Accident Compensation

[Alesha]

Since being involved in a very minor, no fault accident, where no one was injured, I have been harassed by numerous companies encouraging me to claim for compensation which could be up to £3000. It was suggested that I might suffer twinges due to tightening of the seat belt or possibly getting a headache in the next few weeks which could be attributed to the accident. I was even informed that the other party had claimed even though I know she was not injured - she was very apologetic. Apparently this money has to be set aside, by law and if not claimed goes into the insurer's pocket so I might as well have it!!(I was told). I believe that the only way these companies could have acquired the details would have been from the Insurance companies involved - Aegeas in our case and Halifax in the case of the third party. This practice surely needs to be stopped and must be in breach of data protection. I cannot believe that this practice is legal and if it is then the law needs to be changed.

[Bazooka Boo]

Make a formal complaint to the ICO, get them to investigate.

[Slimm]

I imagine the actual callers will be at arms length from anyone the ICO could/would do anything about - either overseas or little companies set up for this purpose to make initial contact and then disappear before any complaints get acted on. Ageas/Halifax may also not be the responsible parties - you need to consider recovery firms, repair firms, hire companies etc - there's a lot of different companies involved in even a light accident.

 

 

Sadly this sort of thing is very tempting for people who aren't hurt but are prepared to lie for 2-3K tax free.

[Bazooka Boo]

Regardless, complain to the ICO.

[JoeyJoeC]

I hear all the time about accidents that have happened where it was just a small bump, not even any damage in some cases, then a few weeks later, one of them have opened a claim for whiplash. I'd assume most have been persuaded by these cold calls.

 

How do they even get hold of the details of those involved?

[Alesha]

That's what concerns me, apart from the immorality of trying to persuade people to make fraudulent claims. Surely there should be a data protection issue.

[Ell-enn]

My son was contacted about a year after a "bump" - a lady he knew ran in to him and immediately accepted blame - the car was repaired by her insurers very quickly and all was well. However, after telling these claims people he wasn't interested - they still wrote to his insurers, Hastings, and he got letter from them asking for details of his "claim". He phoned them and he told them he'd never made a claim .... Unbelievebly Hastings told him he needed to pay £25 to "close the claim down" - for a claim he never made!

 

We will be contacting the claims company with a view to recovering the £25 plus compensation.

[Ganymede]

I get these texts all the time too and haven't had any accidents in the last 3 years either.

 

There's a great feature on my phone that allows me to deal with them called a delete button.

[Bazooka Boo]

If these NWNF companies text then forward their message to 7726, (spam) on your keypad.

[Ganymede]

If these NWNF companies text then forward their message to 7726, (spam) on your keypad.

Even better idea!

 

Although I feel I should point out that it's unlawful for a firm of solicitors to cold call or cold text so it is probably a CMC or other dodgey non regulated company.

[Bazooka Boo]

Yes more than likely....

[letsmakeamark]

If i am right in thinking . I have seen on a number of ocaissions where people have called an ambulance for at an accident and 3-4 days later they have recieved similar calls.