DEAR ABBY: "Watching My Assets" put a dent in the door of his friend's pickup when he closed it by pushing it with his rear end. Please pass on this information: In newer cars, one can take off the door panel and pop the bent body back out. Only minor paint damage will remain to be repaired. Most repair persons won't tell you this because repairs are their bread and butter.

Another "fix-it" for such a problem is to put dry ice on the spot. Due to contraction, the dent will pop out. It doesn't work on all materials, but on many. This is an old science trick -- hope it helps. -- SCIENCE TEACHER AND BACKYARD MECHANIC

DEAR S.T. AND B.M.: Yours is not the only letter that arrived from helpful readers wanting to resolve "Asset's" problem. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: The letter from "Watching My Assets" reminded me of a similar incident that happened to me many years ago. My friend "Carmen" "rear-ended" my passenger door while trying to close the already locked door and she, too, left a large dent.

Without a moment's hesitation she asked if I had a toilet plunger (we had just pulled up to my home). Plunger in place, out popped the dent! Good as new, no insurance claim necessary. -- GENIE SAFFREN, LOS ANGELES

DEAR GENIE: The longer I write this column, the more I learn from readers. Your letter is a hoot. I wonder if that solution would work today on cars that are made largely from plastic instead of metal. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: The letter from "Watching My Assets," who had a question about whether or not a claim should be filed under his friend's insurance policy, prompts my own.

Your answer was wrong for a few reasons. Yes, his friend should file a claim. This was an accident. Granted, it was not your run-of-the-mill accident, but it was an accident. If the guilty party wants to help his friend, he should volunteer to pay the deductible.

Second, the only time an accident counts against you is if you are the majority at fault -- in California, 51 percent or more at fault -- for the accident. In this case, the person filing the claim would not have his rates go up or have his policy canceled.

Please advise your readers that if they are in an accident and have ANY questions, to refer the question to their insurance agent. After all, they are paying a premium for insurance, and if they get into an accident, the person who sold them the policy is obligated to help them out. -- ADJUSTING CLAIMS FOR AAA IN FRESNO, CALIF.

DEAR CLAIMS ADJUSTER: Thank you for pointing that out. I'm grateful for the reminder. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: You were correct in advising "Watching" that although it was unintentional, he did, indeed, damage his friend's door by denting it with his posterior. Therefore, he is the one who should be responsible for the repair.

He should be able to put in a claim under his homeowner's or renter's liability coverage, since it covers damage to other people's property, as well as injury to others.

Hope this information is helpful, Abby. -- BEA IN NEW JERSEY

DEAR BEA: You bet it is. Thank you for the golden nugget of information.

Good advice for everyone -- teens to seniors -- is in "The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It." To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I divorced 11 years ago. We had no children together. However, for the past eight years -- since the birth of her son -- we have lived together. I love the boy with all my heart and soul. Although I am not his biological father, I am his Catholic godfather, and most definitely his "dad."

His mother and I do not have a good relationship. If it were not for this little boy, I would not want to be around her. She sleeps with him in his bed each and every night -- and often bathes with him. She is sometimes nude; other times, she wears a bikini.

Abby, my concern is for my "son." I am turning to you for help. The counseling my ex-wife and I received from a doctor of psychology didn't help, because she rejected the advice. Things around here have become so volatile, I am desperate for any suggestion you can offer. -- BEYOND WORRY

DEAR BEYOND WORRY: Most experts in child development think that as boys and girls reach the age when they become curious about sex, sleeping and bathing nude with a parent of the opposite sex is unhealthfully stimulating.

However, if your former wife won't listen to you, and ignores a Ph.D. in psychology, she's not likely to accept advice from me. Perhaps the problem will resolve itself when the boy is old enough to tell his mother to find other sleeping arrangements.

P.S. All three of you could benefit from family counseling.

DEAR ABBY: Seven years ago, you received a letter from Prisoner No. 711895. Today, you are reading a letter from "Mark," a proud and productive member of society. I am not proud of my past, but I have made positive changes in my life.

