Tony,
Thanks for the input, it is nice to have some information from someone "in the know"
and I am not even one of your customers
So, i'd get your friend to do a HPI check himself prior to pointing any fingers, or initiating action against anyone.
He showed me a document printed off the web with the
www.hpi.co.uk address at the bottom
What is more likely is that your friend requested to retain the vehicle, the vehicle was taken to a garage of your friends choice and the Insurer paid on a 'cash-in-lieu' of repair basis. Which then puts the vehicle as a Category D, or C total loss.
That's the wierd thing, since day he has asked NOT to have the car back, but the insurance company have insisted on repairing it
However, your friend would have to have been advised by his Insurer that this (ie. total loss/cash-in-lieu) was happening at some stage.
It would appear this was not the case, or, if it was, he wasn't informed of it in a crystal clear fashion.
Just for curiosity sake, who is the Insurer?
I will try and find out for sure
Thanks again