National Accident Database?

gaz77

I got cold-called on my mobile yesterday, saying that I'd been in a car accident and did I 'want to make a claim?'

It must have been some accident, as I don't remember any of it....

I hate being cold-called, and for years I've been very careful about not allowing people to pass on my details. I questioned where they got my details from, as they had my name and mobile number, and also said they had my address (in hindsight I should have got them to confirm this).

I was told that they had got my details from the National Accident Database, because I must have made a car insurance claim in the last 3 years.

I've only had my car for a year, and I've never made an insurance claim. After finishing the call, I started to google the NAD, but very little has come up - just a DfT feasibility study.

I'm now worried that I've been the victim of identity theft, and that if this database does exist, it will put up my insurance premiums.

Does anyone know if the NAD exists? Is there anything else I can do to look into this?

Any advice is appreciated

sarahg1969

Not as far as I know. There is a database of written-off vehicles, and a database of people who've made claims. However, it should not be used as a marketing tool, and any company doing so is surely in breach of the DPA.

I guess it was just a cold call, and they were making it up. The fact that you've had an accident is probably coincidence.

gaz77

sarahg1969 wrote: »

The fact that you've had an accident is probably coincidence.

I've never had an accident, that's the thing.

It just occurred to me that their phone number might be in my call register. Sure enough, it was: 0151 2553580
A bit of googling found this thread which all sounds familiar:
http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/01512553580/4

I guess my number got recorded a few months ago when I got insurance renewal quotes. They've got it by some dodgy means and made up the NAD as an excuse.

sarahg1969

Sorry, I misread your OP. They were just cold-calling. They were lying about a National Accident Database.

tsw004

I had the same thing today. Company (can't remember the name but caller had a scouse/Liverpool accent) called me to say they had been informed that I've been in an accident within the last three years and that I could claim £1600. They said they got the information from the 'National Accident Database'. I clicked on straight away that it was probably a cold call as I've never had an accident or claimed on insurance. I do wonder where they got my details from though as I too am very careful about whom I disclose my details to.

Received number was 0151 255 3580 - I just get three beeps when I dial the number but 0151 is Liverpool area code.

More info here

quokkakat

I have now been called by these cheeky chappies from Liverpool twice in 6 weeks.

The first time I was polite declined their services and said that there had been an error but kicked myself for forgetting to ask where they got my number.

Second time they called I asked straightaway where they had got my number from. I was informed the National Accident Database. I advised that there had been an error as I did not own a vehicle. Just as the caller was trying to expand into other areas where I could have forgotten that I had been in accident I interrupted him and told him I was a solicitor and did he really want to go down this road with me. He ended the call very quickly.

Checking on the Companies House Website they do not even exist so I have no registered company address to take up any complaints with.

What is most concerning is how they got my name and number and I intend to delve further to see if there is any breach of Data Protection.

quokkakat

I have now been called by these cheeky chappies from Liverpool twice in 6 weeks.

The first time I was polite declined their services and said that there had been an error but kicked myself for forgetting to ask where they got my number.

Second time they called I asked straightaway where they had got my number from. I was informed the National Accident Database. I advised that there had been an error as I did not own a vehicle. Just as the caller was trying to expand into other areas where I could have forgotten that I had been in accident I interrupted him and told him I was a solicitor and did he really want to go down this road with me. He ended the call very quickly.

Checking on the Companies House Website they do not even exist so I have no registered company address to take up any complaints with.

What is most concerning is how they got my name and number and I intend to delve further to see if there is any breach of Data Protection.

sarahg1969

Do you have a number for them? Or a name?

If they are authorised by the Ministry of Justice (which they should be), then I'm pretty sure that they shouldn't be cold-calling.

I would be interested to know who they are.

BillyF_2

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Do you have a number for them? Or a name?

If they are authorised by the Ministry of Justice (which they should be), then I'm pretty sure that they shouldn't be cold-calling.

I would be interested to know who they are.

Accident Assistance is the name I was given. Again, £1600 has been set aside for me, but she gave no details of the accident/claim that I apparently had/made.

As it happens I did fill in an accident report on Transport for London's website when I came off my bike last year and mentioned it to the girl who phoned, she told me to verify that that was the accident in question and phone her back.

BillyF_2

LadyIndecisive wrote: »

BillyF - There is no £1600 set aside for you. There is no National Accident Database.

This cold-calling works in exactly the same way as phishing emails, if they make enough calls they are bound to find some people who have had accidents but not yet made a claim.

I would not recommend calling them back.

Many thanks Lady.

My first thoughts were "scam", the complaint to TFL gave me pause for thought though, along with the fact that they weren't trying to sell me anything.

This site is proving very very handy

Newmski

Hi

I was also called by these guys last week. I had a minor accident a few months ago and did (stupidly) give them the details of it. Does anyone know what they would/could do with the information I gave them? I hadn't made a claim on the accident as the vehicle that hit me was undamaged and my car wasn't worth anything so I got it scrapped. They asked me when/where it happened, my address, the vehicle reg (which is noiw scrap metal) and what i did for a living. The guy rang off saying that his supervisior would call me back a few minutes later. That was the last I heard from them.

I suppose I should be expecting a torrent of junk mail to appear on my doormat. That'll teach me

Newmski