I had a client with a high end Audi that was "stolen" without the key and turned up in a river, the insurers did not believe it and sent a specialist interviewer, which resulted in them believing it even less.

They then checked the car's computer to find which key was used to start it, which told them it was the customers normal key that was used.

Fortunately he was with a very good insurer as he was a friend of a friend, they asked me to give him one last chance to tell them the truth. It turned out he had been out with his mistress who was entertaining him while he drove. He lost control and drove into a river, they both did a runner. Finding a car in the river with no occupants the police went straight around his house and broke in looking for the registered keeper. He panicked as he was worried about what his partner would do so lied.

The Insurer were then happy and paid the claim under the accidental damage part of his policy. Most companies would not have paid due to his original fibs.

So then 5 odd years ago, it was possible to find which key had last started a top of the range Audi

Tony - thank you for your help,. I appreciate that very much.

The 'specialist' company used to assess the vehicle and the onboard diagnostics which showed my key was the last to be used in the car was a company called Ambersett Consultancy, who appear very reputable. Its a shame because I'd love to be a car theft and by default an expert to demonstrate why it may be possible to steal a car without a key, but sadly I am not.

I am so unsure how to argue against an expert who insists one of the two keys me and my wife surrendered to them was the last key to be used in the vehicle. Assessing this from a natural perspective, the statement "the last key to be used in the car was one owned by Mr & Mrs" makes my story sound very UNbelievable.

Would the forum suggest "arguing" the findings from the onboard diagnostics? Does anyone know if the diagnostics show a date or time stamp? Because I parked my vehicle at 1:00am and my neighbour was arriving home at the same time and saw me go into the house. So it would be interested to know if it does.

The ombudsman is giving their decision to the insurer because of the "balance of probability" and its so unfair, because not being a car theft expert, I dont have anything to arm myself with to fight their expert opinion.

The only thing I have found in my last few days of hurried googling is that its really easy to buy Key Cloning equipment.

First of all, I sympathise completely with the OP and his position.

I have come across one or two "consultancys" in my time and have come to the conclusion that one-man-band "consultants" who specialise in coming up with the answer that the company or organisation is paying for and wants to hear to save them lots of money are sometimes not quite what may be described as objective in their investigations.

In this case of whose key was the last one in the lock-and no way could a cloned key be involved etc etc I would like to see the result of an investigative journalist type of set-up where a car is "nicked" by a journalist using a cloned key and then compare the result of the "consultants" investigations with what actually happened.