Number plate fell off

milgo

milgo

milgo

Associate
Joined
21 Aug 2003
Posts
651
Location
Essex
I popped out this morning in my car to help a friend. Got home and was picked up for work, all perfectly normal.

When I was at work someone called me and told me they had found my rear numberplate (I had no idea it was missing). I got some new number plates recently from my local dealership, so naturally they had the name of the dealer printed on the bottom. This lady went to the dealer and it seems they happily handed over all my details so she could contact me.

I appreciate the effort this person went to, although I think it's a bit weird personally. I am not very happy about the garage just handing my details over to someone I don't know. I would have thought it would be more professional to take the plate and contact me.

Am I being silly? Should I complain?
 
I can think of absolutely no reason why a dealer would do this. It is so obviously against the law that I cannot imagine it happening that way.
 
Yeah it seems very odd. She knew my name, obviously got my phone number and knew where I live. I haven't gone to collect it yet because I just got home.

If I saw a numberplate fall off and the car drive away I would just shrug and continue on my way.
 
I'd be very grateful personally. The fault is with the garage handing over your details not her returning your numberplate. She just saved you £10-13?
 
Nothing worth stealing in my opinion, just an 06 Fabia VRS. Can only park it in the road, so blocking it in isn't possible. Why would they call me though? To confirm the details or something?

It was only stuck on because the screws had corroded, I have never had a problem with tape before.

I am grateful to the lady that picked it up. I just thought it was odd behaviour around here.
 
Im more suprised the dealership just didnt take the plate and call you instead of handing out your info. :confused:
 
Are you 100% sure the person who called you is the lady that found it?
Also, are you 100% sure that she wasn't given the phone by the garage after they dialled?

Be very sure, don't take it out on her and get all the details first.
 
sure the tape hadn't just got unsticky from the recent heat wave?

my front plate was half off the other day too, was sat in the sun all day.
 
Technically under section 55 of the data protection act, The dealership have committed a criminal act. It says that:

55 Unlawful obtaining etc. of personal data

A person must not knowingly or recklessly, without the consent of the data controller—
(a)obtain or disclose personal data or the information contained in personal data, or
(b)procure the disclosure to another person of the information contained in personal data.

I'd be making a very snotty call to the manager and suggesting they give some training to their staff on data protection laws and suggest to them you wish make an official complaint to the information commissioner.
 
MrLOL said:
Technically under section 55 of the data protection act, The dealership have committed a criminal act. It says that:

55 Unlawful obtaining etc. of personal data

A person must not knowingly or recklessly, without the consent of the data controller—
(a)obtain or disclose personal data or the information contained in personal data, or
(b)procure the disclosure to another person of the information contained in personal data.

I'd be making a very snotty call to the manager and suggesting they give some training to their staff on data protection laws and suggest to them you wish make an official complaint to the information commissioner.
Click to expand...

ask for financial compensation as well for their mistake, or maybe even a free new car!!!
 
MrLOL said:
Technically under section 55 of the data protection act, The dealership have committed a criminal act. It says that:

55 Unlawful obtaining etc. of personal data

A person must not knowingly or recklessly, without the consent of the data controller—
(a)obtain or disclose personal data or the information contained in personal data, or
(b)procure the disclosure to another person of the information contained in personal data.

I'd be making a very snotty call to the manager and suggesting they give some training to their staff on data protection laws and suggest to them you wish make an official complaint to the information commissioner.
Click to expand...

Technically under UK law (The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations) The OP could have been fined had he not noticed the missing plate and driven out of his drive onto a public road so I would be grateful to the garage for looking out for my interests...
 
ubersonic said:
Technically under UK law (The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations) The OP could have been fined had he not noticed the missing plate and driven out of his drive onto a public road so I would be grateful to the garage for looking out for my interests...
Click to expand...

I wouldn't. The lady deserves to be thanked, the garage needs to be spoken too!
 
ubersonic said:
Technically under UK law (The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations) The OP could have been fined had he not noticed the missing plate and driven out of his drive onto a public road so I would be grateful to the garage for looking out for my interests...
Click to expand...

But they didn't did they. They gave his details to a complete stranger. They should have phoned him, not got some random to do it.

DiG said:
I wouldn't. The lady deserves to be thanked, the garage needs to be spoken too!
Click to expand...

+1
 
ubersonic said:
Technically under UK law (The Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations) The OP could have been fined had he not noticed the missing plate and driven out of his drive onto a public road so I would be grateful to the garage for looking out for my interests...
Click to expand...

no you wouldnt

the correct procedure would be for them to deny the woman access to private data protected by law, and simply phoned the guy himself and not broken any data protection laws !!!!

not displaying a numberplate isnt a criminal offense. Disclosing personal data without authorisation is.


DiG said:
I wouldn't. The lady deserves to be thanked, the garage needs to be spoken too!
Click to expand...


agreed

the womans intentions were entirely honourable. Go after the garage who should never have released your data.
 
Like I said before, I have no problem with the woman picking it up for me. It's my problem if the plate fell off and was probably down to the heat like you say lmfy2k. I never thought anyone had ripped it off.

So I went to collect it about an hour ago. Nice lady that owns an off license. I checked the number that called me and it is registered to that off license.

She was out on her horse and saw it lying in the road. The garage is a small family run place (official skoda dealer still) and she knows the owner apparently because they both run businesses locally. I tried to give her some money as a thank you but she refused.

So I'm not sure whether to be annoyed with the garage. Technically they broke the law, but because its only a small place I don't feel so keen to cause trouble. I go there quite a lot and deal with the owner usually and I expect it was him that handed over the details.

I have never found a good garage, this is the best of a bad bunch around here. At least they didn't replace my wheel bearings and then forget to torque up the hub nuts like another garage did.
 
Just leave it tbh, is it really worth the hasle?, put the number plate back on and secure it, job done.
 
Locky said:
Just leave it tbh, is it really worth the hasle?, put the number plate back on and secure it, job done.
Click to expand...

But whats to stop someone ripping that plate of a car they like, ringing the garage to get the details and then going round to steal the key and make of with the car? Its illegal, if you still want to use them have a polite word, they are professionals, they should act like it!
 
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