Plenty of backing for number plate stand
Friday 14th October 2011, 2:29PM BST.
A WOMAN who was told by the Environment Department that it would not issue her a registration number she had paid for has now taken legal advice over the matter.
Janice Ozanne, 58 (pictured), has been in contact with Advocate Andrew Ayres after discussing the matter with her trades union, Unite.
Just hours after she paid to reserve 80808, Environment phoned Mrs Ozanne to say she could not have it because the plate had to be auctioned.
Since the Guernsey Press published Mrs Ozanne’s story on Monday, she said she had received a lot of support from islanders.
‘I was not getting anywhere so that is why I had the appointment with the advocate. Environment haven’t come back to me.’
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So the money she will spend on advocate fees, could she not have taken that to the auction?
Where is the story? Woman angry that the plate she thought she could have for £59 cant now have it? She presumably has to have (gasp) another number??
what is the real problem? Oh she thought that she would be able to sell 80808 for more then £59? why should she make a profit out of it?
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Why did she go to her trades union? What’s it to do with them? It’s only a number plate – get over it.
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That number plate would probably sell for around the 1000 to £1500 mark. I will keep an eye on the final figure just out of curiosity now. The advocate will represent her no matter what. They are too shrewd to turn down good but pointless business no matter what.
I hope the fees amount to a substantial sum. Like has been said above. She’d have been better advised to take the cash to auction.
It is not a number that will attract fierce bidding. This publicity may just make the plate that little bit more attractive. Especially if there is a number of people that wish to get one up Janice Ozanne, for whatever reason?
I am fully behind Environment on this. Anything that raises money in times of austerity, like these, can only be a good thing.
She needs to be honest with herself. She thought she struck it lucky. It turned out a mistake had been made, for whatever reason? Her luck turned out to be incorrect. She should accept that. Bid at auction if the plate would make such a difference to her life. Don’t expect much sympathy from islanders for costing taxpayers good money unnecessarily when there is simple alternatives as a resolution to this trivial matter.
I know she is expecting the threat of a few standard issue legal letters to overturn their decision in this case. Out of fair and proper principle, the same as it is for all, I will be most disappointed to learn they simply caved in due to the legal threat.
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She probably went to her union because many unions give their members discounted or free legal services.
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The admin fee paid by Mrs O was for “registering interest” in a number – she did not pay for the number. Also, you cannot register interest for a “special” number such as this one, nor do the environment department issue refunds.
So her application was invalid, and now she is making a fuss because she’s not given – yes given – the right to use a registration number with a marketable value.
I can understand her disappointment, but why the big fuss? It just makes her look greedy!
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What a waste of time and money. She does realise that it’s tax payers money which will be used to defend the case?
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If it had been number 80085 I’d understand what the all the fuss was about …..
In my experience “in contact with a lawyer”, with no other details, usually means ” lawyer told me I didn’t have a leg to stand on, but it makes my case look stronger if you think I’ve got a lawyer backing me” ……
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Oh such harsh comments here towards this lady, who did nothing wrong, but PAID in advance for the number plate. Surely it is the Enviroment Department who are the greedy ones? They realized afterwards that the plate might raise more money at auction. Someone there made a mistake – but Janice Ozanne did nothing wrong!
Maybe she did want the number plate for herself and never intended to sell it for a profit. My son turned 24 on 080808 – so that number plate would have meant something to him were we still living in Guernsey. Maybe Jance Ozanne has other reasons for wanting that number.
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The Press article mentions the palindromic nature of the plate being deemed lucky by the Chinese. Added to that, the fact that the number 8 in China is also deemed lucky (like our western “lucky 7″), then this plate (if offered to a very wealthy Chinese businessman) may bring nearer the £1,000,000 mark.
No wonder she’s kicking off!
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Stop wasting time and money over a stupid number plate
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Not much backing here.
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I think people are missing the point here. She PAID for the plate. If you bought something then was told you have to pay maybe up to a thousand pounds more, would’nt you be angry too. I know I would be. A deals a deal. Good luck Ms Ozanne.
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There doesn’t seem to be much support for Ms Ozanne on this forum – indeed, ther doesn’t seem to be much interest at all. An unfortunate mistake was made, for which someone at Environment should be appropriately chastised. She’ll just have to live with it.
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If Environment can’t get a contract for a number plate right, what chance have they got with an £80,000,000 airport contract?
