CCR2 Public-Sector Collections


Micro-chipping vehicles would improve traceability


Is it time to think of unorthodox measures by which to combat vehicle fraud?


Judy Terry Independent public relations professional judyterry@btinternet.com


Number-plate recognition technology is now being deployed, by both the police and collections industry, in order to trace vehicles, and verify authenticity at ports and borders. The only problem is that, according to


police officers, drivers wanting to avoid detection are increasingly replacing their number plates, especially if vehicles are stolen for criminal purposes, for example drug running across county lines. They also provide inaccurate addresses


when registering a vehicle, which, in turn, means that they cannot be traced, despite regularly abusing speed limits and parking restrictions, or leaving the scene after an accident. Inevitably, this must mean that their


vehicles are also uninsured and untaxed, and without an MOT.


Registered address Last year a neighbour asked me, as a former local councillor, for my help; over about 18 months, he received on an almost daily basis, letters from the local authority, and eventually from bailiffs, which were not for him. Although he had purchased the property


several years previously, it transpired that it was also the registered address for several people and their cars, although there is no record of them actually ever having lived there. Initially, he returned the letters with a


note on the envelope: ‘not known at this address’. Then, as they continued to arrive, he opened them, and discovered that they related to thousands of pounds in fines of one sort or another, as well as


28 www.CCRMagazine.com September 2019


substantial outstanding debts with banks and other organisations. So, he called each of the senders to


explain the addressees were not known to him, and did not live at the property; when all this failed, and the threats manifested themselves in knocks at his door, he became frightened of the


potential consequences when his protests were being ignored.


They also provide inaccurate addresses when registering a vehicle, which means they cannot be traced, despite regularly abusing speed limits and parking restrictions, or leaving the scene after an accident


Sole occupier Despite his producing evidence that he was the sole occupier (with his dog) and was no relation to those claiming to have lived there, and had never met them, it took several weeks following my intervention on his behalf before he received assurances from the local authority, lenders, and the various collections-industry representatives, that he would not be bothered further. Thankfully, six months on, that remains


the case. However, it is unlikely that any of the addressees were traced, or debts recovered. So, there are no guarantees that vehicle-number recognition will always work – and it is certainly doubtful in situations involving criminal intent!


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52