Odd one I'd like your opinions/experience on.

[Paul.M]

Ah, but you're forgetting the involvement of insurance companies and the "where there's blame there's a claim" culture.

Absolutely correct. Your insurance company will decide if it is cheaper for them to investigate or just pay out.

How much damage have you "caused"?

I bet it less than £1500 and that your insurance company will pay them which puts a fault claim against your driving history for 3 years. Premiums are going up mate.

Contest it from the start, save yourself a lot of money in the long run.

 

[Paul.M]

Ok we posted at the same time.

Pm sent to you.

 

[Marvo]

I'm not speaking from experience or from a particularly informed position and I'm not saying don't inform your insurance company but I would still get a police incident number for a suspected fraudulent insurance claim report first and hand that on to the insurance company at the same time.

 

[imago]

An update for those inquiring minds interested in the saga.

I had another call from the company this afternoon, a bloke left a message to ring him back, so I did. Apparently "one of your vans hit one of our insured fleet cars and just drove off." I pointed out that wasn't true, and that I would vigorously defend my statement of innocence. "In that case we'll report it and go down that route." When I pointed out he said they already had informed the Police so the was no alternative he said they'd filled in an accident report form but not submitted it I basically said carry on then mate. Apparently it happened at 06:45 and the car was a Peugeot 207 which has quite a bit of rear end damage. Yet there's not a (new) mark on my van.

I rang my insurance co when I got home and they were very helpful. They've put a note on the file but not raised a claim so that my premium will remain unaffected until/unless the other companies insurance contact them. They thanked me for letting them know, and commented that it all sounded very strange.

Then I rang West Mids Police non-emergency line. Another very helpful sole at the other end pointed out that it hasn't been reported as yet, and if it was reported now they'll do nothing as a) it's more than 24 hours since the incident and b) no one was injured. So they'd advise the person reporting to contact their insurance and that would be that as far as the Police were concerned. She went on to say that it all sounded very fishy, questions such as why ring you and not the police and or the insurance? Why wait 36 hours to do anything at all? Why ring me again instead of reporting it? She commented that you'd have to be "a complete fool" to try and drive off in a big white van with your company name, phone numbers and registration on display. "Especially when I can see that you're fully insured and the vehicle is taxed and MOT'd."

She advised me that I should drop into a Police station tomorrow, report the non-accident, fill in a form and get a log number. As I was only given the full details today, I have 24 hours in which to report the matter. She said that as far as Police involvement goes I will then be completely in the clear. She also said that it would look good with the insurance company that I had taken all reasonable steps to report and photgraph the vehicle.

So I'll visit the local constabulary tomorrow and do the paperwork. Then sit back and see what if anything hapens.

 

[telectrix]

but can you remember where you were at 6.45 that day? if so, find out where the aleged accident supposedly occurred. sounds like , as has been said, one of their employees is trying it on.

 

[baldelectrician]

Have a look at the area where they said it happened- if there is CCTV you can do a SAR (Subject Access Request) for the info on the cameras.
This is useful if the cameras are publically owned and you have info to back yourself up if it goes further

 

[imago]

They didn't say where it happened, but I do know where I was all day Friday. Home to Harbourne, Harbourne all day, then back home again.

 

[imago]

So, "incident" date 20th of April. Since then my van has been inspected, the Police have no record of or interest in, the alleged incident, many letters have been recieved and replied to, and god knows how many phone calls. I have not wavered in my position and I wrote to the insurance company threatening action against anyone who failed to show due dilligence by investigating a fraudulent claim.

In todays post I recieved a letter from my insurance company dated 23rd of November, almost to the day Seven months from the supposed accident.
"On recieving your letter I made contact with the other party's solicitors for some more information. They have advised me that their file is now closed. It would seem that their client is no longer pursuing a claim and therefore we have closed our claim and allowed your No Claims Bonus."

 

[netblindpaul]

Can you not now get them to investigate the possible fraud, whether it be the Police or the Insurance Co. and put in a claim for your expenses/lost time?

 

[imago]

I doubt the insurance company would be interested as it's too much time and hassle for them, and the same goes for the Police. If I'm honest I got over the indignation some time ago so I don't think I could be bothered with another round of letter writing, emails and phone calls myself.

The best I can hope for is that either Karma, or some of the curses I made take care of the scrote.

 

[Marvo]

I would be furious but to prove intent to defraud in a court of law would be a tall ask and would probably involve throwing good money after bad. If you want to get even you might find some tips on this guy's blog site.

 

[topcat]

sorry to hear about your problem a mate had the same problem took ages to sort hope you dont have the problem again.

 

[imago]

I was absolutely outraged six months ago, now though I'm taking a more philosophical (lazy) approach. I just have more imoprtant/interesting things to do with my time.

 

[baldelectrician]

I have a tracker in my van- very useful to say when and where your van is

 

[imago]

I have a tracker in my van- very useful to say when and where your van is

It wouldn't have helped in this case. I was on the road in question at roughly the time in question. Their 'evidence' was my company name (on the side of the van in foot high letters) a description of the van (seven feet high and white), my reg number and my phone number (six inches high on the side of the van). That's it, that was the 'evidence' that I had hit the car! Half of Birmingham could have the same information.

Anyway, it's done with now, but I may well invest in one of those road angel cameras that record journeys for future reference.