Is anyone watching the Channel 4 prog about Norwich Union claims investigators?

mattymoo

One thing the programme didn't touch on is the effect of fraudulent claims in your immediate area. Quite a few interviewees mentioned "everyone is at it around here" or words to that effect.
When setting postcode ratings for car and home insurance, the insurers are largely guided by their previous loss histories for that area. The fraudulent claims will give a false, exagerated incidence rate / claim cost and push up the premium for everyone else on that street / estate.

ixwood

Out of curiousity, will it affect the dodgy couples future insurance? I'd guess NU would spread the word and no one will go near them again?

Browntoa

yes, the investigation team did say that, "if they have car, buildings, contents etc with us then we would cancel ALL their policies with us"

he also went on to say that if you then lied on applying with a new firm to the question about "have you ever had insurance refused" then in the event of a claim they would check , then cancel your insurance

margaretclare

I watched this programme and thought it was very interesting.

Although I've never been tempted to claim for a 'lost' piece of jewellery that wasn't lost, I wonder how many of us might think of putting the highest price on whatever we'd lost - they don't like that either!

I've only once in my life had to claim against insurance - it was a house fire, the loss adjuster came round and we were paid in full. For which, thank goodness! I've heard of too many people who had a fire and lost everything because paying for contents insurance was not a high priority in their budget.

I also - from bitter experience - feel very strongly about life assurance, especially if you have a spouse/partner and kids.

Margaret

nej

We were burgled last year and had a lot of high-value electricals taken (games consoles, laptop, cameras etc) and some cash and some jewellery (my wife's engagement and wedding rings which was really upsetting).

Luckily we had proof of purchase for most of it, either a receipt or a box or a photograph that happened to have the item in it so we were okay and our claim was settled in full. But I couldn't help but wonder if we had a house fire that the proof would have been destroyed and what would have happened then?

mattymoo

Generally with house fires, the damage is limited to one or two rooms because the brigade turn out and chuck water everywhere. The only ones that burn to the ground completely tend to be large country mansions with timber floors and wall panels.

Even with only one or two rooms damaged, the entire contents of the house tend to be lost due to smoke contamination. It is quite easy then for the loss adjusters to see what was what and verify the claim.

Even items that are badly charred / distorted by heat are usually recognisable to an extent. For instance, it is easy to tell the difference between a plasma and an old CRT tv.

Finally, fire claims are rarely fraud related (in private houses anyway) because of the upheaval caused.

margaretclare

Yes, the house where we had the fire was a 3-storey pair of weavers' cottages in the Pennines, we had a big farmhouse-style living kitchen on the bottom floor and that was completely gutted by fire, but obviously, stone walls don't burn! The other 2 floors above were all smoke-damaged, however, and the loss adjuster allowed us to claim for industrial cleaners to come in and clean all the walls.

It was a right job, however, having to re-wash all the clean clothes, sheets, towels etc that had been in drawers, wardrobes, airing-cupboards, because everything absolutely stank of smoke.

Margaret

DaisyFlower

Missed the first 15 minutes but managed to catch the rest. Churchill must be very confident that the claim was fraud re the couple at the end to cancel a claim of that size and nature. Would have like to seen more re the mass motor scam though.

It wouldn't put me off insuring with Norwich Union at all, all insurance companies investigate fraud and so they should otherwise premiums would be too costly.

Sad I know, but would have loved this to have been running for a few weeks to see more investigations and outcomes etc.

emmy05

yes, i watched this and loved it, i was quite shocked as to what lengths ppl will go to, saying the dogs died and then selling it on was a nasty thing to do.
i do wonder though, why insurance companies dont visit properties beforehand, i only think this way, cos id hate to have to make a claim and try to convince them that i need money for somethng thats been stolen, or breaks, and they then query it....
my mum keeps her washing machine and dryer out in the garage, shes already told them this, as her kitchen really isnt big enough to have a utility that shed like, theyre happy with this, shes had it this way for 16 yrs now and not a problem, what stumped me was the fact that that old couple - she said she had a fridge, then a freezer, and a dryer, i wonder why someone would wash their clothes in the kitchen, then walk into the garden to use the dryer? but thats just my opinion of course lol
is this program on again do you know?

feesh

I'm glad I started this thread, it's been interesting reading.

I didn't realise people went to such extents to rip off insurance companies - I just assumed that if you don't have a receipt, you can't claim for it, which is one of the reasons I keep the receipts for everything we buy.

I've never made an insurance claim, apart from the operation I had under my company's private healthcare policy, and I have started to wish I could have gone NHS instead, as it has been a horrible experience dealing with the insurance company. I have felt like they were trying everything possible to limit the amount they paid out and when you feel quite emotional about things, it's not a very nice experience to have to defend things which are out of your control and to try and be careful what language you use in case you say something that they can use against your claim.

On balance though, I do think it's good that they are so vigilant with household and motoring claims.