Fraudulent insurance claims cost the insurance industry over £1billion per year and the industry is determined to clampdown on insurance cheats.
The Association of British Insurers has teamed up with police forces around the country in a national bid to ensure that insurers may have quicker access to information, if they feel a claim may be fraudulent. Insurers can now ask for the police to assist where they feel a claim may be dishonest. For example, the insurer can ask police to confirm values of stolen items and compare it to those values listed on the victim’s claim form.
Insurance cheats cost honest policyholders each year, in the form of increased premiums. Some people go to extremes to cheat on their insurer. For example, one man claimed against his local council for head injuries after allegedly tripping over a loose paving stone. In fact he had actually caused his injuries himself by punching a window whilst he was drunk!