Is This Some Sort Of Scam

[mintymow]

I have been contacted by a company concerning a motor accident over three years ago. I was a passenger. I was not hurt, and neither was anyone else. The driver of the vehicle I was in was blamed for the accident, purely because he had no witness and the driver of the other vehicle, a coach managed to get one of the passengers to give a statement. The coach ran into us. The essence of the phone call is that apparently insurance companies have to set aside a certain amount of money (in this case £2000 to £3000) for, apparently me as a passenger, for any inconvenience however slight. They have no details of the accident, I do not know how they got my mobile number and all I have to do is spend about 15 min on the phone filling out a claim form. All this is supposed to be legal and if I don't claim the money just stays with the insurers. Anybody ever heard of anything like this?

[janbee]

Many of them are scams but if the insurers are detailing that EXACT accident with correct details, then I suppose it's up to you to make a claim. Maybe worth a try, but be careful. It's always a worry though when they have your mob no though. How did they get it?

[Baldric]

///The driver of the vehicle I was in was blamed for the accident, purely because he had no witness///

And you saw nothing?

[grasscarp]

The Association of British Insurers has said that you get contacted because the company has bought your details from a third party.

A multi-million pound referrals system is now in place. Solicitors, recovery companies, courtesy car companies and other motoring-related organisations pay fees to secure business after an accident has taken place.

The referrals system is legal but another leading trade body claims police officers, doctors and nurses are handing over details of accident victims for cash.

This is an illegal practice contravening data protection rules. Their advice is that you should only use the legitimate lines for any financial claim you think you might be due.

________

In your case you were not injured so why get caught up in a fraudulent claim? They are not doing it for nothing and will hope to get some money for themselves out of this.

[janbee]

Minty, this is a bit like marriage or overtaking... i.e. if in doubt, DONT !!

[woofgang]

its a scam. dont touch it with someone elses bargepole

[VHG]

When a person phones you up out the blue you have no idea WHO they are, even if they say they are a claims company.

If you spend 15 minutes on the phone filling out the form then you are giving away loads of personal information (name, address, phone number, who knows what else) that could be used for all sorts of dodgy reasons such as getting out a loan in your name.

I work on the principal that I NEVER deal with anyone who phones me up out the blue.

If you work on the same principle you will never get scammed.

Please don't be gullible.

[mintymow]

Thanks everyone for your answers. I have already put the phone down on them once and will continue to do so on the premise that if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Baldric I saw nothing because we were hit from behind and were stationary.

[grasscarp]

The coach ran into back of you and your driver was blamed! Sounds extraordinary.
By the way a couple of times lately I have had a phone call saying they want to talk about a car accident I have been in. Since last was about 20 years ago I told them to stop making up rubbish.

[factor-fiction]

Yes, whilst details of accidents are sometimes sold on, there's a good chance that the calllers have no information at about any accident and are just fishing