Must Be Trying It On

[SpikeyBush]

Had a call at work today from a solicitor asking for my motor insurance details. Someone is looking to claim against me for personal injury. I don't know where they got my details from because I have never heard of them and did not have a car crash on the date they allege the incident took place. What do you suggest I do? Doing nothing and burying my head in the sand is not an option as I would only be found guilty in my absence of something I haven't done. I stalled the solicitor and haven't yet divulged my insurance details as I am smelling a big fat rancid rat.

[douglas9401]

I had the same kind of call on Friday morning and after a few 'what crash' and 'which street' questions they skulked back to their cave of lies and deceit to look for another sap willing to play their phishing game.
If you've done nothing wrong and not had an accident there can be no evidence, no crime, no injury so relax and get on with your life.

[jno]

you might want to ask for the solicitors' own details.

[Buenchico]

You can't be 'found guilty' in a civil action.

Your name can only have come to the attention of the solicitor if either
(a) a person involved in an accident gave your name and address instead of his own ; or
(b) far more likely, the DVLA has been asked to disclose the registered owner of a vehicle with your car's number plate.

In the case of (b), that could have occurred because
(i) the other driver involved in the accident wrote the number down incorrectly ; or
(ii) the solicitor or the DVLA have made a typo at some stage ; or
(iii) your car's number plates have been cloned and a vehicle carrying your car's registration was actually involved in an accident (even though it wasn't your car).

Wait until you receive something in writing. Once you've got the details of the alleged accident, try to work out whether you can prove that you were somewhere else at the time (e.g. because you were giving a speech to several hundred people, or simply clocked in at work). If you think it's possible that your number plates have been cloned, inform the police and get a crime reference number (so that you can provide it to the solicitor and, if necessary, to a court). Write to your insurer to tell them that a false claim is being made against you. Then wait to see what happens next.

[Davemano]

How on earth can you be found guilty of something you haven't done. If you have not been in an accident you appear to be worrying unduly and just ignore it.

[Davemano]

Buenchico gives better advice.

[rockyracoon]

How did they get your phone number?

[Zacs-Master]

It’s a phishing call. Just ignore it.

[vulcan42]

My first thought was to tell the solicitor to contact my insurance company but then I wondered would they have just given my details instead of querying it?

[Zacs-Master]

Solicitors are, quite rightly, already banned from making personal injury claims calls

http://www.beckettandco.co.uk/claims-calls-banned/

[EcclesCake]

If you haven't had an accident and they are reluctant to provide specific details it is quite simple to ask them to write to you with full information so you can pass to your solicitor. If they have your work phone number then 'obviously' they have your home address too.

No disrespect Ferlew, but I am astonished by how many folk are alarmed by such calls.

They are just preying on the vulnerable, my Dad was one. They know all the physycological ways of getting into your head. Just remember you know you haven't had an accident.

[SPARKPLUGZ]

Scam! My 10 year old got a text with about the same content. Give nothing out,if they are serious they will send you a letter (not email)

[Davemano]

I think it must be a not very pleasant joke by somebody who knows you or how would anybody else know you or where you worked.

[SPARKPLUGZ]

One word Dave FaceBook!

[murraymints]

I , as others have said, would ignore and await anything in writing..which will ,in all probability, not appear.

[Zacs-Master]

Never heard of LinkedIn? It’s like Facebook for businesses.

[Prudie]

It's depressing that some horrible people wake up in the mornings with these calls as their job of the day.

[Davemano]

SPARKPLUGZ, probably, but there is nothing on my Facebook pages which gives my work and home details, maybe others have let their details be known. Thanks for your response.

[Prudie]

i'm on Linkedin but you can only contact others via email.

[Peter Pedant]

tell them to write
and specify the info they want

have you had a return number ?

You need the written details because in the event of an accident you should have stopped and swapped and given info
and bleating down the phone - I didnt know! I didnt know!
would not be enough

and yes it sounds like a scam

[Peter Pedant]

This happened after I sold a car on
some years ago but the rules have changed

i sold a car to X garage who sold it to Y ( possibly an employee) who ran over C the claimant - and both X and Y hadnt done the paperwork so C's solicitor fingered me - at a time that I didnt have the car - didnt have title, didnt have possession or control and wasnt insured.....
but I had... done the paperwork and I had informed the DVLA it was out of my possession ( receipt included ) and got a reply

so yeah - how had they got my address.... ?
X insisted his paperwork was up to date but as I said to the police
"I dont think it can be."