Worst vehicle insurance scam against you
Discussion
simon_harris said:
insurance fraud seems to be one of those "acceptable" crimes there is no visible party that suffers so it is okay in the eyes of most people. Just this morning one of the girls in the office was openly discussing how her husband was going to "drop" his gaming laptop down the stairs this weekend because it was on a new for old policy and in her words it "was time to cash that big boy in"
I did pipe up that there was nothing like a bit of insurance fraud to start the morning with but in all honesty I think it went straight over her head.
That only catches up with the perp if he/she does the same trick with the same insurer several times. I did pipe up that there was nothing like a bit of insurance fraud to start the morning with but in all honesty I think it went straight over her head.
Not me directly, but I was the poicyholder so it did affect me. My business partner was driving our van in Darlington a couple of years ago. He was at a set of traffic lights on a roundabout, traffic lights turn green and he's suddently thumped in the rear by a woman crossing from the inside lane attempting to make her missed exit down the A1. At the time she apologised and admitted fault. I can only speculate but I assume someone gave her advice not to accept responsiblity so our insurance company were happy to let it go 50/50. After a lot of fighting, arguing, sending in various photographs, etc. They eventually re-opened the claim and put it down as 100% her fault.
The problem is, people know how to play the systems and use a car accident as a means to improve their finances. Not really shocking in this cost of living crisis but alas very dishonest. Dashcam is a must for me these days as I don't trust anyone and the insurance companies don't seem to give a s
t. Actually finding a representative that even speaks clear English never mind understands what you are trying to tell them is somewhat of a rarity!
The problem is, people know how to play the systems and use a car accident as a means to improve their finances. Not really shocking in this cost of living crisis but alas very dishonest. Dashcam is a must for me these days as I don't trust anyone and the insurance companies don't seem to give a s
t. Actually finding a representative that even speaks clear English never mind understands what you are trying to tell them is somewhat of a rarity!Having worked in insurance before, it's so common for people to inflate costs and assume it won't be spotted. Most people are remarkably thick and shoot themselves in the foot immediately. Tell them how something is literally impossible by following a basic train of logic or with irrefutable evidence and all of a sudden, I'm the d***head. Then it's an "you insurers never want to pay out!" argument for the next hour. No, insurers don't want to pay out when you're committing fraud. It's not "a bit cheeky" when your TV & laptop gets damage because you had a water leak the other side of your house, it's not a case of "oh, nobody will get hurt" when you make sure your car is written off by doing further damage and it sure as hell isn't a case of "well everyone does it" when you claim whiplash for a prang that barely even scuffed the paint. It's flat out fraud and we all pay the price in the end with increased premiums and scrutiny on claims.
People whinge about the cost of insurance always going up then try their best to increase premiums by ramping up claim costs. Absolute madness. Yes, some insurance companies are awful and underhanded but that doesn't mean we should fleece them at every opportunity.
People whinge about the cost of insurance always going up then try their best to increase premiums by ramping up claim costs. Absolute madness. Yes, some insurance companies are awful and underhanded but that doesn't mean we should fleece them at every opportunity.
CLK-GTR said:
Looking at the two cars i suspect he thinks he can get a few quid out of you for nothing. I'd think your insurer will tell them to do one (and put your renewal up as though they didnt).
You understand that the bit in brackets only demonstrates you don’t know what you are talking about when it comes to pricing risk?RazerSauber said:
Having worked in insurance before, it's so common for people to inflate costs and assume it won't be spotted. Most people are remarkably thick and shoot themselves in the foot immediately. Tell them how something is literally impossible by following a basic train of logic or with irrefutable evidence and all of a sudden, I'm the d***head. Then it's an "you insurers never want to pay out!" argument for the next hour. No, insurers don't want to pay out when you're committing fraud. It's not "a bit cheeky" when your TV & laptop gets damage because you had a water leak the other side of your house, it's not a case of "oh, nobody will get hurt" when you make sure your car is written off by doing further damage and it sure as hell isn't a case of "well everyone does it" when you claim whiplash for a prang that barely even scuffed the paint. It's flat out fraud and we all pay the price in the end with increased premiums and scrutiny on claims.
