Has our car been cloned?
Discussion
It all started last week when my Wife and I began getting the odd phone call from accident management companies saying we had had a bump and they wanted. Naturally, told to bog off and thought nothing of it.
Then , earlier this week, Wife (she is the r.k) got an email from our insurer saying to ring them urgently as they had been notified the car had been in accident and we were our car accused of being at fault. Phoned the insurer, they confirmed the email but said other than the reg of our car and brief description of the collision they didn't have much info. Couldn't tell us where the accident had occurred and didn't have a time for when it had happened. Told the insurer it definitely wasn't us no matter what, so they said fair enough, leave it with them while they make some more enquiries. Not heard back yet.
Today, Wife got a letter Special Delivery from the Police alleging the car was involved in a failed to stop collision in Dorset and requiring her to provide driver details. The car was in Manchester all day on said day and neither of us have been anywhere near the accident location. Unfortunately, there is nowhere on the form to dispute the allegation, so don't know what to do with it. Tried ringing the issuing force but after 30 mins on hold for the Enquiries Office, I gave up. Have emailed the Officer who sent the letter so hopefully get a reply tomorrow.
So, is it likely the car was cloned? Is it going to be a major stress sorting it out. Are we going to be getting letters and fines for this phantom car for as long as we own the real one?
Then , earlier this week, Wife (she is the r.k) got an email from our insurer saying to ring them urgently as they had been notified the car had been in accident and we were our car accused of being at fault. Phoned the insurer, they confirmed the email but said other than the reg of our car and brief description of the collision they didn't have much info. Couldn't tell us where the accident had occurred and didn't have a time for when it had happened. Told the insurer it definitely wasn't us no matter what, so they said fair enough, leave it with them while they make some more enquiries. Not heard back yet.
Today, Wife got a letter Special Delivery from the Police alleging the car was involved in a failed to stop collision in Dorset and requiring her to provide driver details. The car was in Manchester all day on said day and neither of us have been anywhere near the accident location. Unfortunately, there is nowhere on the form to dispute the allegation, so don't know what to do with it. Tried ringing the issuing force but after 30 mins on hold for the Enquiries Office, I gave up. Have emailed the Officer who sent the letter so hopefully get a reply tomorrow.
So, is it likely the car was cloned? Is it going to be a major stress sorting it out. Are we going to be getting letters and fines for this phantom car for as long as we own the real one?
I'd suggest IMMEDIATELY adding some distinctive logo on your reg plates, take a photo with date & time .You may even find some kind police person to witness this. or is there a distinctive feature on the front/rear of your car such as a dealer sticker/ numberplate sticker. If dealer sticker is in rear window/on plate , check the photo carefully to see if it's on the police photo.
If all of the correspondence relates to a single incident, it may simply be that the reg number of the offending vehicle was noted down incorrectly and mixed up with your wife's car.
If your were being contacted over different incidents, at different times and locations, then that would point to the car potentially being cloned.
If your were being contacted over different incidents, at different times and locations, then that would point to the car potentially being cloned.
[quote=Who me ?]I'd suggest IMMEDIATELY adding some distinctive logo on your reg plates, take a photo with date & time .You may even find some kind police person to witness this. or is there a distinctive feature on the front/rear of your car such as a dealer sticker/ numberplate sticker. If dealer sticker is in rear window/on plate , check the photo carefully to see if it's on the police photo.
[/quote]
There are no photos. It's a failed to stop RTC that has occurred involving our reg number. What would adding a logo now achieve?
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There are no photos. It's a failed to stop RTC that has occurred involving our reg number. What would adding a logo now achieve?
Mandat said:
If all of the correspondence relates to a single incident, it may simply be that the reg number of the offending vehicle was noted down incorrectly and mixed up with your wife's car.
If your were being contacted over different incidents, at different times and locations, then that would point to the car potentially being cloned.
Just one incident as far as we know so hopefully that is the case.If your were being contacted over different incidents, at different times and locations, then that would point to the car potentially being cloned.
Piersman2 said:
Not much except perjury or PCOJ. 
You are missing the pointEdited by Piersman2 on Thursday 12th May 22:23
Putting a distinctive item on the plate (tape over one corner is best) allow easy comparison of ANPR images to establish if there are two vehicles bearing the same plates, assuming the other vehicle is still bearing his VRM
blueST said:
It all started last week when my Wife and I began getting the odd phone call from accident management companies saying we had had a bump and they wanted. Naturally, told to bog off and thought nothing of it.
Then , earlier this week, Wife (she is the r.k) got an email from our insurer saying to ring them urgently as they had been notified the car had been in accident and we were our car accused of being at fault. Phoned the insurer, they confirmed the email but said other than the reg of our car and brief description of the collision they didn't have much info. Couldn't tell us where the accident had occurred and didn't have a time for when it had happened. Told the insurer it definitely wasn't us no matter what, so they said fair enough, leave it with them while they make some more enquiries. Not heard back yet.
