Saturday, June 15, 2024

Tampa Bay area specialty license plate company tagged by hundreds of complaints


Once once more, I’m reaching out for some information in your impending investigative story relating to MyFloridaSpecialtyPlate, and myself. I despatched you a pair of thousand names and emails for individuals who have utilized the service in the previous couple of months, previous to the service provider processing shut down and would once more ask for the names of the individuals that you’ve who allege they didn’t obtain their order or a refund. Even the BBB present alternatives to see if the grievance is certainly a sound one.

There are quite a few causes, on high of the shut down, that folks didn’t obtain their orders and I might suppose it solely truthful that as half of your investigation, you’d verify that the information that you just acquired was completely correct.

When a fee is positioned, the shopper is meant to be auto forwarded to a web page to fill in all their pertinent registration information, together with insurance coverage, VIN, DL, D/B, present tag, they usually must swear that they’ve legitimate insurance coverage in impact on the time. If this isn’t acquired, their order can’t be processed.

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If they haven’t carried out this, we comply with up with an e mail requesting the identical information, offering them with the identical web page link to enter their information. If any subject is left clean, it doesn’t ahead as with out all of the requested information, it can’t be submitted. We wouldn’t have entry to FRVIS or DAVID, as said all through the website

When that’s acquired, the information is checked after which there are comply with up emails for:

Biennial renewals – an additional fee is required as mandated by DMV

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Personalizing their order – further charges are charged by the state

If the registration is due within the subsequent 3 months, they’ve so as to add a renewal payment

If they’ve ordered a customized plate, they’ve to offer a accomplished Form 83043.

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If they ordered a Divine 9 plate, they should add proof of present membership in a type acceptable to the DMV

If they put the mistaken quantity of characters on their Form 83043, it needs to be re-submitted – left-sided and central emblem plates are totally different.

There are quite a few different the explanation why a comply with up e mail needs to be generated previous to submission.

The inventory of plates isn’t saved by us, it’s on the 67 Florida approved county Tax Collector’s workplaces and they’re all made on the state jail. The plates are made in batches of 10,000 and the Tax Collector, by regulation, has to maintain a minimal quantity of inventory for every of the 132 totally different specialty license plates which might be out there for buy at their respective workplaces.

Personalized plates (selecting what you need on them) are made on demand on the state jail in batches of 1,000 .

We merely take the fee from the shopper, ship them an e mail to get their information to course of the order securely after which the fee and orders are despatched securely to be processed. We don’t have any additional involvement. They must be registered to their car within the State of Florida registration system. The Tax Collector sends the approved license plate, with registration papers, and decal matching the brand new plate and registration types in a sealed envelope on to the shopper’s handle by USPS and the shopper takes the license plate and replaces their previous one on their automotive.

We are merely a web-based ‘courier’ service that simply takes the order on-line, makes positive all of the information is gathered to have the ability to course of the order after which we pay the Tax Collector to course of that order they usually course of it by the official state Department of Motor Vehicles system.

For personalised plates, the personalization course of features a minimal of 60 days processing/manufacturing time on the jail. Prior to that their type is cleared by the DMV system and is then topic to their evaluation for his or her approval (they verify for any formatting errors and for any improper language, phrases, hidden meanings, and many others.) after which they ahead it to the jail to be made.

When it has been manufactured on the jail, it’s mailed again to the clerk in batches, sorted after which mailed on to them. It will arrive with its personal registration decal within the envelope to be affixed to it. We have no idea when this occurs as they’re despatched each time they’re made and out there to be despatched.

Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE) is a state-authorized, personal, not-for-profit, inmate coaching company working normal manufacturing and companies amenities in correctional establishments all through the State of Florida, approved by the Florida Legislature in 1981. Union Correctional Institution, (91 inmates) previously known as “Florida State Prison”, “Raiford Prison” and “State Prison Farm” is situated in unincorporated Union County, Florida, close to Raiford, between Gainesville and Jacksonville. It is situated throughout from Florida State Prison, the place demise row inmates await their destiny. That is the place all license plates, together with personalised plates, are made.

