ambulance chasers

soolin

I had a car accident last week and a personal injury claim is being handled by my insurers. However, two 'no win no fee' type firms have called me today asking me if I would like them to act on my behalf. Both firms had vague details of the crash, but had my full name, address and ex directory tel number.

My question...how did they get that info. The only two sets of people that know about the accident and have my personal details are my insurance company and the hospital I went to. It doesn't seem likely to be the insurance company as they are already dealing with it, but surely not the NHS?

IT's puzzling me.

Soo

savvy

Can't be sure..................but may it have come from another party involved in the accident???

Mark7799

If your number's ex-directory, did you ask any of them how they got it?

telly-addict

I have heard of informal links (it may even have been on another MSE discussion thread) between the police and uninsured loss recovery agents. The police handing out flyers and that sort of thing.

Not something that I've come across myself, but it's all a little disturbing!

Interested to hear whether anyone else has had a similar experience.

I would be most surprised if it's your insurers. It's not in their interests to be lining the pockets of claimant injury lawyers and inflating their own costs!!

nearlyrich

Do you remember when we were discussingthe accident I said the ambulance chasers put ads on casualty appointments cards ?

Hope you are feeling better Soolin?

Bossyboots

Your details are covered by the Data Protection Act, whoever you have given them to, including the police and therefore should not be released to anyone.

It is a shame you did not ask these people how they got your details as this is a strange development. If anyone else contacts you, can you pretend you might be interested and then ask them how they got the details. Someone spotting the vehicle could get your details from the DVLA by lying about why they need them but that wouldn't give them your telephone number.

Hope you are feeling a bit better. Are you managing to get everything sorted out?

soolin

The police weren't informed so it can't be them. My insurers deny it was them so that really just leaves the NHS.

The ambulance chasers wouldn't tell me who contacted them, they just said their call was 'routine' after any car accident where there was clear fault on the side of one party. I'm just a little irritated that my ex direct number is 'out there' now as I'm very careful with it.

Soo

Bossyboots

Their call is anything but routine as they should not have had your details and the fact that they won't tell you how they got them in my opinion shows they have something to hide.

If it was me, I would contact the hospital then and ask them what is going on. Tell them you have narrowed it down to them and you want an investigation. You are capable of dealing with these people, other less vulnerable might get suckered by them. It is rotten to think that someone in the NHS is using your data in this manner but it does seem from what you say that that is the source.

andyd

Did you have a courtesy car from your insurers? If so, its possible the hire company passed on your details to the solicitors. Or the garage which dealt with the repairs may have links with solicitors.

Bossyboots

andyd wrote:

Did you have a courtesy car from your insurers? If so, its possible the hire company passed on your details to the solicitors. Or the garage which dealt with the repairs may have links with solicitors.

I am sure soolin posted that she was getting a courtesy car so perhaps you have hit the nail on the head. That seems far more likely than someone at the hospital (I hope).

Aren't those details still covered by the Data Protection Act though?

I recently had an accident and am pursuing a PI claim and have had no unsolicited contact. I didn't need a courtesy car so I think you are on the right track.

soolin

andyd wrote:

Did you have a courtesy car from your insurers? If so, its possible the hire company passed on your details to the solicitors. Or the garage which dealt with the repairs may have links with solicitors.

Yes of course, that's the one set of people I hadn't thought of. I have a courtesy car from the 'other' insurer and they have my name address and home phone. I may tackle both them and the NHS then about the data protection act and see what they have to say.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Soo