People whinge about the cost of insurance always going up then try their best to increase premiums by ramping up claim costs. Absolute madness. Yes, some insurance companies are awful and underhanded but that doesn't mean we should fleece them at every opportunity.
Appears so, I've known a bumper kiss whilst parked, sub 5MPH, with a light mark on bumper turn into a full blown repair, incl radiator, bumper, doors, courtesy car and whiplash claim. Madness.People whinge about the cost of insurance always going up then try their best to increase premiums by ramping up claim costs. Absolute madness. Yes, some insurance companies are awful and underhanded but that doesn't mean we should fleece them at every opportunity.
Dingu said:
You understand that the bit in brackets only demonstrates you don’t know what you are talking about when it comes to pricing risk?
Oh I'm aware having one claim makes you more likely to claim again.What insurance firms don't seem to understand or care about is that their trigger happy pricing strategies encourage the insurance fraud and uninsured drivers theyre so keen to combat.
It once worked in the opposite direction for me. Over 30 years ago I had a second-hand Granada - an ex managers company car that I bought cheaply from the company I worked for. It had a few dents and scratches and the front end had some damage - if you looked closely a few things were a bit out of alignment. It was a nice enough car though, and as normal at the time I had it insured TPFT.
One night it was stolen and the police found it a few days later. I went to the local police station where they had it, not being quite sure what the procedure was. The desk sergeant told me what had happened - a couple of local Did…..s had stolen a Sierra Cosworth, managed to blow the engine up and then decided to steal my car to try to tow it to their site. An amazing level of criminal incompetence then meant they ended up with the cars in a ditch and a hedge respectively.
The sergeant advised me that although my car was driveable, it would be far better to leave it for my insurers to pick it up and deal with it. He was absolutely right - a week or so later the car came back in virtual showroom condition, with all the pre-theft damage repaired (presumably along with that that had occurred during it’s adventure).
I actually kept the car several years longer than I normally would have done because it had become such a nice example!
I don’t remember any great hike in insurance premium either.
Not really a scam by me, as I was never asked about any of the pre-existing damage and had no part in the repair process - but I do wonder if this is normal for similar incidents (I don’t suppose the repair shops have any interest in any detective work to discriminate between old or new damage)?
One night it was stolen and the police found it a few days later. I went to the local police station where they had it, not being quite sure what the procedure was. The desk sergeant told me what had happened - a couple of local Did…..s had stolen a Sierra Cosworth, managed to blow the engine up and then decided to steal my car to try to tow it to their site. An amazing level of criminal incompetence then meant they ended up with the cars in a ditch and a hedge respectively.
The sergeant advised me that although my car was driveable, it would be far better to leave it for my insurers to pick it up and deal with it. He was absolutely right - a week or so later the car came back in virtual showroom condition, with all the pre-theft damage repaired (presumably along with that that had occurred during it’s adventure).
I actually kept the car several years longer than I normally would have done because it had become such a nice example!
I don’t remember any great hike in insurance premium either.
Not really a scam by me, as I was never asked about any of the pre-existing damage and had no part in the repair process - but I do wonder if this is normal for similar incidents (I don’t suppose the repair shops have any interest in any detective work to discriminate between old or new damage)?
CLK-GTR said:
Dingu said:
You understand that the bit in brackets only demonstrates you don’t know what you are talking about when it comes to pricing risk?
their trigger happy pricing strategies encourage the insurance fraud and uninsured drivers theyre so keen to combat.littlebasher said:
Wasn't there a story on here a while ago, where someone reversed into a parked van in the car park for their apartment.
And despite the van being parked and empty, the driver later added a whiplash claim.
YesAnd despite the van being parked and empty, the driver later added a whiplash claim.
It was a work colleague of mine, she hit the van getting out of her allocated space - damage was really a paint scuff/dirt rearrangement.
She knew who the van belonged to and knocked on his door to tell him she was sorry but she’d hit the van - she was late for work but would give him all her insurance details that evening.
No real damage to her car either - well not that you’d notice (just a thing fir getting from A-B to her)
First thing she knew about the whiplash claim was when her insurance company questioned the events that she had put down on her accident statement.
