Thinking that its a scam?

[1scotthawkins1]

Going back to June this year I was stopped by a gentleman in the car in front 'PULL OVER!' So I pulled over to the side of the road, as I get out the car he comes over to me stating 'I had run into the back of his car.' Starts writing my number plate down taking a copy of my tax disc etc, I refused to give him my details because there was no accident so he called the police for a 'Hit and Run' even though I was still there so I walk to my car on the side of the road and wait for a policeman. He walks over to my car and asks me what has happen so I go over the details stating that there was no contact with either vehicle. The policeman writes down the details and goes over to his colleague and talks over the incident, he then returns to my car saying 'I was correct to stay in my car and that neither vehicles or parties were damaged nor injured and just carry on your way we will deal'
My insurance company are now holding me to account of 'the incident' and are going to pay out without and further enquires'
Now I have a Police Incident Log stating no injuries or damage to either vehicles. They also said that there is no point sending out a mechanic to look at my vehicles because its not cost effective and that the claim was so small there would be no damage to my car even if we had crashed.
Loosing no claims will double my policy premium!

Help and advice gratefully needed?!?!?

[bradders]

Sounds very much like a no win no fee scammer to me. Going through a case at present myself, where I disputed their version of events and I'm prepared to stand up in court and say so. There was damage, but they caused it.

If you want, you will need to push your insurance company to get them to fight it - it's your right to do so, but it's cheaper for them to settle than risk a loss in court and have the associated costs, so they may not want to risk it unless your evidence is strong.

That's the wonderful society we live in today - it's about time they regressed the no win no fee nonsense and got everyone back on an even keel.

[technogogo]

If your insurance company are being lazy and think paying out is the easiest/cheapest option, I would tell them that you are not happy and want to report them to the insurance ombudsman.

Get the contact details for the official ombudsman from your company. I googled it but not sure if the results are the real one or service companies which look like the real one. If you know what I mean?!

Which insurance company is it?

Edited by technogogo on Thursday 7th October 19:04

[1scotthawkins1]

This is what I am thinking at the moment that they just can't be bothered with the claim.
My insurance company is Admiral.

Edited by 1scotthawkins1 on Thursday 7th October 19:15

[edo]

1scotthawkins1 said:

This is what I am thinking at the moment that they just can't be bothered with the claim.
My company is Admiral.

Stand your ground. wkers. Tell them if they pay out you will report them to the ombudsman and sue their ass.

[ludicrous speed]

find out where he lives, then go round there and brick his window and kill his dog. .

[Jonboy_t]

Don't know if it'll help or not, or evem if I'm allowed to say so (mods - please delete if not), but I'm with Admiral, had to make a claim recently and a complaint after their 'approved' garage ballsed the repair up, but I dealt with a guy called Dan Humphries in their complaints department who was nothing short of a legend, did everything I could ask and more. Try calling them on 0871 882 8242, don't know his extension or anything, but I think it's direct to complaints.

Good luck!

ETA - I prefer Ludicrous Speeds idea, do that.

Edited by Jonboy_t on Thursday 7th October 19:42

[dylan0451]

the more i hear of stuff like this, the more i like someones idea of mounting a forward facing camera. even if it were just an unbranded web cam with a wire going into the dash, in a situation like this you could point at the camera and show him he's has just landed himself in deep water

sorry, harly a constructive post, hindsight an all that but this and the brake test no win no fee brigade seem to be on the up. obviously if the latter you'd still have a bent car and no actual footage but you could still call their bluff and tell them the footage was going to the insurance company, so they'd be better off accepting 100% liability and leaving it at that

[1scotthawkins1]

Jonboy_t said:

I dealt with a guy called Dan Humphries in their complaints department who was nothing short of a legend, did everything I could ask and more. Try calling them on 0871 882 8242, don't know his extension or anything, but I think it's direct to complaints.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the great feedback guys, I will phone them back now and try and get hold of this chap sounds very helpful. I sent them an email last night saying that they should not payout for any claim that has been put in. Apart from getting in touch with the ombudsman, is there anything else I can do?
My Insurance company just seem to think we pay off the small amount and make the customer pay through their teeth for the next 3 years through loss of no claims!
Many thanks again for the helpful posts as you can imagine I am outraged at this moment in time, and any advice is much appreciated.

Edited by 1scotthawkins1 on Friday 8th October 09:11

[1scotthawkins1]

Just a quick update now, spoke to my insurance company againg andhave found out what the suposed damage is to the other parties car. £488 worth of damage to drivers side rear bumper. I now have to prove that this was not caused by me. I have a police incedent log stating there was no damage to either veichle at the time of the 'incedent'.
Does anybody know if this usuable in court. Because it is not a police report just a log does this make this imformation usless?

Thanks Scott

[Jonboy_t]

Can't see any reason why it wouldn't be useful to be honest, but I'm certainly not a lawyer!