Once the order goes into the jail system, we now have no monitoring. The order is being processed and as quickly because the clerk will get it again, it goes straight out to you. The timelines we offer are topic to this course of and had been considerably impacted prior to now by COVID-19, aluminum shortages and state personnel points, so we ask clients to please enable a minimal 90 days from when their personalised alternative was authorised to obtain their personalised plate. If the personalised alternative is denied by the DMV, we’re notified in batches after which the shopper is requested to resubmit a extra acceptable alternative – this is also topic to state timelines, not ours.

This system has been in place for over 30 years and the state of Florida doesn’t appear to be altering the manufacturing course of anytime quickly. Other states (like South Carolina) have gone to an on demand digital printing course of. The state of Florida doesn’t present on-line ordering, which is why we stepped in over 10 years in the past to offer this service to Florida licensed car homeowners. We attempt to hold the shopper up to date as to all ranges of the method they usually obtain a affirmation when their order was acquired, advising of the timeline. Invariably, clients get impatient and suppose it’s a delay on our half relatively than the precise system.

Florida’s Specialty License Plate program has raised over $800 million for worthwhile charities, faculties, sports activities foundations and state company packages since inception. MyFloridaSpecialtyPlate.com has been offering a web-based comfort for purchasing all of the out there Specialty License Plates for over 10 years. “Additional fees are charged to cover the costs of processing, delivery and the convenience of processing the order online and receiving it in the mail without having to go to the local DMV/Tax Collector. It is cheaper to go in person. We are a private company. All transactions are processed online through an authorized Florida Tax Collector and delivered to by USPS. We do not have direct access to FRVIS or DAVID and the information is gathered from you and securely submitted for processing.”  https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/index.html

This is a one-time transaction for the shopper. They can renew their license plates yearly thereafter by the state system at gorenew.com.

We cost a payment for every transaction and the charges are disclosed:

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/cost.html

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/terms-and-conditions.html

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/refund-policy.html

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/voucher-refund-policy.html

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/privacy-notice.html

There are additionally further costs that the state imposes that must be despatched to the shopper to pay earlier than their order will be processed, similar to biennial registration charges and personalised, charges and upgrades to incorporate their registration payment when their registration expires inside 3 months. The state is not going to enable a plate to be issued inside 3 months of expiration until that payment is paid – the shopper receives an e mail explaining this.

It isn’t uncommon for a cost again to be initiated by a buyer because of the truth that they appear to both fail to answer the preliminary request to course of their order or just change their thoughts.

We carried out a brand new processing system to offer follow-up emails when a buyer didn’t responded to course of their order initially.

(redact)

None of the cost backs in that batch waited the 30 day or 90 day discover interval that they’re suggested it takes to get the license plate.

The important trigger appears to be the necessity for them to offer their information in a separate e mail from after they place their order. I engaged an internet designer to create a brand new course of whereby each the fee and the registration information was submitted on the identical time. Due to the differing types of orders (specialty with no renewal, specialty with renewal, personalised specialty with no renewal, personalised specialty with renewal, commonplace personalised, commonplace personalised with renewal and the 132 totally different selections of specialty plate, along with the 40 selections for a presale voucher, the design was considerably sophisticated, which apparently is the explanation for the DMV, with their multi-billion greenback annual funds, haven’t carried out but though they mentioned they had been engaged on it in 2012.

I’m not positive if there may be an uncommon quantity of cost backs or whether or not that is simply the conventional cost again fee given the kind of product we course of. The quantity of transferring elements concerned within the processing system doesn’t enable us to regulate the method.

The processing time can’t be decreased.

Option ‘A’ – Switch to the specialty plate and hold your current registration renewal date (that is solely out there in case your present registration to your current license plate doesn’t expire within the subsequent 3 months).

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/order-now.html

Customer receives e mail:

“ Your new plate will be mailed to you by USPS. Please allow a minimum of 30 days from the date your order is submitted to the clerk for processing to receive your new tag in the mail. When you receive it, you replace your existing tag and dispose of the old one so nobody else can use it. We do not update your order status through Ecwid as it requires manual entry, so please be patient as we process your order.”

Option ‘B’ – Switch to the specialty plate and renew your annual car registration renewal (that is solely out there in case your present registration to your current license plate expires within the subsequent 3 months).

