My wife has recently received 4 separate notices, including one from TfL for use of the Blackwall tunnel, all from the same date 1st April (and within 3 hours of each other). The other three are PCNs for alleged incidents at private parking sites in Kent.
From the photos included in each, it is quite obvious the car is not hers because the colour is a light silver grey, whereas hers is a dark charcoal grey. We also live in Cambridgeshire which is quite a distance from where the alleged incidents took place and have not visited London or anywhere close to that area by car for some years. It therefore looks like someone has cloned plates with her VRN.
We spoke to the Cambridgeshire police by phone but they were not interested in recording the crime as they considered it to be identify theft which they claim is not a recordable offence. I am wondering if we should instead report the incidents to the Met and Kent police, as the incidents have occurred in their areas?
We have also spoken to DVLA who have asked us to send a letter + copies of the received notices to their Vehicles team, which we have done.
We have made representations to all issuing companies, refuting that she as keeper is responsible, and that we believe the number plates to have been cloned, providing photos of her car as evidence.
TfL have been the first to reply asking us to consider any further evidence that may support our representation:
"To assist us process your representation we would request you to consider the evidence which may be available to you to support your representation. You should provide us with all the evidence upon which you may rely for us to consider. The evidence you may want to consider providing could include and is not limited to Proof of vehicle at a different location (e.g. tracker report, statement from a colleague or neighbour) OR Proof of involvement of another enforcement agency (e.g police, local authority), who have confirmed vehicle is a ringer/clone OR Proof that customer has had previous dealings with the police in relation to the vehicle, resulting in it being recorded as ringer/clone (police station details AND crime reference number are required to validate such dealings) OR Affidavit/Witness Statement affirming vehicle was not within the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels Charging Zone."
On the morning in question our cars were parked at home for most of the morning, followed by a trip to two local shops. Unfortunately we do not have any photo/receipt evidence to support this. I am happy to provide a witness statement to that effect, as I very clearly know our movements on that morning. Would this be of any use?
TfL are asking us to submit our additional evidence by post. We are loathe to do this as we would rather send things digitally. Since someone from TfL e-mailed us, should we just reply to that address or is there a better one we should use?
Appreciate any advice people can help us out with.
