HI all,

Last October, I had a letter dop through my door from the local police saying that they were intending to prosecute the driver of a car with the same registration as mine for having an accident a couple of weeks earlier at 8:45am. They said the car had left the scene without stopping and that I needed to reveal who was driving the car at the time.

I had had no accident and went out to check and my car was completely undamaged. I rang them to ask what this was about and they said that a cab driver had reported a blue Nissan (same as my car) pulling out of my road and crashing into his rear right hand side (causing damage and leaving his passenger 'shaken but unhurt') before driving off. I told them this must be a mistake as I had had no crash and my car was undamaged and they said to fill out the report and put my version of events and send it back to them.

I could not 100% remember if I was driving in that day as I only drive into work once or maybe twice a week at random. I thought that if they had my registration number that someone must have seen me and I didn't want to say I hadn't if they had this witness and possibly others saying they'd seen me. In a state of shock and distress, I assumed that I had been driving and wrote back saying that I had been driving to work but that I strongly denied any sort of involvement of any sort of incident at all and that I would gladly help with enquiries etc.

A week later, I had my work CCTV pulled, which showed me walking in at 8:58am, 13 minutes after this alleged 'accident'. I know that if I was walking into the carpark, I was 100% not driving that day. I called the police back, admitted that I had made a mistake and that I wasn't even driving that day and I had the CCTV to prove it. I also had my doctor witness my undamaged car and date and sign photos with newspapers in etc etc.

In December, I had a note from the police saying no further action would be taken against anyone involved in the incident. The end of it, I thought, until yesterday another letter comes through the door from my insurance company's solicitor saying they've received an insurance claim from the cab driver.

The guy cannot possibly have any physical evidence such as paintmarks and there is no physical evidence on my 10 year old unrepaired car. I have 2 noticeable dents, one rear bumper and one front right hand side, both of which were done years ago and were marked on my car service report in 2007. What is the likelihood of this guy getting anywhere, given that it's my word against his but he, supposedly, has a witness? I'm terrified that my insurance company will just pay out and put my premiums up. Its causing me a lot of stress as Ill have to essentially sell my car if my premiums go up as I won't be able to afford them. Anyone have any experience like this? Read more

Daughter is looking to buy a 2007 Corsa D 1.2 petrol with 13k on the clock from a Vauxhall dealer. I lifted the oil cap and it's thick with 'mayonnaise'. When I pointed this out to the salesman as potentially an indication of a blown overhead gasket he just dismissed it as 'oil residue'. Am I right to steer her well clear of this car? Read more

Any chance of attaching a foot pump to a completely flat tyre (apparently let down) and managing to pump it up?
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Ive just put a head on a 1.8 td escort, Im struggling to find the timing marker for the bottom end. Can anyone shed any light? I know its done via a 43mm pin through the block but I cant find the access hole. Its the twin belt type engine, the pump belt is still in place and with the pump on its marker (hole at 12oclock) I have set the camshaft at its correct position. The engin turns over correctly at this point by hand, no knocking valves etc but the engine will not start. I am thinking maybe the timing isnt correct.
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Filling up the Rio last night and caught the edge of the fuel flap cover whilst hanging up the diesel pump, off it pings across the forecourt, other drivers looking on and obviously impressed with my car's build quality, me slightly embarassed picks it up and calmly slings it in the boot. I'm sure that I have done similiar on previous cars & they held together. I hate to think what a new cover costs c/w paint so I drilled several holes along the hinge mechanism & lock-wired the thing back together. It is functional again and looks normal on the outside. A successful bodge then.

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