Today, Wife got a letter Special Delivery from the Police alleging the car was involved in a failed to stop collision in Dorset and requiring her to provide driver details. The car was in Manchester all day on said day and neither of us have been anywhere near the accident location. Unfortunately, there is nowhere on the form to dispute the allegation, so don't know what to do with it. Tried ringing the issuing force but after 30 mins on hold for the Enquiries Office, I gave up. Have emailed the Officer who sent the letter so hopefully get a reply tomorrow.
So, is it likely the car was cloned? Is it going to be a major stress sorting it out. Are we going to be getting letters and fines for this phantom car for as long as we own the real one?
If it wasn't your car because you were parked up in Manchester then you really don't have too much to worry about, am quite sure that Manchester has plenty of ANPR and CCTV cameras in and around the city. Were you shopping on that day in which case you may well have purchased something using a credit card or parked in a car park then there will be a paper trail in addition to the ANPR trail to follow. If you were wandering around with your mobile phone then once again this can be tracked. Perhaps contact the car parking company to ask whether they have CCTV evidence of your entry and exit or did you keep a receipt of the car parking.Then , earlier this week, Wife (she is the r.k) got an email from our insurer saying to ring them urgently as they had been notified the car had been in accident and we were our car accused of being at fault. Phoned the insurer, they confirmed the email but said other than the reg of our car and brief description of the collision they didn't have much info. Couldn't tell us where the accident had occurred and didn't have a time for when it had happened. Told the insurer it definitely wasn't us no matter what, so they said fair enough, leave it with them while they make some more enquiries. Not heard back yet.
Today, Wife got a letter Special Delivery from the Police alleging the car was involved in a failed to stop collision in Dorset and requiring her to provide driver details. The car was in Manchester all day on said day and neither of us have been anywhere near the accident location. Unfortunately, there is nowhere on the form to dispute the allegation, so don't know what to do with it. Tried ringing the issuing force but after 30 mins on hold for the Enquiries Office, I gave up. Have emailed the Officer who sent the letter so hopefully get a reply tomorrow.
So, is it likely the car was cloned? Is it going to be a major stress sorting it out. Are we going to be getting letters and fines for this phantom car for as long as we own the real one?
If you emailed the police officer involved then he will probably investigate this further because there is no way in the world that you could be parked up in Manchester as well as being involved in an RTA in Dorset at the same time, they know that and you know that.
Am guessing that the numberplate of the car involved in the RTA might have been hastily scribbled down by one of the witnesses.
blueST said:
There are no photos. It's a failed to stop RTC that has occurred involving our reg number. What would adding a logo now achieve?
From next post "Just one incident as far as we know so hopefully that is the case."Logo would provide proof it's NOT your car.
There's ONE incident ,that makes you wonder-I'd be looking to MAKE MY CAR unique. So that any photos of any clone (as far as VRN ARE CONCERNED) show your car as not being involved.
konark said:
The best way to distinguish your car from the one in Dorset is that the other one will have extensive damage and yours doesn't. Drive round to the local Ploddery, show them your car and ask them if they think it's been in an accident.
No indication how serious the collision was, it could be a parking scuff, and ours has one or two of those. The investigating Bobby acknowledged our email over night, said he would make some more enquiries. Also sked us to scribble that the car wasn't in the area on the letter and send it back.
Sounds like a hit & run because its been cloned & driving without licence/insurance etc, etc. The third party in Dorset has by the sounds of it been shafted with no-one to claim against. You (your wife) after some further investigation by Bib will be in the clear. Expect more calls about 'we understand you've been in an accident' though. My colleague gets them & she doesn't even drive!
konark said:
The best way to distinguish your car from the one in Dorset is that the other one will have extensive damage and yours doesn't. Drive round to the local Ploddery, show them your car and ask them if they think it's been in an accident.
This may not help. My brother was accused of a hit and run by our local police. His car was owned from new and was about a year old, no damage at all and all original paint.They were not interested in inspecting his car, and he was made to attend the police station for a formal interview. They tried hard but couldn't do anything without any evidence.
His insurance company then got s claim for damage to the other car. Again my brother denied there was any accident, so they sent someone out to look at his car. The insurance company agreed that there was no evidence of an accident and would not pay the claim.
It is most like a transcription or memory error by the witness.
Therefore in all likely hood it will be a different make, model and perhaps even colour. It is not unreasonable to ask for the evidence and for it to include those details. It should then be quite straightforward to point out any discrepancy.
It sounds like the officer has been a bit lazy and not checked the car's details to confirm the correctness of the reg given.
Remember the burden of proof is the other party to prove this happened your car was involved it is not on you you to prove your innocence.
Therefore in all likely hood it will be a different make, model and perhaps even colour. It is not unreasonable to ask for the evidence and for it to include those details. It should then be quite straightforward to point out any discrepancy.
It sounds like the officer has been a bit lazy and not checked the car's details to confirm the correctness of the reg given.
Remember the burden of proof is the other party to prove this happened your car was involved it is not on you you to prove your innocence.
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