Hey all. New on here but had my Roadster for a couple of years. I just wanted to share my terrible experience with a company called Number1Plates.com.
I used their online plate builder to preview a rear plate for my Eunos Roadster (JDM size ā 330x165). Just before I ordered, I noticed a tiny bit of writing (not legible in the preview ā just a small blurry line) so I called to confirm what it was. The guy on the phone told me it was the BS number which is required by the DVLA by law. I figured it would look fine, but wanted to CATEGORICALLY CONFIRM that there would be no website or branding or anything else on the plate ā my current plate has a website written on it that DEEPLY OFFENDS me every time I drive the carĀ Ā He told me that THE ONLY TEXT other than my reg number would be the BS number, so I paid for next day delivery and waitedā¦
My plate arrived today with not only the BS number, but also the word TENNANTS in front of it (Iāve since discovered that theyāre the company that supply the actual plate). Further, and most offensively, āNumber 1 Plates LS20 9PDā is written below my registration. I called them immediately to ask what had happened, and the guy said āwe need to put it there by lawā. I told him I wasnāt aware of that, and reminded him that heād told me the previous day that there would be no other text on the plate except for the legally required BS number ā and thatās when it got fun. He immediately said āItās the law and thereās nothing we can doā to which I replied with a refund request. He continued to tell me that it was the law (turns out, heās right ā the supplierās name and post code needs to be on there) and I couldnāt get my money back (Ā£33). It didnāt matter how many times I said āBut you told me there was no branding on itā, he just continued to pretend Iād spoken to somebody else. He wouldnāt escalate or put me through to anyone above him, and kept telling me I just had to keep the plate, so I said āIāll be leaving you a negative reviewā to which he then FLEW OFF THE HANDLE, telling me that I am going to get in trouble for requesting an illegal number plate, and itās all my fault. Sufficed to say, it disintegrated into āYou told me there was no branding!ā followed by āSo you want an illegal plate do ya? Go call the DVLA and tell them that you are trying to get an illegal plate!ā Etc.
And so, here I am with a plate that I donāt want, and no refund, and a long and laborious story to tell. In short, STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM NUMBER1PLATES.COM, unless you want to become a rolling advertisement for a company run by frustrated monkey men.
Iām confused here. Are you complaining that they didnāt sell you an illegal number plate?
My ( limited ) understanding is the plate must have the BS number and the name and postcode of the company that supplied the plate.
If you wanted a legal plate why not just go to Halfords?
Itās only Ā£30, move on.
I doubt that would work. The firm supplied a road legal plate as required by the DVLA AND eBayās trading terms. The fact that you asked for a plate that was illegal would be no excuse because you are required to order a plate that is road legal, to plead ignorance of the legal requirement is not an excuse or a defense in law.
Personally I agree with Craig, heās a right to be disgruntled.
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If you donāt know the law, proceed to ask someone who does, who then gives you bad information, whoās to blame.
You for not knowing the rules, or the guy who gave you the wrong info and false promise.
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And if Craig knew that he wanted an illegal plate, proceeded to ask the right questions, but was still given the incorrect info, then thatās not his fault either.
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You call a T Shirt company, āIād like MX5 Club, embroidering on the front, but it wonāt have any of your logos will itā ???
No Sir.
Then when it arrives it says āmade by the T Shirt companyā on the back.
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Whether or not he was trying to source an illegal plate is irrelevent, he asked a specific question and didnāt recieve what heād asked for.
Craig, file an indemnity claim with your card holder, get your money back.
When I was looking for a ew plate to replace the dealer supplied advertising billboard, my understanding was that the BS number and manufacturer/supplier details were mandatory.
As it happens, Halfords plates hit the mark because these details are printed in a very light grey shadow on the plate and barely noticeable.
The British Standard for number plates The British Standard sets out the characteristics of the number plate. This includes visibility, strength and reflectivity. To meet the British Standard, each number plate must be permanently and legibly marked with the: ā¢ British Standard number (currently BS AU 145d) ā¢ name, trademark or other way of identifying the manufacturer or supplier ā¢ name and postcode of the supplying outlet.
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So not only the manufacturer but also the name of the seller who sold it.Ā
On the website mentioned by OP in their FAQ section it does not mention anything about the TENNANTS part. only the company name:
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DO YOUR PLATES INCLUDE YOUR LEGAL DETAILS?
They certainly do in tiny writing at the bottom of the plates.Ā The details areĀ āNUMBER1PLATES LS20 9PD BSAU 145dā. This is a legality Ā as it means the police or authorities can check ifĀ they are genuine and your vehicle will pass the MOT check. We do not use this forĀ advertising thatās why we keep it so small.
Is that small (obligatory!) text what all the fuss is about? Good grief!!! Youād need a pair of bins or a 'scope to see it a more than 1 metre! And who the F**k goes round reading the small print on plates anyway!!!
As others have said its the law and every number plate supplier will do the same unless you order show plates which are not legal in the eyes of the law.I have driven many cars with illegal plates and never been stopped, my current ones are legal though, if anyoneās interested i use demon plates who make great plates legal or for show.
So small that I think itās a stretch to construe it as material to the appearance, especially when it would be illegal without it.But good luck to the OP.
I order them as plain and unadorned as possible - no flags, borders, GBās, dealer advertising, or illegal spacing - but Iāve never given a thought to supplier details and the BS number in that size type.
Can you see it?
OK the pictureās only 640 wide for the forum. Mind, I might have to move the plate down to avoid that unsightly reversing camera
Itās not the legal text that spoils the appearance, itās having a dirty great reflective sign in the first place.
Hey everyone, thanks for the replies. It was really a post to vent my frustration and talk about the bad customer service. As I said before, Iāve made my peace with it and thatās fine ā but I was told there was no branding or other writing anywhere on the plate. When I reminded him of that, he went mad at me and started telling me to call the DVLA.
Anyway, all good. Hereās a pic of the car ā thought you all might enjoyā¦
Youāre missing the point, man. My problem is that I was lied to then made to feel incredibly uncomfortable on the phone. He wouldnāt even admit that he had spoken to me the day before. Just feels like a company to avoid, thatās all.