I have worked at the same job since I was released from prison six years ago. I am now one of the top managers in the company. My children see a father who is not perfect, but willing to talk about mistakes and learn from them. My parents see a son who has finally grown up. They tell me they are very proud of me.

Abby, I want you and others to know I am not letting the fact I carry the stigma of being a felon define me. I am a man who works hard, takes care of his family and has learned from his mistakes. I am proud of who I am today. -- MARK IN SEATTLE

P.S. Last month I had coffee with the officer who arrested me eight years ago. I thanked him for saving my life.

DEAR MARK: I salute you. You are living proof that with hard work and determination, rehabilitation is an attainable goal after release from prison. I hope that people who are currently incarcerated will see your letter and realize that one day, they, too, can become productive members of society.

DEAR ABBY: A few months ago you published a letter from "Proud Mom," who had a child out of wedlock. The father supports the child financially, but does not see him. She wondered if she should tell the parents of the child's father they had a grandson. You opened the advice up to readers, but I haven't seen the results of this important question. Did I miss a column? -- ANOTHER PROUD MOM IN FLORIDA

DEAR ANOTHER PROUD MOM: No, you didn't -- and thank you for the reminder. The response I received from readers was a virtual tie. Half of those who wrote felt "Proud Mom" should keep her mouth shut. The other half believed she should inform the grandparents that they have a grandson, and let them choose whether or not to have a relationship with him. Belated thanks to the hundreds of you who responded.

To order "How to Write Letters for All Occasions," send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Letter Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)

DEAR ABBY: I empathize with "Not a Millionaire," who is barraged with charitable appeals. Last year, I received 14 boxes of greeting cards and 11 calendars sent by charities, along with six to eight appeals a week in my mail.

Even more annoying are the charity solicitation calls -- usually right in the middle of dinner. I have set my answering machine to state my phone number and, "We welcome all calls except charity appeals and product/or service solicitations." This stops them, and they hang up. I hope this suggestion will help him. -- CONNIE S., PASADENA, CALIF.

DEAR CONNIE: Your hint to put the message on your answering machine is a good one. If it doesn't help "Not a Millionaire," I'm sure it will help another reader. In some states, the "We do not accept calls from solicitors" message is offered by the phone company as an optional add-on. Unfortunately, that isn't the case in California. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: The answer to being solicited to death by charities is simple -- send money orders. You have a copy for your tax records, and the charity doesn't have enough information to put you on a donor list. I've done it for years. It works like a charm. -- NO LONGER BOMBARDED IN FLORIDA

DEAR NO LONGER BOMBARDED: Clever idea. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: I work for a nonprofit organization. May I make a suggestion? Cut off a mailing label from the solicitation you received and mail it to the charity, requesting that your name be removed from their mailing list. Then make your yearly donation to them -- WITH THE REQUEST THAT THEY NOT ADD YOUR NAME TO THEIR MAILING LIST.

We appreciate all donations but don't wish to offend anyone who doesn't wish to hear from us regularly. We always comply with requests that names be removed if we're provided with all the information needed to remove the name. -- HAPPY TO COMPLY, PA.

DEAR HAPPY TO COMPLY: Would that all charities be so cooperative. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: I feel for "Not a Millionaire." In an effort to solve this problem, I tried an experiment in the first six months of last year. My system worked and continues to work. My "unwanted mail" has been reduced by 80 percent to 90 percent.

(1) Purchase a rubber stamp that says, "Please remove this name and address from your mailing list." Approximate size: 1 inch by 1/2 inch. Approximate cost: $7.

(2) Open every request for donations. If you do not want to make a donation or hear from them again, take your rubber stamp and stamp the request in several places in the area containing your name and address.

(3) Place the request in the envelope provided and return it to them.

(4) Do not put your name and address on the outside of the envelope.

(5) Be consistent and persistent.

It may take several months before you see results. I had to notify some organizations more than 10 times before they got the message. Many send solicitations from more than one address. -- SMARTER THAN THE AVERAGE BEAR

DEAR BEAR: You're not only smarter than the average bear, but you're also more patient.

Good advice for everyone -- teens to seniors -- is in "The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It." To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby, Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)