Off Topic Insurance scam?

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Off Topic Insurance scam?

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Mar 26, 2008
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Fleet, Hampshire
Today I've got a call from an unknown number -'First response' or 'Accident response' or something similar and the woman had all my details (without any help from me) and had details of an accident from almost 2 years ago saying that 'there has been money put aside for me for my discomfort'. When I said that I wasn't hurt in the accident (which was no fault of my own and the other persons insurance payed fully for the repair of my car) she kept mentioning some 'invisible bruising' and that there will be a cheque in the post from the other party's insurance. She even got her manager to try to talk me into accepting this preposterous claim! As I don't believe you can get something for nothing, I suspect that 'First response' or whatever go through old cases and look for people who didn't claim for whiplash or similar and try on 'no win, no fee' basis. I blame the Americans! Although I like 'free' money as much as the next man, I don't believe in claiming compensation for 'invisible bruising' from probably already high-sky insurance of a 20 year old girl who rear ended me in her T-reg Punto! (which was a wright off btw)

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to know if anyone else got similar calls and was I right in my assessment of the mysterious goodwill company ...

P.S I told them to call back on Monday after 'I speak to my husband' (obviously I'm married to the FF:))... but I'm inclined to refuse as I believe in Karma... Any thoughts from you lot? (Robin?)
 
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They are sharks.....

My mum and sister were hit by a car on a zebra earlier in the year and in under 12 hours the phone started ringing......

By this time the only people who had our details were Humberside Police and The Ambulance crew who came to the incident,

The driver didn't take them,

The police officer went off duty as he left our house at gone midnight having taken 4 statements,

And got back in touch with the drivers details after the call from the vultures..





Likewise when i was involved as a passenger in a 3 car RTC i only gave my details to the ambulance service (i was not injured but groped for neck injury) and i was chased for 3 fing years on my mobile no matter how abusive i got they still kept ringing :bang: :bang: :bang:

Somewhere in the emergency services someone is giving "our" details out (n)
 
Today I've got a call from an unknown number -'First response' or 'Accident response' or something similar and the woman had all my details (without any help from me) and had details of an accident from almost 2 years ago saying that 'there has been money put aside for me for my discomfort'. When I said that I wasn't hurt in the accident (which was no fault of my own and the other persons insurance payed fully for the repair of my car) she kept mentioning some 'invisible bruising' and that there will be a cheque in the post from the other party's insurance. She even got her manager to try to talk me into accepting this preposterous claim! As I don't believe you can get something for nothing, I suspect that 'First response' or whatever go through old cases and look for people who didn't claim for whiplash or similar and try on 'no win, no fee' basis. I blame the Americans! Although I like 'free' money as much as the next man, I don't believe in claiming compensation for 'invisible bruising' from probably already high-sky insurance of a 20 year old girl who rear ended me in her T-reg Punto! (which was a wright off btw)

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to know if anyone else got similar calls and was I right in my assessment of the mysterious goodwill company ...

P.S I told them to call back on Monday after 'I speak to my husband' (obviously I'm married to the FF:))... but I'm inclined to refuse as I believe in Karma... Any thoughts from you lot? (Robin?)
Lead them on, find them a book of truly terrible poetry and read it out to them every time they call.
 
Right well I think it is these people: http://www.accidentfirstresponse.co.uk/.

Slightly different to "First Response" incidentally which is this:
TB_MC_FirstResponse.jpg


Anyway, they are "claims managers" (polite term) or "claims farmers" (marginally less polite term) and they only deal in "ULR" - uninsured loss recovery. In other words they help people recover losses they suffer when they have an accident that is not their fault.

Sounds all well and good but they are NOT solicitors and they CANNOT take a claim to court. To do that they have to appoint solicitors. So, you may ask (if you are smart), why don't I just go direct to a solicitor? And my answer would be of course you should just go to a solicitor.

These people are simply intermediaries who sit between a client and a law firm getting paid referral fees by the lawyers. Referral fees have now been banned but they will of course still be getting paid somehow. You may say that that makes them parasitic scumbags, but I couldn't possibly comment.

Finally, Mel is of course right not to claim for invisible bruising or late onset whiplash. Bringing such a claim would not only be conspiracy to commit fraud, it would also potentially involve perjury. For which you normally go to prison.

Now some good news, if Mel feels like doing anything about this. Claims management companies are regulated these days, by the Ministry of Justice. And Accident First Response is an Authorised Business, which will be pretty important to them. See: https://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/search.aspx?search=simple&business=Accident+first+Response&authID=&sector=-1&county=-1&status=-1.

However, if they are encouraging people to bring fraudulent claims, then their authorisation is likely to get revoked if enough people do something about it. So, Mel, you might want to make some notes when they call you back (confirming their business name, the caller's name, and what exactly they say you can claim for) with a view to reporting them. You can contact the Claims Management Regulator here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/cmr.
 
When I receive unsolicited sales calls in the evening now, I have adopted a new tactic. When I pick up the phone the caller usually asks to speak to Mr / Mrs Blogs, I say 'Sure, if you care to hold, I'll just go fetch him / her'. I then put the phone down and leave it for 5-10 mins (preferably next to the TV or radio) while I go and do something else. They are invariably gone by the time you come back.
 
Robin, thanks for your invaluable input. I might pursue your recommended course of action if they keep calling, or I just do what Stu said :devil: I think that £10 pounds for premium phone sounds like money well spent. Thanks all (y)

I believe you have to be a business or operating a service before you can legally get a premium rate number. So be careful lol.
 
Why :confused:

Just checked with the old man (ex Telecom) and he's confirmed anyone can have one (at a cost).

That is my understanding of it too. If you are a residential customer and you are not operating a company from the address that phone number is assigned to and you are not offering a service, the regulator cannot enforce anything on you. I'm sure someone out there will be able to either verify or debunk it.

Easiest thing to do if you're not scared of worrying about whether that call 'might have been important' is to just let the phone ring and go to answerphone. I do this all the time now, I never answer it. A quick 1471 often reveals a number and if you check it out on whocallsme.com it will often reveal a number that has been complained about numerous times. Fact is, if the person who called me thinks they need to speak to me, they'll leave a message, but 9 times out of ten, they never do. If they've withheld their number, then they don't deserve my attention anyway, especially if they can't be bothered to leave a message.
 
When I receive unsolicited sales calls in the evening now, I have adopted a new tactic. When I pick up the phone the caller usually asks to speak to Mr / Mrs Blogs, I say 'Sure, if you care to hold, I'll just go fetch him / her'. I then put the phone down and leave it for 5-10 mins (preferably next to the TV or radio) while I go and do something else. They are invariably gone by the time you come back.
That's a good idea. Although an even better one, if you own one, is to turn on a suitable amp, plug in a guitar, whap up the volume and gain and play. Even a 15 watt amp can be deafening when used in a small room such as a spare bedroom or lounge.

http://www.marshallamps.com/product.asp?productCode=DSL15C

http://www.laney.co.uk/products/product_details/77

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Dot.aspx

Although a premium rate phone number may be cheaper.
 
i just have conversations with the people. there happy because it looks like to there boss there working. haha
If I have a minute or ywo spare at the time they call, and I am in the mood, I decide to reply in the same accent as the caller (well to the best of my ability anyway) and act like a complete numpty who has never had such a call before, sounding interested.
So recently I have been Scottish, a Geordie, a Scouser, Indian, Chinese / Far Eastern.
It's great fun until they realise you are taking the p so they hang up.
Then I get a blast from Mrs Codger :(
 
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