innocent drivers to face fines and legal repercussions, as cautioned by number plate experts.
Plates4less, a division of VRM Swansea, has sounded the alarm after receiving over 50 calls per week from drivers who fell victim to plate-cloning criminals, resulting in fines and legal action against them.
This nefarious practice enables criminals to steal fuel, access congestion zones, and evade speeding tickets, all while evading responsibility for their illegal activities.
Antony Clark, Marketing Manager at Plates4less, expressed, “We have been overwhelmed with calls from affected drivers. The incidence of number plate cloning has dramatically surged in the past two years. Week after week, we receive between 50 and 100 calls from car owners seeking personalised number plates to dissociate themselves from the cloned registration mark.”
As a cost-effective solution, Plates4less offers cover plates, allowing people to change their vehicle’s registration mark with a non-personalised combination.
The ordeal of dealing with repeated fines from various enforcement agencies can be time-consuming and frustrating for car owners, prompting many to opt for changing their plates as a swift way to address the problem.
Plates4less, based in Swansea, is committed to assisting clients in the UK and Northern Ireland with buying and selling private plates.
Antony highlighted, “There are numerous unscrupulous companies and individuals involved in manufacturing and selling number plates, and many of them operate on platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook. They neglect to verify if the buyer has the legal right to obtain a set of plates, which, these days, is a legal requirement established to aid law enforcement agencies. With over 25 years of experience in this industry, our customers return to us because they trust us to take care of them, time and again.”
He emphasised that Plates4less prioritises solving problems without resorting to aggressive sales tactics. Their focus is on going above and beyond to assist customers, particularly those who have been targeted by criminals, which can be an distressing experience for anyone involved.