Possible bogus insurance claim
Discussion
Not sure if this is in the correct section, admins please move if not.
Had an email from my insurance broker earlier asking me about an incident in August 23 in which my vehicle caused damage to a dhl truck. My insurance company had been approached by solicitors on behalf of dhl .
They gave the registration number and make and model of my vehicle, however that registration number was on a different vehicle at the time of the ‘incident’
They claim my Alpine A110 damaged the crash bars on the side of their truck, my Alpine is sitting pristine in the garage and I’m sure it wouldn’t be if it had damaged crash bars on a truck .
The plate was actually on a transit van at that time, which they haven’t mentioned, neither have they mentioned a location.
The claim is not large, £250:for repairs, £350 for loss of use of the truck for a day, if this were genuine I’d have just paid for it rather than involve insurance at that level.
There is also the small matter of taking 5 months to bring this up.
Fortunately I have pictures of the van on the day in question , after searching the date on my phone so could prove where it was if needed .
Just wondered has anyone else come across this before
Had an email from my insurance broker earlier asking me about an incident in August 23 in which my vehicle caused damage to a dhl truck. My insurance company had been approached by solicitors on behalf of dhl .
They gave the registration number and make and model of my vehicle, however that registration number was on a different vehicle at the time of the ‘incident’
They claim my Alpine A110 damaged the crash bars on the side of their truck, my Alpine is sitting pristine in the garage and I’m sure it wouldn’t be if it had damaged crash bars on a truck .
The plate was actually on a transit van at that time, which they haven’t mentioned, neither have they mentioned a location.
The claim is not large, £250:for repairs, £350 for loss of use of the truck for a day, if this were genuine I’d have just paid for it rather than involve insurance at that level.
There is also the small matter of taking 5 months to bring this up.
Fortunately I have pictures of the van on the day in question , after searching the date on my phone so could prove where it was if needed .
Just wondered has anyone else come across this before
Debbiesd said:
The plate was actually on a transit van at that time, which they haven’t mentioned, neither have they mentioned a location.
...
Fortunately I have pictures of the van on the day in question , after searching the date on my phone so could prove where it was if needed .
Presumably you are the keeper of the van too, and have since transferred the plate....
Fortunately I have pictures of the van on the day in question , after searching the date on my phone so could prove where it was if needed .
As above, how would the broker even know? Who would have contacted them or indeed known who to contact? You would be surely getting a S172 request.
ETA: I suppose it could be from your insurance company, but why would they go through the broker?
EFTA: Yes, I should have read the OP properly.. the above is the case.
Edited by No ideas for a name on Tuesday 9th January 21:56
I don’t work in insurance so no idea why the broker contacted me except I have a Good long term relationship with them and they look after my business insurance and personal cars
This is the initial contact I had this morning
“ Good morning Debbie,
Happy New Year to you.
I’ve received a telephone call and email from your insurers this morning. They have received correspondence from a solicitor, acting on behalf of DHL, alleging that your vehicle, 222222 has collided with their vehicle and caused damage to the crash bars on the 17/08/2023. From what insurers have received, the total claim is less than £700.
Are you aware of the incident? If so, could you please provide the details on the attached form so that we can provide the insurer with your version of events.”
This is the initial contact I had this morning
“ Good morning Debbie,
Happy New Year to you.
I’ve received a telephone call and email from your insurers this morning. They have received correspondence from a solicitor, acting on behalf of DHL, alleging that your vehicle, 222222 has collided with their vehicle and caused damage to the crash bars on the 17/08/2023. From what insurers have received, the total claim is less than £700.
Are you aware of the incident? If so, could you please provide the details on the attached form so that we can provide the insurer with your version of events.”
I might be under thinking here, but isn't it just that someone saw your van, 222222 collide with a DHL truck.
I assume you have since transferred the plate to your Alpine - which isn't relevant.
So, either the van was in a collision or maybe it is a misread of the plate - and your van wasn't the one in the collision.
I assume you have since transferred the plate to your Alpine - which isn't relevant.
So, either the van was in a collision or maybe it is a misread of the plate - and your van wasn't the one in the collision.
I would expect the DHL vehicle to have cameras so ask for any video of the incident.
As for the registration being on a different vehicle, you need to collect the evidence of the plate transfer, etc because they are claiming the Alpine hit their vehicle but you can prove the error. If you have receipts from any purchases, credit card transactions, etc i.e. anything that proves you were somewhere else on the date/time of the alleged incident.
As for the 5 months delay, I had similar when a claim was lodged against me before my insurer contacted me about it. In my case it was an error in the registration number recorded by the claimant.