On the flip side, police aren't bodyshop specialists and their word may be countered with a 'hidden damage' argument (I'm not saying there was any though!).

I really hope this works out for you mate.

[Bill]

1scotthawkins1 said:

Just a quick update now, spoke to my insurance company againg andhave found out what the suposed damage is to the other parties car. £488 worth of damage to drivers side rear bumper. I now have to prove that this was not caused by me. I have a police incedent log stating there was no damage to either veichle at the time of the 'incedent'.
Does anybody know if this usuable in court. Because it is not a police report just a log does this make this imformation usless?

Thanks Scott

Did you hit him?

If not then tell them, repeatedly...

[1scotthawkins1]

Bill said:

1scotthawkins1 said:

Just a quick update now, spoke to my insurance company againg andhave found out what the suposed damage is to the other parties car. £488 worth of damage to drivers side rear bumper. I now have to prove that this was not caused by me. I have a police incedent log stating there was no damage to either veichle at the time of the 'incedent'.
Does anybody know if this usuable in court. Because it is not a police report just a log does this make this imformation usless?

Thanks Scott

Did you hit him?

If not then tell them, repeatedly...

I have told my insurance company that there was no contact with either vehicles repetitively now and just got off the phone to the supervisor stressing this point.

Jonboy_t said:

Can't see any reason why it wouldn't be useful to be honest, but I'm certainly not a lawyer!

On the flip side, police aren't bodyshop specialists and their word may be countered with a 'hidden damage' argument (I'm not saying there was any though!).

I really hope this works out for you mate.

They have only said damage to the bumper which I can only imagine means the outside. I am more than happy for a mechanic to come and look at my car to see if any impact would have caused internal damage to his vehicle. Starting to really believe this is guilty until proven innocent which is just ridiculous

[Speedracer329]

If you are convinced that no contact was made, & you have the police officers report, then stick to your guns. Scammers really wind me up, & as a matter of principle I personally would not back down.

[Bill]

1scotthawkins1 said:

I have told my insurance company that there was no contact with either vehicles repetitively now and just got off the phone to the supervisor stressing this point.

In which case it's your word against his so get hold of the BiB who turned up. TBH though in a your word against his situation you can understand why the insurers are prepared to pay, there's no evidence to support either person...

[1scotthawkins1]

The Crack Fox said:

Can you track down the copper involved ? Talk to the Insurance Ombudsman NOW befor it goes any further. I suggest playing Admiral at their own game, take the scammer to court, drag Admiral though it too, make them see that it will cost more to side with the scammer than you. Above all, TALK TO THE OMBUDSMAN NOW, get someone on your side. Find the copper too, see if he'll act as 'witness'.

I wish you good luck, Admiral are now blacklisted for me, aholes !

I am due to speak to the police officer when on shift again which appears to be monday evening.
I have also started a letter to the ombudsman and a phone to back the letter too its starting to get out of hand.
Pay all this money and they just roll over because its more convenient for them than to fight it.


Thanks again guys I'll keep you posted.

[ManOpener]

1scotthawkins1 said:

Just a quick update now, spoke to my insurance company againg andhave found out what the suposed damage is to the other parties car. £488 worth of damage to drivers side rear bumper. I now have to prove that this was not caused by me. I have a police incedent log stating there was no damage to either veichle at the time of the 'incedent'.
Does anybody know if this usuable in court. Because it is not a police report just a log does this make this imformation usless?

Thanks Scott

I would request photographs of said damage to vehicle. If it's evidently visible then counter with police log saying that no damage was visible on the car that it is claimed that you hit.

A police log would probably be treated the same way a witness statement would be. If the police say that there was no damage evident to the vehicle yet the photograph shows visible and physical damage, then it's pretty obvious that the driver is a liar.

Admiral always drag their feet from my experiences. It's taken them a year to fully settle my claim and I got a court summons from the other party's insurer in that time.

Edited by ManOpener on Friday 8th October 12:49

[Jasandjules]

Sorry, tell Admiral you do not have to prove that you did not cause the damage, quite the reverse, the other party has to prove that you did. And a police report says there was no damage at all, so request that the other party produce an affidavit outlining the situation and the damage, then pass that to plod for PCoJ prosecutions (assuming plod will be interested - might be worth speaking to the officer who produced the no damage bit)

[technogogo]

Police notebook are a serious matter and count for a lot in a legal sense. I believe its true that a police officer is in a lot of hot water if he looses his notebook.

Also, take a photo of your car, front and back, showing there is no damage. State clearly that this is evidence that the other parties story is false. Use the words "attempted fraud" when you talk to Admiral. Also find out if they have a separate fraud prevention department. Also if the other parties insurance company has. See if you can get your photos to the other parties insurance company.

Good luck!

[citizen_smith]

I don't understand why you pulled over in the first place. anyone who told me to pull over would be ignored if not police.

Edited by citizen_smith on Friday 8th October 19:05