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Albany Assistance - compensation offer

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Hello

I'm pretty sure this is a scam but wanted to see if anyone else had the same experience.

Basically I had a motor insurance claim for which the other party accepted liability. Shortly after this I was refunded my no claims bonus and I thought it was all over. However, I recieved a phone call from a person claiming to be from Albany Assistance informing me I was owed £1800 in compensation for minor injuries suffered by myself and my passenger. I wasn't keen on giving my details out over the phone and am very suspicious of anyone that phones offering to give me money. I was informed the money would be sent to me by cheque in about 8-12 weeks time but they needed a few more details for "data protection".

I'm pretty sure this is a scam as it sounds too good to be true but I was wondering if this is something that has happened to anyone else and what I should do about it.

Comments

  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    Albany will have bought your details directly or indirectly from an insurer involved in your claim (or maybe someone who works there is earning a bit on the side passing on details to them)

    If you and your passenger were injured you are entitled to compensation, and should contact a solicitor of your choice.

    Google no win no fee injury lawyers to find some.
  • InsideInsurance
    InsideInsurance Posts: 22,460 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I am surprised at Albany cold calling with that sort of script and personally suspect it is another organisation that intends to sell the lead to Albany (or another firm).

    As above, it is just someone fishing for leads to sell on. In most cases they know nothing about any incidents at all but like certain other professions they know how to word things to sound like they do. If you give them details they sell them.

    If you want to pursue a claim either find your own solicitor or use your legal expenses cover on your motor policy.
  • Thank you for the replies. I've just had a further call from Albany Assistance. I rang my own insurer (direct line) to find out if they'd had this problem before. They have had several enquiries about the same thing and say that certain companies can access a database where all claims are log. This database consists of names and mobile numbers.

    The call I recieved from Albany Assistance was to progress a compensation claim (which I don't want to make). I suspect the first call was potentially a cold call to pass my information to Albany, but either way my file is now closed.
  • InsideInsurance
    InsideInsurance Posts: 22,460 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    elbowgirl wrote: »
    but either way my file is now closed.

    I hope for your sake this is true but I doubt it. Many of these operations are run on a shoe string and they just keep buying data and pumping it out to the call centre staff to call with little attempt to deduplicate from names that have appeared on previous lists.

    For now my phones quiet but I did go about a year with at least a call a week and a good few txt messages about "my accident"... last accident I had was 15 years ago when I ran into the back of a car. Even talking to them doesnt stop the calls/ txts
This discussion has been closed.
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