When they said the other driver was claiming fir whiplash her words were “how the f
k can that be right - he wasn’t in the car and he came to the door in his bloody pyjamas”They weren’t interested in fighting it either until I convinced her to report the fraud to the police….. things got a bit lively then but eventually the claim was rejected (all of it including his claimed damage as the van was a bit of a state and had lots of battle scars)
She never claimed for any damage on her car but it still went down as a accident and her premiums went up for a few years
As usual on PH will expect the odd “cool story bro” and “pics or it never happened” She’s tidy but I’m not sure she’d appreciate being posted on a big forum
B'stard Child said:
Yes
It was a work colleague of mine, she hit the van getting out of her allocated space - damage was really a paint scuff/dirt rearrangement.
She knew who the van belonged to and knocked on his door to tell him she was sorry but she’d hit the van - she was late for work but would give him all her insurance details that evening.
No real damage to her car either - well not that you’d notice (just a thing fir getting from A-B to her)
First thing she knew about the whiplash claim was when her insurance company questioned the events that she had put down on her accident statement.
When they said the other driver was claiming fir whiplash her words were “how the fk can that be right - he wasn’t in the car and he came to the door in his bloody pyjamas”
They weren’t interested in fighting it either until I convinced her to report the fraud to the police….. things got a bit lively then but eventually the claim was rejected (all of it including his claimed damage as the van was a bit of a state and had lots of battle scars)
She never claimed for any damage on her car but it still went down as a accident and her premiums went up for a few years
As usual on PH will expect the odd “cool story bro” and “pics or it never happened” She’s tidy but I’m not sure she’d appreciate being posted on a big forum
Wonder how he explained that when asked. Sorry, I was confused and strained neck answering door? lolIt was a work colleague of mine, she hit the van getting out of her allocated space - damage was really a paint scuff/dirt rearrangement.
She knew who the van belonged to and knocked on his door to tell him she was sorry but she’d hit the van - she was late for work but would give him all her insurance details that evening.
No real damage to her car either - well not that you’d notice (just a thing fir getting from A-B to her)
First thing she knew about the whiplash claim was when her insurance company questioned the events that she had put down on her accident statement.
When they said the other driver was claiming fir whiplash her words were “how the f
k can that be right - he wasn’t in the car and he came to the door in his bloody pyjamas”They weren’t interested in fighting it either until I convinced her to report the fraud to the police….. things got a bit lively then but eventually the claim was rejected (all of it including his claimed damage as the van was a bit of a state and had lots of battle scars)
She never claimed for any damage on her car but it still went down as a accident and her premiums went up for a few years
As usual on PH will expect the odd “cool story bro” and “pics or it never happened” She’s tidy but I’m not sure she’d appreciate being posted on a big forum
Not me but my dad.
He was driving through a car park and stopped because there was a car in front. He could see the the driver having a heated conversation with the passenger with lots of hand waving. The passenger got out of the car and slammed the door shut. The driver then reversed straight into my dad.
They initially admitted liability but then changed their minds. Witnesses appeared from nowhere, they said my dad was in his phone and drove into them with two claims of whiplash. Remember there was only one person in the car.
This went on for months but my dad's insurance company fought it and it went to court. Their witnesses disappeared and the couple split up and didn't turn up at court. They were found guilty of something (I can't remember the details) and had some very big costs sent their way.
A very stressful time for my parents.
He was driving through a car park and stopped because there was a car in front. He could see the the driver having a heated conversation with the passenger with lots of hand waving. The passenger got out of the car and slammed the door shut. The driver then reversed straight into my dad.
They initially admitted liability but then changed their minds. Witnesses appeared from nowhere, they said my dad was in his phone and drove into them with two claims of whiplash. Remember there was only one person in the car.
This went on for months but my dad's insurance company fought it and it went to court. Their witnesses disappeared and the couple split up and didn't turn up at court. They were found guilty of something (I can't remember the details) and had some very big costs sent their way.
A very stressful time for my parents.
When I was 17 I had a crash (totally my fault) where I went in to the side of another vehicle.
