rcmb - either you are suffering from amnesia or you did your PPL outside the UK because the test is not booked through the CAA nor does the CAA allocate the examiner and you certainly do NOT pay up front. I did my PPL at HGFC who had their own examiners, the test was booked for a mutually convenient time and I paid AFTER I had done the test. At the time (2006) this was standard procedure at EGBO. I had a great, most reassuring examiner of unquestionable integrity who did his best to make me feel at ease throughout the test. Sadly for Claverley he is no longer there.