Reported as being in an accident but wasn't me
Reported as being in an accident but wasn't me
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Bullett

Original Poster:

11,174 posts

213 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
I've had a letter from Greater Manchester Police saying I'd had and accident, Section 172.
Driving without due care and attention, failing to stop and report an accident. Obviously in Manchester early November.

I've never been to this place, it's a 3.5-4hr drive away from where I live (Berkshire). It wasn't me or my car involved. The Reg number obviously matches but there is no description or other evidence. I was contacted early Nov by the insurance company talking about this (I thought it was a scam email) when I spoke to them I told them it wasn't me and didn't hear anything more so assumed it was resolved. Now the police are involved.
Luckily when the insurance company contacted me I managed to save some footage from my CCTV system showing the car on the drive early AM and again mid afternoon.

Nothing in the form gives me an option to reply to this effect. It wasn't my car. I wasn't the driver, I don't know the driver, I've not bought/sold or hired it but the reg. is right.

Not sure what to do. I've emailed them but heard nothing yet.





abzmike

11,979 posts

135 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
I wouldn’t be relying on an email. Pick up the phone.

Oilchange

9,698 posts

289 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
I would make a few phone calls as mentioned as it would likely clear it up quicker but ultimately you have cctv footage of your car on the drive so, if me, see them in court.

ReverendCounter

6,087 posts

205 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
And I would be sending a letter to the address they've provided with a copy of their letter, stating your position and any evidence you've got which proves your location at the time.

Bigends

6,153 posts

157 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
Return the form with a covering letter - pretty much outlining what youve explained above.

Keep copies of everything and follow up with phone calls - ensuring you get the name of whoever you speak with, logging the time and date of the call.

Bullett

Original Poster:

11,174 posts

213 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
It specifically states not to call them, that would have been my first action otherwise.
There is no telephone number listed and its hard to find one online.


Bigends

6,153 posts

157 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
Bullett said:
It specifically states not to call them, that would have been my first action otherwise.
There is no telephone number listed and its hard to find one online.
Ok, either way, make sure you return the form and covering letter recorded delivery and keep up with the emails

LordBretSinclair

4,306 posts

206 months

paintman

7,860 posts

219 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
Safest to return the form with a covering letter stating the facts as you have outlined them here.

I too prefer to send stuff like that by tracked or recorded delivery.

If you search agtlaw's posts I think he's covered this type of thing before.

popegregory

1,915 posts

163 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Dominic Raab wasn’t it?

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
abzmike said:
I wouldn’t be relying on an email. Pick up the phone.
biglaugh

Bigends said:
Bullett said:
It specifically states not to call them, that would have been my first action otherwise.
There is no telephone number listed and its hard to find one online.
Ok, either way, make sure you return the form and covering letter recorded delivery and keep up with the emails
The GMP make it as difficult as possible to contact them despite that link provided above.

I was going to contact them yesterday to help someone out but in the end we thought fook it we've done our bit they can contact us if they need to clarify anything.

Saying that they contacted us about something a while ago by email over something completely different but tbh we couldn't be arsed dealing with it as it was so badly written and not clear what they even wanted.

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 18th December 2021
quotequote all
I would also dig out any evidence proving you/your car were not in the area at the time such as receipts, etc.

I had the same thing through the insurance but the car description was all wrong, trouble is this stays open on your record as a claim and when they realise your aren't the correct other party won't bother to tell your insurer you are off the hook. You need to push your insurer to get this closed down and marked 'nothing to do with you', etc as it will stay on your record despite being erroneous.

And before anyone pops up and says this all wrong, this exactly what happened with my insurer and it took several months before they would mark the claim from Swiftcover as erroneous.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 18th December 19:49

konark

1,238 posts

148 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
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If there's been an accident then the car they say is yours will be damaged. Yours is not (in the appropriate places) so that proves it wasn't you.

RichTT

3,266 posts

200 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
"I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, you can't prove anything".

HTH smile

CArmo123

72 posts

95 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
quotequote all
Sounds like your the victim of cloned plates. They are widespread in greater Manchester.

Don't rely on emails, I'd contact GMP over the phone.

Tommo87

5,457 posts

142 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
quotequote all
When did you purchase the car?

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
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So could be cloned plates or someone writing down/remembering a registration plate incorrectly after a road incident, either way the OP needs to straighten things with both the Police and his insurer.

A royal PITA.

Largechris

2,019 posts

120 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
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Are you sure it wasn’t you? You didn’t have a few drinks one night or smoke something and forgot you’d been?

Which is what my wife kept saying to me when it happened to me. On and on.

Bullett

Original Poster:

11,174 posts

213 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
quotequote all
I've had the car for 2 years, from new. it's not been online, up for sale or anything like that.

I had assumed it was cloned or a mistake.

Other than the CCTV I don't think I have any proof I was home all day (I work from home). I'll my local police and contact GMP again on Monday.

wiffmaster

2,622 posts

227 months

Sunday 19th December 2021
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Depending on your phone and whether you have Google Maps installed, it's worth checking your Google Maps timeline. It might help you prove where you were / that you were nowhere near the scene.