Non-injury compensation claim- any advice?

[AnnieT]

Hi all,

Last year I had a car go into the back of me. It was very minor as we weren't travelling fast. At the time I had a lot of personal injuries lawyers phoning saying I needed to claim compensation for my injuries. I wasn't injured so I didn't follow it up (and reported them to a watchdog as they were very pushy trying to out words in my mouth etc).

Now, 8 months on, I've had a solicitors phone saying j can make a 'non- injury aim'. Apparently the funds from the other insurance company are already 'released' and this is just a case of 'closing the books'. It sounds too good to be true. Has anyone any advice on this? I can't believe it's 'rightfully mine' to claim this amount without repercussions of some sort.

Does anyone have any experience of this and can advise?

Thanks!

[smith 41]

Sounds like a scam to me it's normally the money is waiting to be released to you only if you send a payment,I would avoid

[Penguin68]

If you have suffered no injury and made no claim on your own insurance then there would be no obvious process for this. Damage to your car would be sought for (and received by) your own insurer from the other driver or his/ her insurer; if you had made a claim - with them settling any repair bills. If you haven't followed any claims process then you are being scammed by an ambulance chaser - they may indeed be able to instigate some process - but they would take the lion's share of any proceeds and it is this sort of action which drives up insurance costs for all.

Of course, if you are out of pocket because of another drivers's fault you may wish to pursue a claim properly through your own insurer (remembering that even a no-fault accident may increase your insurance risk and your premiums - the insurer's own scam here is that - even where you have a protected no claims bonus - they will increase your risk profile because you may be leading a life/ driving to places, where you are more likely to be hit by other rivers - so your NCB discount may remain the same, but discounted off a higher base premium.)

My advice - ignore...

[AnnieT]

Thanks both.

I did make a claim for the repair of some scratches- I wasn't bothered about them but because the driver was driving dangerously and originally asked that we settle without insurers which I was prepared to do- and then ignored my calls I felt it was my only option. So car 'repaired' now.

So, ok they read out to me some 'road act from 2014' that an insurance company has to tapir damage, offer courtesy car and then allow for due compensation. But yes, does sound like a scam and I'm sure they would do better out of it than me!

[DaveR]

Not necessarily a scam, bur classic 'claims farming'. The time limit for tort claims (negligence) is three years. Although referral fees are supposed to have been banned, there is still an active trade in details of people who have had accidents. Claims companies buy them and then contact people to see whether there is any potential loss that hasn't already been compensated - provided you're within the three years you can make a claim. Many insurers will pay out a minor claim without challenge where their driver was clearly at fault. The strong suspicion has to be that the vast majority of claims that result from this sort of process are at least a bit fishy, and some (perhaps many) will be outright dishonest.

[SLad]

If your car has been repaired by your insurance company then your losses could be your excess, loss of use and any insured losses which your insurance company wish to reclaim.

A claim would be a whole heap of hassle for very small returns in my view.

[AnnieT]

Hmmm... ok thanks all for your wise words. Will have a think on it, but yes really don't have time for lots of hassle at the moment! Who does?!