Decode My Radio

Online car radio code recovery

Decode My Radio is a car radio decoding service that operates exclusively online and, according to its own presentation, has been running since 2005. Its activity consists of obtaining the unit's unlock code from the radio's serial number, so that the user can get the device working again when the activation key has been lost. The company presents itself as a service aimed at both UK and international users.

Decode My Radio is a trading name of Plasmatize Media LTD, a company based in Sheffield, in the county of South Yorkshire.

Radio brands covered

The decoding catalogue covers the main brands of units installed in European vehicles. The website groups services by manufacturer:

• Ford, with a free service and a paid service with immediate on-screen delivery.
• Volkswagen, with fast unlocking from the serial number.
• Renault, with an instant code from the serial number.
• Nissan, with a fast service from the serial number.
• Fiat, with a fast service from the serial number.
• Audi, with a fast service from the serial number.
• Skoda, with a fast service from the serial number.
• SEAT, with a fast service from the serial number.
• Honda, with a fast service from the serial number.
• Dacia, with an instant code from the serial number.

For Renault and Dacia the company states that it can also obtain the code from the vehicle identification number (VIN); for the other brands the radio serial number is required.

How the service works

The process is organised in three steps. First, the user locates the serial number of their radio with the help the website provides for each manufacturer. Then they enter that number and their email address and complete payment via Stripe or PayPal. Finally they receive the code, which appears on screen instantly after payment and is also sent by email.

The company states that it does not store payment details, as all transactions are processed through external gateways. The code obtained can be used as many times as needed. The website also includes free instructions for entering the code, which vary depending on the unit's manufacturer.

Guarantees and refund policy

Decode My Radio states that all codes it sells are guaranteed. If the code provided does not work, the company undertakes to replace it with a valid one or to refund the full amount. It also offers a refund when the code delivered is incorrect or when delivery takes longer than 24 hours.

Claims are handled through a support system for existing customers: the user enters the email used for their order, selects the order and ticks the non-working code option. If the code does not arrive after payment, the company lists as common causes the incorrect details provided by the customer, in which case it requests a photograph of the place where the serial number was found, or system delays, which the company states it would report to the affected person.

Customer service

The service has a telephone line with opening hours from Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 17:00, as well as a contact form and an email address. The company distinguishes between new customers and customers who have already placed an order to direct enquiries, and advises that the online support system is the fastest way to get help, order updates, code entry instructions or to report a code that does not work. Orders can be placed online at any time.

Location and contact

Suite 2, Fortuna House, 88 Queen Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FW · Phone: +44 114 489 7898 · Email: support@decodemyradio.co.uk