Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (MS)

Puttur, Jun 27: A significant scam has been uncovered in the process of fixing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on vehicles in Puttur. Over the past 10 months, vehicle dealers have been allegedly fleecing customers by charging them extra fees for fixing HSRP number plates, despite the full payment being made online during the registration process.

To obtain an HSRP number plate, vehicle owners are required to register online and pay the prescribed fee, which includes both the cost of the number plate and the installation charges. After a few days, the number plate is sent to the dealer selected by the customer. The vehicle owner receives a message detailing the date and time to collect and install the number plate at the showroom.

However, it has come to light that some vehicle showrooms have been charging customers an additional fee, ranging between Rs 100 and Rs 200, when they arrive to have their number plates fixed. Unaware that this charge is unwarranted, many customers pay the extra amount without question.

A two-wheeler owner shared his experience, saying, “I registered online for an HSRP number plate and paid the full amount. When I went to the showroom to get the plate fixed, they asked for an additional Rs 200. After I insisted that I had already paid the full amount, they reluctantly fixed the plate without any extra charge when I threatened to file a complaint with the RTO.”

This practice of charging extra fees has reportedly been ongoing for the past six to seven months. Only informed customers who challenge the showrooms avoid paying the additional charges, while others, unaware of the scam, pay the amount and leave.

Ashton, an inspector at the regional transport office (RTO) in Puttur, emphasized, “Customers should not pay any additional charges at the showroom for fixing the number plates as the complete amount is collected online during registration. If any showroom demands extra money, the public should immediately report it to the RTO.”

Authorities are urging vehicle owners to be vigilant and to report any instances of overcharging to prevent further exploitation by unscrupulous dealers. The RTO is committed to taking stringent action against those involved in such malpractices.