Call today from accident manahement company, saying Im owed
Discussion
Hi,
Just had a phone call from 'Swift Management' asking about an accident I had 18 months ago. It started off sounding more like a questionnaire, but then quickly turned into 'our records show you're owed money. I had an accident last March in my wifes car which was written off and went 50/50. The accident was a 4 car bump on a motorway with me sandwiched in the middle. We got payed out quite quickly but I think the guy in from of me was claiming for compo (even tho he'd all ready just parked his Polo in the back of a Merc!). I didn't claim for anything and don't see why I should be. It was a low speed bump with none of the cars involved deploying airbags. The guy on the phone now claims that I've got money owing to me because of a change in the law last April. For a start, how can a law change effect something retrospectively? I was in work, so didn't want to get into a long conversation, but he was adamant he would ring back another time.
Would I be right in thinking hes just an Ambulance chaser (albeit a slow one)?
Gareth
Just had a phone call from 'Swift Management' asking about an accident I had 18 months ago. It started off sounding more like a questionnaire, but then quickly turned into 'our records show you're owed money. I had an accident last March in my wifes car which was written off and went 50/50. The accident was a 4 car bump on a motorway with me sandwiched in the middle. We got payed out quite quickly but I think the guy in from of me was claiming for compo (even tho he'd all ready just parked his Polo in the back of a Merc!). I didn't claim for anything and don't see why I should be. It was a low speed bump with none of the cars involved deploying airbags. The guy on the phone now claims that I've got money owing to me because of a change in the law last April. For a start, how can a law change effect something retrospectively? I was in work, so didn't want to get into a long conversation, but he was adamant he would ring back another time.
Would I be right in thinking hes just an Ambulance chaser (albeit a slow one)?
Gareth
Indeed.
My brother still gets calls now 2 years later than his "accident". He was simply hit in a car park by someone not looking at about 10mph. Just cosmetic damage, and this call agents seem to think they will be able to get him thousands in compensation.
Good for you for not jumping on the bandwagon. Sadly, the calls will continue from various other companies for some time.
My brother still gets calls now 2 years later than his "accident". He was simply hit in a car park by someone not looking at about 10mph. Just cosmetic damage, and this call agents seem to think they will be able to get him thousands in compensation.
Good for you for not jumping on the bandwagon. Sadly, the calls will continue from various other companies for some time.
SpydieNut said:
i get texts and calls like this and i've not had an accident in the last 15 years.
they're just fishing and are odious, scum-sucking parasites.
Yep, this. They annoy me more than most unsolicited calls, I think it's because their opening gambit is an outright lie, and that gets my blood boiling immediately.they're just fishing and are odious, scum-sucking parasites.
If they asked if I'd had an accident, I'd politely tell them I'm not interested, but it's the fact they lie and say something along the lines of "that accident you had recently" that winds me up.
OP, it's simply chance that you've had an accident reasonably recently, and these guys calling you. Nothing more.
My girlfriend still receives calls from an accident I had in her car 18months or more ago, they all seem to have the details of the date and location.
What's odd is that it was my fault (well, I was getting out of the way of somebody speeding in the works car-park, checked mirrors but didn't look over my shoulder, missed the MGTF hiding/approaching from behind below the windowline- next time I'll just let the plonker booming around the car park hit me.
)
Low speed bump, our bumper would've pushed out and been OK had it not hit in a specific spot next to the reinforcing bar, splitting it. Their car- small bump but as I understand it the claim was dragged out by demanding a lot of other damage be fixed as well (the other car had a fair few marks and pretty poor panel fitting, but it was a 12y/o MGTF and not in "Showroom" condition., I'm not aware of the full details but it seemed they'd tried to claim so much damage that the car would've been written off, then kept trying to demand repair due to sentimental value/modifications or some such- wouldn't surprise me if there was a bit of compo in there too!.)
I don't get how, or why, we'd be entitled to claim compensation for an accident that was my fault (as I was reversing.) and happened at less than walking pace, such that hitting a pedestrian with the same force probably wouldn't cause much worse than a bruise let alone somebody sat inside a vehicle...
No wonder premiums are so high. I'm sure all the crap about being "owed" is just to draw you in.
What's odd is that it was my fault (well, I was getting out of the way of somebody speeding in the works car-park, checked mirrors but didn't look over my shoulder, missed the MGTF hiding/approaching from behind below the windowline- next time I'll just let the plonker booming around the car park hit me.
) Low speed bump, our bumper would've pushed out and been OK had it not hit in a specific spot next to the reinforcing bar, splitting it. Their car- small bump but as I understand it the claim was dragged out by demanding a lot of other damage be fixed as well (the other car had a fair few marks and pretty poor panel fitting, but it was a 12y/o MGTF and not in "Showroom" condition., I'm not aware of the full details but it seemed they'd tried to claim so much damage that the car would've been written off, then kept trying to demand repair due to sentimental value/modifications or some such- wouldn't surprise me if there was a bit of compo in there too!.)
I don't get how, or why, we'd be entitled to claim compensation for an accident that was my fault (as I was reversing.) and happened at less than walking pace, such that hitting a pedestrian with the same force probably wouldn't cause much worse than a bruise let alone somebody sat inside a vehicle...
No wonder premiums are so high. I'm sure all the crap about being "owed" is just to draw you in.
Edited by Timfy on Tuesday 4th November 15:56
Edited by Timfy on Tuesday 4th November 16:05
Received a call at work last week coming directly in to my ddi, 'I am calling about your recent accident'.
