Personal injury scam?

Jimtheslim

What's this?



I was involved in a non fault collision where someone ran into the back of my car at low speed. I did not report or claim any injury at the time. I remember being able to feel where the seat belt crossed my collarbone but did not claim as i didn't consider it an 'injury'.

The claim was settled over a month ago and I got full insured price for my car and considered that to be the last of it.

I was called today by a company stating that the other party had claimed for minor injuries before it was established to be her fault. These were non visible injuries that they did not seek medical attention for. As she was found to be at fault I have been told that the money set aside for her claim could be mine as it would be expected I would have suffered similar discomfort. Apparently if I choose not to claim it the cheque expires after a year or so.

Is this a scam? The person on the phone was very pushy, trying to reassure me that its just verbal confirmation required that I suffered discomfort and then a courier would come to my house to sign the forms. Then they would contact a solicitor as apparently I need one to receive the cheque. I don't believe that is true. I was very careful not to confirm or to commit to anything but asked for all the information in writing first which they said they would not do unless I first completed the questionnaire over the phone.

I cannot find any info on this on Google as I am just bombarded with personal injury lawyer companies regardless of what I type in. I forget the name of the company but googled the phone number and common consensus is that it is a scam.

Can anyone answer what the process is if the other party claim but then its judged to be their fault? Is it right that there's an assumption I would have the same affliction and therefore entitled to the payout?

They are to call back tomorrow but my gut feeling is to tell them where to go.

Thanks

MovingForwards

It's a common scam, the only way there would be any money available to you is by you submitting a PI claim, going through the process, seeing a doctor and negotiating settlement.

These calls are the new version of 'ive been told you were involved in an accident'.

AdrianC

Yes, it's a scam. It's trying to get you to claim for non-existent injuries, and then they take a cut.

Even if the bit about them claiming was true, there's no "set aside for her claim could be paid to you". That's just bull.

They might have got your number through the insurance claim, or they might just have random-dialed and fished about until somebody said "Oh, yes, the accident I was in last month, where my car was hit from behind...? That one?"

Jimtheslim

I thought as much. The fact they wouldn't submit anything in writing before proceeding with the questionnaire rang alarm bells.

Like I say, I just can't find clarity on Google for all the personal claims ads you end up with.

Also, I'm sure you can claim a cheque without a solicitor!

It's quite convincing however when they were able to lust the other parties details and read out her list of 'injuries'. Would they have been able to find this out or would they have been lying about this?

Worth contacting Action Fraud about?

SHAFT

Jimtheslim wrote: »

I thought as much. The fact they wouldn't submit anything in writing before proceeding with the questionnaire rang alarm bells.

Like I say, I just can't find clarity on Google for all the personal claims ads you end up with.

Also, I'm sure you can claim a cheque without a solicitor!

It's quite convincing however when they were able to lust the other parties details and read out her list of 'injuries'. Would they have been able to find this out or would they have been lying about this?

Worth contacting Action Fraud about?

Not worth bothering them, but if you had the solicitors name it would have been worth contacting the law society. It's not a scam as such but solicitors touting for business.

Mercdriver

Ironically, solicitors are not allowed to solicit business in this way.

Jimtheslim

They said they weren't a solicitor, had some dodgy generic name like A1 car repairs or similar

SHAFT

Jimtheslim wrote: »

They said they weren't a solicitor, had some dodgy generic name like A1 car repairs or similar

They were, but they're not allowed to say they are.

Bigphil1474

OP, expect to get similar calls from similar companies for up to 3 years after the incident. After 3 years, you can't claim, so they stop bugging you about it. Somehow they've got details of the incident and those involved. When you tell this lot to go away, they'll pass the details on to another set of s'bags, rinse and repeat. As Adrian says, they are trying to get you to put in a personal injury claim as it is easy money for them, and you if you are willing to lie. Last time I had an accident, as it was getting to towards the 3 years, I had one company tell me that it didn't matter if I wasn't injured, as nobody could prove it. Of course, ultimately it costs us all if people submit spurious claims.

Herzlos

No insurance company puts money aside for a specific unmade claim - they have a pot to handle any claims that come in, but there'd be no money allocated to you unless you claimed it.


This is a pretty standard scam, making you think you just need to agree verbally to get the cheque.
The quickest way to kill it off is to say "Excellent, post me the cheque then" and hang up.