Number plate cloning has become a widespread issue in the UK, causing thousands of innocent drivers to face fines and legal repercussions, according to number plate experts at Plates4less (a part of VRM Swansea).
The company has received an alarming influx of more than 50 calls per week from drivers who fell victim to plate-cloning criminals, leading to fines and other penalties. These criminals use cloned plates to commit fuel theft, access congestion zones, evade speeding tickets, and engage in other illegal activities without consequence.
Antony Clark, the Marketing Manager at Plates4less, expressed concern over the escalating number plate cloning incidents, stating, “We have been inundated with calls from drivers. There has been a massive increase in number plate cloning over the last two years. We are getting between 50 and 100 calls every single week from car owners who want to get personalised number plates in a bid to disassociate themselves from the cloned registration mark.”
To address the problem, Plates4less offers cost-effective cover plates, which allow individuals to change their vehicle’s registration mark to a non-personalised combination, thus detaching themselves from the cloned plates.
Dealing with repeated fines from various enforcement agencies can be time-consuming and frustrating for car owners, leading many to opt for changing their plates as a swift and economical solution.
Plates4less, headquartered in Swansea, is dedicated to assisting clients from the UK and Northern Ireland in buying and selling private plates.
Antony raised concerns about unscrupulous entities involved in the manufacturing and selling of number plates, operating on platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Facebook. He emphasised that these sellers often neglect to verify whether the buyer has the legal right to obtain a set of plates, which is a crucial legal requirement designed to aid law enforcement agencies. Plates4less, with over 25 years of experience in the industry, prides itself on being a trustworthy choice for customers who repeatedly return for assistance.
Antony affirmed, “There’s no hard sell with us; we are here to solve problems and will go above and beyond to help our customers, particularly after they have been targeted by criminals, which is an awful experience for anyone.”