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/order-now.html

Customer receives e mail:

“Your new plate will be mailed to you by USPS. You will receive your new specialty plate with randomly assigned characters and new registration decal. When you receive it, replace your existing tag and dispose of the old one so nobody else can use it. Please allow a minimum of 30 days from the date your order is submitted to the clerk for processing to receive your new tag in the mail. We are prioritizing upcoming renewal expirations first. Your order will be processed before your expiration. We do not update your order status through Ecwid as it requires manual entry, so please be patient as we process your order.”

Option ‘C’ – Switch to a customized specialty plate (Choose the characters you need in your new specialty license plate or hold your current characters on it) and hold your current registration renewal date (that is solely out there in case your present registration to your current license plate doesn’t expire within the subsequent 3 months).

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/order-personalized.html

Customer receives e mail:

“Your Form 83043 that you submitted will dictate what is on your plate and the placement. For the actual personalized plate that you have ordered, the personalization process includes a minimum of 60 days processing/manufacturing time at the prison. Prior to that your form is cleared through the DMV system and is then subject to their review for their approval (they check for any formatting errors and for any improper language, phrases, hidden meanings, etc.) and then they forward it to the prison to be made. When it has been manufactured, it is delivered to the clerk in batches, sorted and then mailed directly to you. The process is running slower than usual at present and can take up to 90 days. We do not update your order status through Ecwid as it requires manual entry, so please be patient as we process your order. “

Option ‘D’ – Switch to a personalized specialty plate (Choose the characters you want on your new specialty license plate or keep your existing characters) and renew your annual vehicle registration renewal (this is only available if your current registration for your existing license plate expires in the next 3 months).

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/order-personalized.html

Customer receives email:

“Your submitted Form 83043 that you submitted will dictate what is on your plate and the placement of the characters that you chose. You have included payment for your annual vehicle registration renewal, you will receive your new registration decal prior to your new personalized plate arrival, and you must put it on your existing tag. For the actual personalized plate that you have ordered, the personalization process includes a minimum of 60 days processing/manufacturing time at the prison. Prior to that your form is cleared through the DMV system and is then subject to their review for their approval (they check for any formatting errors and for any improper language, phrases, hidden meanings, etc.) and then they forward it to the prison to be made. When it has been manufactured it is delivered to the clerk in batches, sorted and then mailed directly to you. The process is running slower than usual at present, and can take up to 90 days. We do not update your order status through Ecwid as it requires manual entry, so please be patient as we process your order.”

Option ‘E’ – Switch to a customized commonplace Florida license plate (Choose the characters you need on it or hold your current characters) and hold your current registration renewal/expiration date (that is solely out there in case your present registration to your current license plate doesn’t expire within the subsequent 3 months).

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/flstandardpersonalized.html

Customer receives e mail:

“Your Form 83043 that you submitted will dictate what is on your plate and the placement. For the actual personalized plate that you have ordered, the personalization process includes a minimum of 60 days processing/manufacturing time at the prison. Prior to that your form is cleared through the DMV system and is then subject to their review for their approval (they check for any formatting errors and for any improper language, phrases, hidden meanings, etc.) and then they forward it to the prison to be made. When it has been manufactured, it is delivered to the clerk in batches, sorted and then mailed directly to you. The process is running slower than usual at present and can take up to 90 days. We do not update your order status through Ecwid as it requires manual entry, so please be patient as we process your order. “

Option ‘F’ – Switch to a personalized standard Florida license plate (Choose the characters you want on it or keep your existing characters) and renew your annual vehicle registration renewal (this is only available if your current registration for your existing license plate expires in the next 3 months).

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/flstandardpersonalized.html

Customer receives email:

“Your submitted Form 83043 that you submitted will dictate what is on your plate and the placement of the characters that you chose. You have included payment for your annual vehicle registration renewal, you will receive your new registration decal prior to your new personalized plate arrival, and you must put it on your existing tag. For the actual personalized plate that you have ordered, the personalization process includes a minimum of 60 days processing/manufacturing time at the prison. Prior to that your form is cleared through the DMV system and is then subject to their review for their approval (they check for any formatting errors and for any improper language, phrases, hidden meanings, etc.) and then they forward it to the prison to be made. When it has been manufactured it is delivered to the clerk in batches, sorted and then mailed directly to you. The process is running slower than usual at present, and can take up to 90 days. We do not update your order status through Ecwid as it requires manual entry, so please be patient as we process your order.”