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Take it to court Janice, Id love to see the outcome…..
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From S.O.G Website
(a) Definition Of “Special” Marks
The current definition of a “special” mark is a palindrome five digit number or consecutive five digit, or a five digit with two sets of doubles in it OR a one, two, three or four digit number for motor vehicles. It therefore follows that any other registration mark not included in these categories is deemed to be a non-special mark.
From time to time, the Department makes “special” marks available for sale either at public auctions or by sealed tender. Details of these sales, including the marks on offer, are published in the Guernsey Press and on this web site.
There are currently no special marks available for purchase from the Department
(b) Anyone wishing to register their interest in a specific “non-special” mark has to pay a fee and complete an application form. This form plus payment of the fee entitles the applicant to have his or her interest registered on the waiting list for a specific “non-special” mark (see form available for download below for current fee for this service). A Certificate of Interest will be issued once the application has been registered and accepted. The mark may not be available and it may be the case that it never becomes available.
The question is was there a purchase or a registration of inetrest. It is clear from the information in (a) that the plate is a “special” and as such registering an interest was futile and as far as I can see non refundable …
So to me the Envioronment department have just followed rules. Applicant applies, pays non refundable £59, Envioronment department state plate is not available .. end off .. Daft it may be but those are the rules… I guess refunding the £59 is the best anyone can expect.
http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/travel-transport/driver—vehicle-licensing/registration-marks/
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Envioronment department pure greed once again thats the states for you
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One for Really, In the paper it states that she is not paying for the advocate as she has 2 ½ hours free. Anyway I feel if she wants this number plate and it was sold to her as she has the receipt then it’s her’s good luck to her.
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To the people saying she paid for the plate… SHE DIDN’T. You can’t buy a licence plate – Traffic always own it, but any how all she did was pay to register her interest – well, she did that. It didn’t pan out – thats the deal. You take your chance. She would never have been told it was guaranteed hers – the clues in the title – REGISTERING YOUR INTEREST.
Good post Jim!
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Sarah,
Apparently reading all these post’s she only paid a transfer fee registering her interest in the number, not an actual purchase as such. I think it has been covered above by many posts that you cannot actually buy a number.
She is obviously disapointed that she didnt get the number, but thats life, I dont understand why she is making such a fuss.
I wonder who pays for the “free” 2 1/2 hours then? Because I have never known any advocate working out of the goodness of their heart. Oh, and dont believe everything your read :)
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Really, No I know you can’t beleive everything you read, but if Ms Ozanne had a receipt for the number plate then surely that means it is her’s? I think they should just give her the number plate and end all this now as I get a feeling she will not give up on this one.
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Sarah, I disagree.
Mrs O has simply “registered her interest” in a number she was technically unable to register her interest in, and had paid an administration fee for processing that application. Her application therefore appears to have been invalid, despite her having a receipt.
It is never implied by Environment that they WILL grant you the number which your register your interest in – see the S.O.G. website http://www.gov.gg/ccm/navigation/travel-transport/driver—vehicle-licensing/registration-marks/.
From my viewpoint, therefore, Mrs O doesn’t have a leg to stand on. I also find it asbsurd that she has had 2.5 hours of publically-funded legal advice on this frankly ridiculous matter. What a waste of tax-payers money!
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Q – it was suggested in an earlier post that the legal fees were paid for by Ms Ozanne’s trades union. If so, it would have been paid out of her fellow union members’ fees and not by the general tax payer.
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poor Mrs Janice Ozanne (58) pictured , I feel very sorry for her, it’s extremely sad.
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I cannot believe this woman really thinks she has a case. It is perfectly obvious to anyone with a brain that the poor chap(ess) at the Environment Dept counter made a mistake and she has been told that. Also the money she spent (and will have returned) is just to say she would like this number if it wasn’t put up for auction, which it will be. And how can a States Department be called ‘greedy’ for trying to make money for us, the tax payers, out of someone else, who must have more dosh than sense, if they pay to have a particular plate? Some people are chancers, hoping to make a quick buck out of someone’s brief mistake and deny other folk what should be rightfully theirs. Not sure if that refers Mrs Ozanne or the advocates.
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I like 80085
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NoWay
I totally agree with your comments, if the woman really wants it then put the highest bid when it comes up for auction, simples really.
Mrs Ozanne you can shout and rant all you want but you have not purchased a right to use that number.
I am sure there are far more important things in life to worry about.
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