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False claim made against my car insurance

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Hi,

I received a call from my insurers last week and they informed me someone had made a claim against my insurance, they provided me with the name, asked if i knew her and then if I was in an accident. I said no, as neither me nor my partner had.

We are looking to buy a new car as we have suffered some cosmetic damage in three places on the vehicle and it is more economic for us (due to extremely high insurance!) that we get an upgrade. All damage was caused by stationary objects (embarrassingly) but I am worried that this will be an issue.

When calling to cancel my insurance and start my new policy, the insurers informed me that I could leave but I would have to pay the full term of my policy due to the claim! They told me the accident took place claim was recorded at 5.30pm and I was at work until at least 5:30pm the date of the accident.

I can prove this with CCTV and also my building uses swipe cards to access most doors. I have never heard of the girl but I do not have details yet of where it took place but I assume the insurers would check to see it was the right car etc?

Can anyone advise?

I pick my new car up in the next two days and I am panicking now!

BettyKay
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Comments

  • BettyKay wrote: »
    Hi,

    I received a call from my insurers last week and they informed me someone had made a claim against my insurance, they provided me with the name, asked if i knew her and then if I was in an accident. I said no, as neither me nor my partner had.

    We are looking to buy a new car as we have suffered some cosmetic damage in three places on the vehicle and it is more economic for us (due to extremely high insurance!) that we get an upgrade. All damage was caused by stationary objects (embarrassingly) but I am worried that this will be an issue.

    When calling to cancel my insurance and start my new policy, the insurers informed me that I could leave but I would have to pay the full term of my policy due to the claim! They told me the accident took place claim was recorded at 5.30pm and I was at work until at least 5:30pm the date of the accident.

    I can prove this with CCTV and also my building uses swipe cards to access most doors. I have never heard of the girl but I do not have details yet of where it took place but I assume the insurers would check to see it was the right car etc?

    Can anyone advise?

    I pick my new car up in the next two days and I am panicking now!

    BettyKay

    Is there a reason why you’re cancelling the insurance?
  • tasticz
    tasticz Posts: 774 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    get the footage as proof in case it gets deleted from system...

    If you are not involved ring them weekly telling them the same thing over and over again until they get the msg lol
  • unholyangel
    unholyangel Posts: 16,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Is there a reason why you’re cancelling the insurance?

    Probably something to do with the OP getting a new car.


    OP, presumably what you've told us you've also told your insurers, so what was their response to it? I would expect them to ask you to send any supporting evidence to them and then they'd go to the other sides insurer with it and see what their reply is.

    You can also complain about your insurers (if they don't listen to what you say and try to process the claim) to the financial ombudsman.
    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
  • System
    System Posts: 178,352 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    BettyKay wrote: »
    We are looking to buy a new car as we have suffered some cosmetic damage in three places on the vehicle and it is more economic for us (due to extremely high insurance!) that we get an upgrade. All damage was caused by stationary objects (embarrassingly) but I am worried that this will be an issue.

    How does buying a newer upgraded car save you money?
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just don't tell the insurer your buying a new car because yours has scrapes and damage!!!
    Sounds mighty suspicious
  • AndyMc.....
    AndyMc..... Posts: 3,248 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Probably something to do with the OP getting a new car.


    OP, presumably what you've told us you've also told your insurers, so what was their response to it? I would expect them to ask you to send any supporting evidence to them and then they'd go to the other sides insurer with it and see what their reply is.

    You can also complain about your insurers (if they don't listen to what you say and try to process the claim) to the financial ombudsman.

    Which will need insurance.
  • NBLondon
    NBLondon Posts: 5,701 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I suppose there might be a deal on a new, cheap car that's a much lower insurance group than the existing one (exchange scratched BMW M3 for a new Dacia Duster) and the OP is getting insurance with that deal (so needing to cancel the existing policy).

    But the first point is to challenge the claim by declaring where the car was parked at the time of the alleged accident, neither of the authorised drivers were near it and it was not involved.

    Read the T&C of the policy about cancellation - see if it explicitly says anything about cancelling while a claim is open. You might have to suck that up and then chase them for a refund when the claim is dismissed. Also check the T&C of the new insurance - you might have to declare the pending claim to them as well,

    Could be a genuine mistake by the claimant if they were hit by a similar car or with a similar plate... could be an attempted fraud if they have seen your already-damaged car and are trying to cover up their own damage. The insurance companies should be checking it out - but you may have to push them.
    I need to think of something new here...
  • There could also be someone running around with your reg in fairness. Not had any bus lane fines too?


    Whilst it sounds far fetched my old carlton had its plate cloned and was snapped several times in London bus lanes etc.


    Even though I was 108 miles away and at work.
  • There could also be someone running around with your reg in fairness. Not had any bus lane fines too?


    Whilst it sounds far fetched my old carlton had its plate cloned and was snapped several times in London bus lanes etc.


    Even though I was 108 miles away and at work.

    Hmm same here...Old shape Astra a few years back stopped in liverpool with 2 police vehicles and an armed response team as well...faces were a picture as I slowly stepped from the car with walking sticks and hand supports....my plate had been cloned as well with a drugs and violence marker placed on
    Not quite a newbie as you think ;);) (the member formally known as philnicandamy!)

    FINALLY a qualified CAB debt caseworker 2015..:p
    BSC 58 :D
  • tastyhog
    tastyhog Posts: 860 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    arcon5 wrote: »
    Just don't tell the insurer your buying a new car because yours has scrapes and damage!!!
    Sounds mighty suspicious


    why ever not? any damage inspection will easily flag up the difference between old damage and new, along with damage that matches that of the other parties damaged car.
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