You do need to talk to your broker/insurer to a) deny the incident, b) provide evidence proving the plate error and where you/the car was.
As for the registration being on a different vehicle, you need to collect the evidence of the plate transfer, etc because they are claiming the Alpine hit their vehicle but you can prove the error. If you have receipts from any purchases, credit card transactions, etc i.e. anything that proves you were somewhere else on the date/time of the alleged incident.
As for the 5 months delay, I had similar when a claim was lodged against me before my insurer contacted me about it. In my case it was an error in the registration number recorded by the claimant.
You do need to talk to your broker/insurer to a) deny the incident, b) provide evidence proving the plate error and where you/the car was.
Your "pristine" Alpine is not mitigation, it has nothing to do with anything. The vehicle that the "plate" was registered to at the time, is what is being discussed. Are you the only driver of this vehicle? If not, have you questioned any likely driver(s) at the time of the alleged incident?
Sebring440 said:
Your "pristine" Alpine is not mitigation, it has nothing to do with anything. The vehicle that the "plate" was registered to at the time, is what is being discussed. Are you the only driver of this vehicle? If not, have you questioned any likely driver(s) at the time of the alleged incident?
Agreed , but, the claim has just come in, they claim it was my Alpine that hit them, the plate was only put on the Alpine this month ( Jan 24) which is obvs proveable there is no mention from them of the Ford transit the plate was on then.If they are claiming that the Alpine with reg plate ABC123 crashed into a DHL van on such-an-such a date when on that date the reg plate ABC123 was on a transit then I'd have thought that the allegation would be very easy to disprove. However I understand that this isn't your question.
FWIW I have had a slightly similar experience, although in my case the allegation (not a claim) was vexatious and went away very readily when it was paid some attention. There is a thread on it here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Best of luck, keep us posted.
FWIW I have had a slightly similar experience, although in my case the allegation (not a claim) was vexatious and went away very readily when it was paid some attention. There is a thread on it here:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Best of luck, keep us posted.
Debbiesd said:
Agreed , but, the claim has just come in, they claim it was my Alpine that hit them, the plate was only put on the Alpine this month ( Jan 24) which is obvs proveable there is no mention from them of the Ford transit the plate was on then.
Are you sure the ORIGINAL complaint mentions the Alpine. I suspect someone has noted down the plate and some time later by the time it has got to the insurance company it has been looked up and 'Oh, its an Alpine' so that has been added to the data at that point.Most likely a mis-read of the plate and nothing to do with your van and obviously nothing to do with the Alpine.
If you know (and can prove it), just reply telling them where your van was on the date/time and that should be the end of it. It won't be where the DHL truck was (at least that would be very very unlikely).
Puzzles said:
I had this before and it was a pita especially as it wasn’t resolved when I had to renew my insurance.
Same with me. My reg was wrongly reported and it effs you up big time upon renewal because there's likely to be a claim recorded on the CUE database resulting in higher premiums.Wife had same years back... insurance co rang and asked about the crash...know nothing about it. In Glasgow - not been there in 10 years! They sent an engineer to inspect her car who confirmed it had not any damage nor evidence of repair. Still pursued it, insurance co was going to pay out on her behalf as it was only a few hundred quid. She'd Lose ncb etc... we had to fight for about 6 months and wouldn't let it go - threatened independent legal action and they eventually capitulated. ins co were really quite appalling. They certainly werent Admirable about anything.
Don't let them settle on your behalf.
Don't let them settle on your behalf.
If neither the van with the reg at the time or your Alpine with by then the transferred number hit said truck then this is what you should go back to your broker with.
In effect at that point you are denying it was either vehicle / driver and the trucks insurer is mistaken.
If you have dashcam from the day in question so much the better but not pivotal.
The broker is contacting you because the insurance company contacted them and you are their client.
From the reading of their note they aren’t accusing you just asking for further information.
In effect at that point you are denying it was either vehicle / driver and the trucks insurer is mistaken.
If you have dashcam from the day in question so much the better but not pivotal.
The broker is contacting you because the insurance company contacted them and you are their client.
From the reading of their note they aren’t accusing you just asking for further information.
The only way I can think of where you could cause damage to the crash bars on a DHL vehicle and yet remain unmarked itself would be if the Transit had a tow bar, and had reversed into the DHL vehicle. But you are clear that wasn't the case.
It sounds like you have enough evidence to disprove it, so challenge it. You don't want an accident you didn't cause on your driving record.
It sounds like you have enough evidence to disprove it, so challenge it. You don't want an accident you didn't cause on your driving record.
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