Zero dispute from me, completely at fault. But then the claim details came through from my insurance. The incident occurred in a town, the victim lived in a village circa 3 miles away.
She claimed among other fairly ridiculous things for a new garage door.
I queried this with my insurer and I'm sad to say no clarification was ever sent. The most likely outcome I came up with was by a one in a billion chance a piece had come off her car in the crash, flown 3 miles away and hit the garage door.
Zero dispute from me, completely at fault. But then the claim details came through from my insurance. The incident occurred in a town, the victim lived in a village circa 3 miles away.
She claimed among other fairly ridiculous things for a new garage door.
I queried this with my insurer and I'm sad to say no clarification was ever sent. The most likely outcome I came up with was by a one in a billion chance a piece had come off her car in the crash, flown 3 miles away and hit the garage door.
Not so much a scam, but a legitimate call from a guy selling whiplash stuff.
Accident was at about 3 mph and only reason for claim was other driver was at fault had a lease car otherwise would have happily ignored it.
But after a few months the calls started coming and I have to give it to one guy, I made the mistake of telling him I was out of work whilst also making it clear why this call was not going to get the result he wanted, fair play he went for the jugular, he was very determined and persistent, I had the time so gave him the time while also asking how long this would go on for, can you remove me from this call list. So not a scam but an insight into the desperation of these people, the lengths they go to and the incessant determination it drives them to to get what they want.
Accident was at about 3 mph and only reason for claim was other driver was at fault had a lease car otherwise would have happily ignored it.
But after a few months the calls started coming and I have to give it to one guy, I made the mistake of telling him I was out of work whilst also making it clear why this call was not going to get the result he wanted, fair play he went for the jugular, he was very determined and persistent, I had the time so gave him the time while also asking how long this would go on for, can you remove me from this call list. So not a scam but an insight into the desperation of these people, the lengths they go to and the incessant determination it drives them to to get what they want.
flatlandsman said:
Not so much a scam, but a legitimate call from a guy selling whiplash stuff.
Accident was at about 3 mph and only reason for claim was other driver was at fault had a lease car otherwise would have happily ignored it.
But after a few months the calls started coming and I have to give it to one guy, I made the mistake of telling him I was out of work whilst also making it clear why this call was not going to get the result he wanted, fair play he went for the jugular, he was very determined and persistent, I had the time so gave him the time while also asking how long this would go on for, can you remove me from this call list. So not a scam but an insight into the desperation of these people, the lengths they go to and the incessant determination it drives them to to get what they want.
Targets, referral payments and bonuses will do that to a person.Accident was at about 3 mph and only reason for claim was other driver was at fault had a lease car otherwise would have happily ignored it.
But after a few months the calls started coming and I have to give it to one guy, I made the mistake of telling him I was out of work whilst also making it clear why this call was not going to get the result he wanted, fair play he went for the jugular, he was very determined and persistent, I had the time so gave him the time while also asking how long this would go on for, can you remove me from this call list. So not a scam but an insight into the desperation of these people, the lengths they go to and the incessant determination it drives them to to get what they want.
Not my car per se, my mother's, but being elderly, I ended up having to sort/do detective work.
Construction truck reversed in to her parked car with no one in it, wrote it off.
Truck was owned by a company, they admitted liability, claim was going fine/ clear cut my way, until 2 months in to the settlement, when the driver suddenly decided to tell the insurance company that my mother ran in to the back of him putting the blame on to her, he also happened to have injuries. Despite him being in a construction truck and the impact would have been about 5 mph if what he said was true.
I ended up having to hound the construction company to get through to someone who would ring their insurance company to basically tell them that their driver was lying (they had dash cam footage of the incident), which they eventually did after numerous, non violent, threats. They also seemed completely fine with the driver to commit insurance fraud when I asked them if he was going to be reprimanded.
Was a massive PITA for myself.
Construction truck reversed in to her parked car with no one in it, wrote it off.
Truck was owned by a company, they admitted liability, claim was going fine/ clear cut my way, until 2 months in to the settlement, when the driver suddenly decided to tell the insurance company that my mother ran in to the back of him putting the blame on to her, he also happened to have injuries. Despite him being in a construction truck and the impact would have been about 5 mph if what he said was true.