PRESALE VOUCHER. Indicate which presale voucher you need within the ‘Please point out your alternative of specialty plate right here’. You will obtain an e mail after your fee clears to course of your order. https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/order-presale-voucher.html

Customer receives e mail:

“Your presale voucher order has been received. Your information will be transmitted to the DMV through an authorized Florida Tax Collector as a participant in the pre-sale program in the next 30 days. Your voucher is identified through your driver’s license number. You do not receive a physical voucher.

You will be notified by email when the organization completes the required presale minimum (3,000) and then when the actual plate is available for purchase with instructions on how to apply your pre-sale voucher to the purchase of your chosen new specialty license plate. You can do it online through us or at your local DMV/Tax Collector.

You can view the latest presale voucher numbers here:

https://myfloridaspecialtyplate.com/presale-count.html

We stopped taking voucher orders because we had an issue getting them registered and the state refund policy does not allow them to get refunded.

SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATE VOUCHER PRESALE REFUND POLICY

TO COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE STATE REGULATIONS, WE SUBMIT YOUR PAYMENT IN FULL WHEN WE TRANSMIT YOUR ORDER TO THE TAX COLLECTOR FOR PROCESSING. Therefore, NO REFUNDS are available once your order has been submitted for processing.

YOU MUST PROVIDE NOTICE IN AN EMAIL, NOT BY TELEPHONE, TO CANCEL YOUR ORDER SO WE HAVE A WRITTEN RECORD OF YOUR REQUEST. PLEASE ALLOW 10 DAYS TO RECEIVE YOUR REFUND AFTER ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF YOUR WRITTEN CANCELLATION REQUEST.

YOU CAN RECEIVE A FULL REFUND FOR YOUR VOUCHER PURCHASE AT ANY TIME UP UNTIL IT IS RECORDED BY THE TAX COLLECTOR. WE SUBMIT THE VOUCHERS IN BATCHES, SO PLEASE CONTACT BY EMAIL IF YOU WANT TO CANCEL.

AFTER IT HAS BEEN RECORDED, YOU MUST FOLLOW THE STATE RULES FOR PRESALE VOUCHER REFUNDS, AS STATED BELOW.

When the license plate on the presale voucher becomes authorized, the voucher can only be used with the issuance of that specific license plate; which can be processed at the time the license plate becomes available or when the customer’s current license plate is renewed.

If a plate fails to meet the presale voucher requirements within the two-year period the plate will not be manufactured and the customer may apply the presale voucher towards a different specialty license plate or apply for a refund for the specialty license plate fee only. Form HSMV 83363 is used to apply for a refund.

Also, FLHSMV may de-authorize a specialty license plate and discontinue its issuance if the number of valid specialty license plate registrations falls below 3,000 valid registrations or 4,000 valid registrations for out-of-state colleges or universities

for at least 12 consecutive months. If the plate associated with the presale voucher meets the voucher minimum but is subsequently de-authorized before the voucher is used, the voucher cannot be used towards a different specialty plate or be refunded.

So, the customer simply files a chargeback – gets their $39.95 back, we get hit with $15.00-$25.00 depending on the credit card, and cannot get the payment to the clerk back, and so each order costs us $55.00. 10 of those is $550.00 which equates to 240 voucher fees to cover just that loss.

Between 2011 and 2013 I tried to get the DMV through the Tax collector’s Service Corp to provide online ordering. An agreement was signed on January 6, 2011 and over $300K in software development was initiated by my company. The TC Service Corp and DHSMV MOU eventually collapsed after DMV refused to provide online direct access and access for “screen scraping” and instead sent a DVD with 17 million Florida vehicle owner information, which subsequently got lost in the mail. DHSMV then insisted on a very large service fee be imposed, instead of the small percentage fee that we proposed. DHSMV then also advised (on September 8, 2012 and on May 16, 2013) that they were “developing their own system.” There had also been a previous report that over $1 million had not been allocated by the DMV to the specialty plate pertinent charities and state agencies due to glitches in their processing system, and there was no way to correct it, so it just went to their General Revenue fund.

It took a lot of time to bounce back from that as well.”





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