I asked who he would like to speak to and he just said it was about 'your' accident. Told him he had randomly called a number at a company that employs 40+ people so without a name I could not help. Swore under his breath and hung up.
We have a recording of one of the 'your PC has a virus' muppets, after stringing it along for a while it ended with our guy suggesting that the caller may be able to connect if he went and boiled his head. Oddly that appeared not to be on his script.
I asked who he would like to speak to and he just said it was about 'your' accident. Told him he had randomly called a number at a company that employs 40+ people so without a name I could not help. Swore under his breath and hung up.
We have a recording of one of the 'your PC has a virus' muppets, after stringing it along for a while it ended with our guy suggesting that the caller may be able to connect if he went and boiled his head. Oddly that appeared not to be on his script.
Ambulance-chasing chancers.
They phone me regularly - "Hi, I'm Brian and our records show that you had an accident, Mr Rooster"
"Hi, Brian. Your record-keeping is spectacularly good because my last car accident was forty-one years ago..."
When they phone SWMBO, she tells them that the accident left her with amnesia and she can't remember a thing about it.
They phone me regularly - "Hi, I'm Brian and our records show that you had an accident, Mr Rooster"
"Hi, Brian. Your record-keeping is spectacularly good because my last car accident was forty-one years ago..."
When they phone SWMBO, she tells them that the accident left her with amnesia and she can't remember a thing about it.
Yeah I was a bit suspicious when a law supposedly brought in in April applies to a month before, and he didn't know any details of the accident. Jus the basics like asking me for the registration number and what car it was.
When I put the number into Google it came up with loads of 'who called me' scam type replies.
When I put the number into Google it came up with loads of 'who called me' scam type replies.
I had a similar call a couple of weeks ago saying that following my recent accident there was a sum of around £10k due to me in compo following the road accident I had had in August.
Asked for more details from her.
The woman on the phone told me that although she didn't have all the details to hand she was able to confirm that thatbthe accident had occurred in central London on 12 August 2014.
I asked her to confirm the location & date.
She did just that.
So I then told her that the day before, 11 August, I had undergone major surgery in South Mead Hospital, Bristol when I had had a brain tumour removed & that on 12 August I was in a HDW ward recovering from the operation.
She asked me if I was certain I was in hospital that day........
I replied that it was not something that I was likely to forget.
She put me on hold. And the call was terminated!!!
Unbelievable.
So what do they actually gain by basically telling lies to the person on the phone? Must be a scam of some sorts but what?
Asked for more details from her.
The woman on the phone told me that although she didn't have all the details to hand she was able to confirm that thatbthe accident had occurred in central London on 12 August 2014.
I asked her to confirm the location & date.
She did just that.
So I then told her that the day before, 11 August, I had undergone major surgery in South Mead Hospital, Bristol when I had had a brain tumour removed & that on 12 August I was in a HDW ward recovering from the operation.
She asked me if I was certain I was in hospital that day........
I replied that it was not something that I was likely to forget.
She put me on hold. And the call was terminated!!!
Unbelievable.
So what do they actually gain by basically telling lies to the person on the phone? Must be a scam of some sorts but what?
I'm aware of the phenomenon of harassment from ambulance chasers. However, at the end of last year I was involved in an accident that wasn't my fault (someone pulled out of a junction into me), and I haven't received a single unsolicited phone call offering to reclaim compensation for me.
I feel a bit left out!
I feel a bit left out!
An employee of mine was involved in a minor shunt over a year ago is in the process of claiming for whiplash type injuries due to one of these phone calls.
He was coached in what answers to give and what to say to the doctor he has been sent to!
He was coached in what answers to give and what to say to the doctor he has been sent to!
Edited by Grandfondo on Tuesday 4th November 18:18
Thanks guys,
At least I'm a bit more armed for if/when they call back. I feel sorry for people for fall for it. Ok they might end up getting a couple of quid, but at the expense of everyones insurance premiums. These companies must be making a few bob out of it all tho for making all of these cold calls.
At least I'm a bit more armed for if/when they call back. I feel sorry for people for fall for it. Ok they might end up getting a couple of quid, but at the expense of everyones insurance premiums. These companies must be making a few bob out of it all tho for making all of these cold calls.
Toltec said:
Received a call at work last week coming directly in to my ddi, 'I am calling about your recent accident'.
I asked who he would like to speak to and he just said it was about 'your' accident. Told him he had randomly called a number at a company that employs 40+ people so without a name I could not help. Swore under his breath and hung up.
We have a recording of one of the 'your PC has a virus' muppets, after stringing it along for a while it ended with our guy suggesting that the caller may be able to connect if he went and boiled his head. Oddly that appeared not to be on his script.
I had one of the virus guys ring me one day - telling me that my computer would stop working in 1 hr and 50 mins.I asked who he would like to speak to and he just said it was about 'your' accident. Told him he had randomly called a number at a company that employs 40+ people so without a name I could not help. Swore under his breath and hung up.
We have a recording of one of the 'your PC has a virus' muppets, after stringing it along for a while it ended with our guy suggesting that the caller may be able to connect if he went and boiled his head. Oddly that appeared not to be on his script.
Its being a LONG LONG 1 hr and 50 mins - 12 months later the laptop is still working perfectly
I reckon ive had about 6 different calls from these virus scammers.
One of them actually knew the general area where I lived - which is impressive since he said he was calling from central London and im in Southern Ireland.
Edit - just remembered that - im fairly sure the virus guy who said he was calling from central London was ringing from a number that DID NOT have a UK international code at the start of it
Edited by Sir Fergie on Tuesday 4th November 21:30
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff