An insurance company that doesnt want to to pay up

sarahg1969

However, if this is not the case then I hope he is found out and prosecuted for fraud.

It would be nice if that happened. But, unfortunately, prosecutions are few and far between. The authorities seem to see it as a victimless crime. They think the insurance companies should get their houses in order. Which more of them are trying to do. But once they have kicked out a claim on finding evidence of fraud, there's nowhere for them to go from there – persuading the police/CPS to take the matter on is almost impossible.

super_dad

I think some of you guys underestimate how small a small tin of paint actually is and how big/strong a 2 (almost 3) year old boy actually is!

I really don't mind if you don't believe what i type as it doesn't really matter. I find it hard to grasp that some people find it impossible to believe that a child picks up a small can of paint, throws it and the lid comes off..... wow!!

thanks for the advice via pm. very useful tips. Will pass them on and will update the thread accordingly.

Rab19

I don't want to get involved in the rest of the slanging going on in here, but I will add that I have a 19 month old son, who is definitely strong enough to fling a pot of paint around! He pushes the shopping trolley round the supermarket (makes it look like it's moving on it's own!) and will heave & grunt till he's got what he wants - however heavy or unwieldy it may be.

Hopefully the OP's friends will get justice (in whatever form people think it should be) and it all works out!

Rab x x

super_dad

a couple of people have asked to be kept updated... and good (ish news!)

I have a real love of taking on the big boys and putting a case together. Anyway, today I managed to speak to a designer of paint cans (yes, probably the dullest job in the world and I dare say that isn't his exact title!) I sent him pics of the can and he is basically going to write a letter to my friends saying that a sudden impact, such as the one where a child throws the can and it hits a wall, may cause the lid to come loose and therefore spillage... he also said that this would be more likely to occur if the can had been opened previously (something to do with air in the can) and the "factory fit" (as he put it) had been broken

The sofas are against a wall and are very modern, low backed, sofas. So... child throws can, can hits wall (as in video) and experts letter says that would be enough to dislodge the lid.

How can they dispute it if it is what happened? I hate insurance companies.

Thanks to the guy who pm'd me that idea.... genius!

dmg24

I can't remember what you said earlier - did the paint go down the wall also?

G42

super_dad wrote: »

a couple of people have asked to be kept updated... and good (ish news!)

I have a real love of taking on the big boys and putting a case together. Anyway, today I managed to speak to a designer of paint cans (yes, probably the dullest job in the world and I dare say that isn't his exact title!) I sent him pics of the can and he is basically going to write a letter to my friends saying that a sudden impact, such as the one where a child throws the can and it hits a wall, may cause the lid to come loose and therefore spillage... he also said that this would be more likely to occur if the can had been opened previously (something to do with air in the can) and the "factory fit" (as he put it) had been broken

The sofas are against a wall and are very modern, low backed, sofas. So... child throws can, can hits wall (as in video) and experts letter says that would be enough to dislodge the lid.

How can they dispute it if it is what happened? I hate insurance companies.

Thanks to the guy who pm'd me that idea.... genius!

I don't think anyone has disputed the fact that throwing a tin of paint at a wall may dislodge the lid. As you have already stated that it was a new tin of paint, unopened by your friends the second part of the "expert opinion is irrelevent. Unless of course they continue to contend that someone in the shop opened it and closed it again before they bought it. I've never yet seen that happen myself and I'm sure that traces of paint would be left around the rim if it did happen. The insurance company is well aware of what happens when a tin of paint is thrown at a wall. What they're disputing is whether it actually happened so I can't see what help the "expert's" letter will be as it tells them what they already know. Are you sure that it was a "genius" that PM'd you with the "clever" idea? Doesn't look so clever to me when looked at logically.

super_dad

well the insurance company cannot come straight out and say "this never happened, you are a liar" they are treading a very fine line if they do that.

What they are saying is that they cannot see how a 2/3 year old can open it. So obviously what I am trying to prove is that if thrown it would open, in certain circumstances.

This letter would appear to back that up. Hey, just trying to prove how something that actually happened... happened.

Yes, i thought the pm was a very clever idea.

Brooker_Dave

super_dad wrote: »

well the insurance company cannot come straight out and say "this never happened, you are a liar" they are treading a very fine line if they do that.

What they are saying is that they cannot see how a 2/3 year old can open it. So obviously what I am trying to prove is that if thrown it would open, in certain circumstances.

This letter would appear to back that up. Hey, just trying to prove how something that actually happened... happened.

Yes, i thought the pm was a very clever idea.

Your "freind" should be aware that insurance companies have experts of their own...

"Paint spills obey predictable rules of physics?"

"That it is often possible to show when paint has been poured rather than spilled?"

http://www.hawkins.biz/our_services.php?q=Fraud

super_dad

you type in a way which suggests they should be afraid of any sort of investigation... do you actually read what I write or do you look at the words and then make your own mind up what they say?

d123

super_dad wrote: »

you type in a way which suggests they should be afraid of any sort of investigation... do you actually read what I write or do you look at the words and then make your own mind up what they say?

There is one question that has been asked a few times without an answer which I am curious about. Is there paint splatter on the wall above the sofa? Is it visible on the photos sent to the insurance company?