h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My next door neighbour wanted to sell her car but she didn't want strangers coming round her house. Her boyfriend agreed to deal with it for her and as he lives not too far away it wasn't too much trouble.

Anyway, a bloke phoned up and said he wanted to look at the car. He looked under the bonnet and checked the tyres and everything. He even made a couple of calls "To see if there is any outstanding hp arrangements" and then sat in the driver's seat and asked if he could start the engine. After hearing the engine running the engine was turned off.

Then he asked could he see if the heater was working properly. The engine was turned on again and he asked if it would be ok to take it for a test drive. Our neighbour's boyfriend said yes but he would have to get in with him. Before he could move the buyer put his foot down and sped off.

The boyfriend, not wanting the person to get away, jumped into his own car and gave chase. As he approached a junction a black car pulled out from a side road, in between him and the escaping car, and very slowly proceeded in front of him blocking his path. Then the escaping car bumped into a woman's car who was partially blocking his way. He continued going and made off.

Boyfriend stopped to see if the lady was OK. He then gave the driver of the black car a mouthful and asked him what he was playing at. The driver claimed to be a local and pleaded innocence. (On checking the car's number it appeared that it was registered to someone a few miles away, not locally at all).

Exciting eh?

Anyway my neighbour is now really fed up. The car is gone. The insurance are saying they won't pay up because the car had the key in the ignition with the engine running and the lady whose car was hit is claiming against my neighbour's insurance as it was her car!

I wouldn't want to be the driver if the boyfriend catches him!

Bloody hell, bloody insurance companies!

That sounds like a fobbing off in my opinion - that car has been stolen outright. Have the police been informed?

Wow- that sounds a lot like an urban legend I once heard.

I hope everything works out for your neighbor!

*shakes head*
what is this world comming to?

thanks for the exciting story vestie

i really hope your neighbour gets her car back, or at the very least that the insurance company smartens up....although thats rather doubtful....

Sorry for the slow reply - v busy at wo_k.

I think she has waved goodbye to the car emotionally as well as physically now.

That is an exciting story ...

Don't know if it would stretch to a two-hour film treatment though.

Insurance companies. I daresay there is a certain thrill in finding new and devious ways not to do what people have paid you to do, but is it worth the general loathing?

I don't know why you use a wok if it's causing you that much trouble Get a takeaway and come hootoo instead!

*throws wok in bin and comes to hootoo instead.*
5 minutes to spare and here I am.

The insurance company eventually relented and paid up. Hurrah!

I'm meeting Princess Ann tomorrow. I hope she's gentle with me.