I ended up having to hound the construction company to get through to someone who would ring their insurance company to basically tell them that their driver was lying (they had dash cam footage of the incident), which they eventually did after numerous, non violent, threats. They also seemed completely fine with the driver to commit insurance fraud when I asked them if he was going to be reprimanded.
Was a massive PITA for myself.
QBee said:
I was reversing in a long parking bay parallel to the roadside, to get a better view of the road before pulling out, as there was a Transit parked 30 yards in front blocking the view.
The taxi driver decided to dive into the remains of the vacant bay behind me to drop off a fare. He was at a 30 degree angle to the pavement when the corner of my bumper hit his near side rear three quarter.
I tried to upload everything, including photos, to Aviva's claims website, but it failed to upload.
So I called Aviva.
Within 30 seconds they had decided it was 100% my fault because I had dared to reverse a car,
They were right. You were reversing, and collided with a car that wasn't reversing. When you're reversing, the onus is 100% on you to ensure it's safe to do so and there's nothing in your path you could hit. Unless you hit another car that's also reversing, then it's your fault. The taxi driver decided to dive into the remains of the vacant bay behind me to drop off a fare. He was at a 30 degree angle to the pavement when the corner of my bumper hit his near side rear three quarter.
I tried to upload everything, including photos, to Aviva's claims website, but it failed to upload.
So I called Aviva.
Within 30 seconds they had decided it was 100% my fault because I had dared to reverse a car,
NFT said:
B'stard Child said:
Yes
It was a work colleague of mine, she hit the van getting out of her allocated space - damage was really a paint scuff/dirt rearrangement.
She knew who the van belonged to and knocked on his door to tell him she was sorry but she’d hit the van - she was late for work but would give him all her insurance details that evening.
No real damage to her car either - well not that you’d notice (just a thing fir getting from A-B to her)
First thing she knew about the whiplash claim was when her insurance company questioned the events that she had put down on her accident statement.
When they said the other driver was claiming fir whiplash her words were “how the fk can that be right - he wasn’t in the car and he came to the door in his bloody pyjamas”
They weren’t interested in fighting it either until I convinced her to report the fraud to the police….. things got a bit lively then but eventually the claim was rejected (all of it including his claimed damage as the van was a bit of a state and had lots of battle scars)
She never claimed for any damage on her car but it still went down as a accident and her premiums went up for a few years
As usual on PH will expect the odd “cool story bro” and “pics or it never happened” She’s tidy but I’m not sure she’d appreciate being posted on a big forum
Wonder how he explained that when asked. Sorry, I was confused and strained neck answering door? lolIt was a work colleague of mine, she hit the van getting out of her allocated space - damage was really a paint scuff/dirt rearrangement.
She knew who the van belonged to and knocked on his door to tell him she was sorry but she’d hit the van - she was late for work but would give him all her insurance details that evening.
No real damage to her car either - well not that you’d notice (just a thing fir getting from A-B to her)
First thing she knew about the whiplash claim was when her insurance company questioned the events that she had put down on her accident statement.
When they said the other driver was claiming fir whiplash her words were “how the f
k can that be right - he wasn’t in the car and he came to the door in his bloody pyjamas”They weren’t interested in fighting it either until I convinced her to report the fraud to the police….. things got a bit lively then but eventually the claim was rejected (all of it including his claimed damage as the van was a bit of a state and had lots of battle scars)
She never claimed for any damage on her car but it still went down as a accident and her premiums went up for a few years
As usual on PH will expect the odd “cool story bro” and “pics or it never happened” She’s tidy but I’m not sure she’d appreciate being posted on a big forum
I had a delivery company hit my car whilst it was parked on my drive and I was the one sill in bed at 4.00 am.
They left a note, and we went through their own insurance.
But I then had a number of calls from accident specialist legal companies who rang my mobile and all of them without fail asked me if“I was sure I had no injuries”
Even after I pointed out that I hadn’t been in the car, some of them still openly suggested I claim, as I couldn’t be sure of the long term effects.
I’ll bet I’m not the only one.
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