Suspicious Insurance Claim?

follow on 06/11/2017 - 23:56

Parents rear ended car. They're at fault. When I went to claim for them, everything was fine, until the next day. Insurance called to say that they had only started insurance a few days before so they're saying something's dodge.

Thing is, it was switched from commercial to private, gap being about a month and a half in between of no insurance. When I cancelled, I guess I told them I planned on selling, but don't recall. I I only put insurance as I was bringing it to a cleaner and he offered to bring and drop off, but I declined later. Also, I personally had a not at fault insurance claim with same company.

They've been asked to come in for an interview, can anyone suggest what to do? Everything is above board, it's just this insurer may have seen the son had claimed before a few months back. It was quite a hassle, I just don't want to get make a mistake.

Automotive

Comments

  • Randxyz123 on 07/11/2017 - 00:20

    Parents rear ended car. They're at fault. When I went to claim for them

    Did you claim saying it was them? Not sure why you were calling not them or did you translate for them or something…?

    Insurance called to say that they had only started insurance a few days before so they're saying something's dodge.

    gap being about a month and a half in between of no insurance.

    Well yeah… I'm sure people would have accidents then sign up for insurance and say it happened a week later.

    Thing is, it was switched from commercial to private

    So business to private? Is that what you mean?

    • follow on 07/11/2017 - 02:12

      I called them, passed it to them to give me authorisation then talked to them. It was just easier that way.

      Yep business to private

  • Xiaomi on 07/11/2017 - 01:35
    +9

    The issue when people post problems such as this is OP explains the details, like they are explaining it to themselves whom already understands the situation.

    We do not understand the situation. I would love to give advice, I work for [removed] (large insurance company) but the information you've provided is too scarce.

    • follow on 07/11/2017 - 02:15

      I'll try to make simpler.

      Parents terminate insurance (commercial) month and half ago. Mentioned something about possibly selling car.

      Parents start insurance again, this private. 1 week ago.

      3 days later, car crash ensues. Parents at fault.
      It is a small bump on their car, but other car needs repairs

      Insurance is suspicious, and asked to come to interview. Should I bring lawyer or something?

      • AdosHouse on 07/11/2017 - 02:21
        +3

        I don't get what the insurance company's problem is? Couldn't they just ask the other party the date and time it happened, and cross reference it to when the policy was purchased?

        • follow on 07/11/2017 - 02:39

          Yes they could do that. Don't know why they haven't

      • Xiaomi on 07/11/2017 - 02:22
        +1

        There are several alarm bells. The big question the insurance company will be asking is why you've cancelled the commercial to seek private insurance.

        Secondly, why was there such a large gap between cancellation (5 week prior), and a new policy? The third is within 3-4 days of the new policy there has been a claim.

        A few questions:

        What is the rough total claim amount?
        Are you and the third party known to each other? Friends, family member, friends of friends?
        Was the vehicle being used for commercial use, when the accident occured?

        • follow on 07/11/2017 - 02:38

          Switched to private as they have a different work car now and use the old one for occasional trip while the other car is at work.

          I was meant to put through the new insurance for them but got lazy and forgot about it. I was heading to a detailer, so I thought just in case put through insurance. I actually put third party first and a minute later did comprehensive and didn't cancel third party as I forgot.

          I don't have a figure but I'm guessing 1000 for my car maybe 2000 theirs? The rear bumper just has dents afaik.

          No connection whatsoever with other party.

          Vehicle was being used to drop off person to school.

        • Xiaomi on 07/11/2017 - 02:43

          @ZubatRingo: You will be fine as long as TP coincides with your statement of events ie, the date and time are correct.

        • follow on 07/11/2017 - 02:50

          @XioamiGuy: should I attend interview, if yes, should I bring lawyer?

        • Xiaomi on 07/11/2017 - 03:06
          +1

          @ZubatRingo: I cannot advise you overall on what you should and should not be doing. What I can say, is if a customer is prepared to pay, and bring forward a lawyer for an interview their claiming innocents for, why do they require a lawyer?

        • follow on 07/11/2017 - 03:10

          @XioamiGuy: hmmmm I was thinking along the lines of not getting pushed around. I had a headache claim when I was not at fault I guess I'll just call legal aid for advice instead of bringing along a lawyer.

          Thanks for your help!

  • herysoe on 07/11/2017 - 02:06
    +1

    I don't even know how to read this story, from beginning to end or reverse. Getting me confused..LOL

  • Euphemistic on 07/11/2017 - 07:06
    +1

    If it is legit there should be no issue, but it sounds almost exactly like the 'classic' insurance scam.
    1. Get a car
    2. insure it.
    3. Get a 'friend' to crash into it in a minor way (rear ender is usual).
    4. Bogus insurance claim for whiplash and extra car repairs.

    Typically this also occurs with a group of people of non English speaking background, which also sounds very much like OP.

    • follow on 07/11/2017 - 08:12

      The car was in possession for 15 years most of which has insurance under same company. Use the car for business for over a year under commercial. Stopped using it and went to private.

      • Euphemistic on 07/11/2017 - 11:22
        +1

        Seem to have missed the point. This incident has been identified as fitting a profile, they need to investigate to make sure it is not fraud. If it is legit, there should be nothing to worry about and the insurance will find the same. If it is not legit, they wont pay.

        • follow on 07/11/2017 - 11:31

          Yeah I get wat ya saying now.

  • smashed on 07/11/2017 - 07:36

    This just sounds so vague for a reason to keep it off the road for over a month.. "Mentioned something about possibly selling car."

    How much is the car worth? What is it?

    You probably fit a profile (e.g. suburb, age, etc).

    • follow on 07/11/2017 - 08:14

      They brought up selling car bit, when asking for interview. Under commercial insurance it was valued at 17000 but when I switched to private it went to 10000.

      • altomic on 07/11/2017 - 09:22

        15 year old car

  • Godric on 07/11/2017 - 10:25

    wot

  • HighAndDry on 07/11/2017 - 10:35

    Yeah on the facts - that sounds like an OBVIOUS insurance scam.

    "Looking to sell car" = wanting to get rid of the car.

    "Bought insurance recently" = suspicious.

    Etc. That's why they're picking on you/your parents. Nothing out of the ordinary from the insurance company really.

    • follow on 07/11/2017 - 11:19
      +1

      Looking to sell car bit was an off the cuff reason for cancelling insurance. they said "thinking of".

      They had insurance for years under same company. Had commercial for a year and a bit, cancelled, then went to private.

      • HighAndDry on 07/11/2017 - 11:34
        +1

        Yeah but the insurance company doesn't know those details. All they can see is what I listed above. Just go into the interview, tell them the facts. If you're not being dodgy, you've got nothing to fear really.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/11/2017 - 10:52

    still sounds like ur using the car for commercial purposes but you changed to private to save money. If that's the case ur insurance is void.

    • follow on 07/11/2017 - 11:16

      that's not the case. under commercial in can be claimed for tax. private it cant. so technically its costing more.

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