Insurance scam that wasn't... GRRRR

[bascule]

>:(

Insurance tale: Part 1.

So I received a large number of calls from a company I'd never heard of, wanting me to respond with all my details about the car accident you had last month.

(For reference: I have not had an accident.)

I also received a letter asking for me to contact them about it. I took one of the calls, and they straight away wanted personal info, and wouldn't discuss the alleged incident until I'd proved who I was. (Not falling for that one - it was a short conversation).

At the point where the calls were coming every few hours, frustration lead me to google these scammers.. and then it got interesting, as they're a genuine insurer and the phone numbers all match up. A little more research, and it turns out that my own RAC insurance was underwritten by this company. Huh - who knew?.
A further call to them, and yes - they're my own insurer (oops!) and yes, there's a claim against me, for an accident I had last month on the M27 - the other party being a Nissan Navara. 

Well thats wierd, as I've not had an accident. I do use the M27, but not on a workday. Protesting innocence (and getting that whole feeling of not being believed), I push for more details.. and finally find out that the damage was caused when a large trailer I was apparently towing, lost a wheel which caused extensive damage to said Nissan. Huh.

Again, I don't possess a trailer, and haven't towed one in a long time. More protestations of innocence were basically met with 'Well its up to you to prove otherwise if you dispute this but we still need to proceed with the claim etc' - so thats fun, as the X5 does have a towbar and how do you prove you didn't tow a trailer?

An epiphany moment suggested that if they got the number from the anywhere it would be the trailer not the car.. could there be a trailer somewhere with my number plate on it? Hang on - I bought the car last year from a chap who had just retired and sold his business, which was a garage in Sussex.. Called him and asked the question.. "Oh yes, there was a large trailer we used to tow, but that went to the brother in law, I'm sure he changed the plate, why do you ask?...."

Explained the insurance query and he was horrified, and yes of course I'll get all the details for you.. Which was the next issue, cos this other chap is going to have to a) accept liability and b) presumably be in trouble for using the wrong plate and c) for not stopping at an accident... and then it all went quiet..

Fortunately, I've now received an email with the name, address and registration of the brother in laws car which was towing said trailer at the time.. All I have to do now is convince my insurers that it wasn't me, was nothing to do with me, and please don't hold this against me!! watch this space..

Also - if you sell a trailer or anything else with your number plate on, REMOVE the plate! And lesson learned -  if you buy a car with a towbar, make sure anything with your plate on has been sorted...

[Alan Gunn]

Is the address of the brother in law far from you.
I would take a camera along and picture everything on his drive if the trailer was there.
You get what i mean.

[X5Sport]

Several years ago we traded in a Seat Leon with personalised plates but transferred the registration over to the new car. The plates were held with some evil tape and they said that they would remove them before the old car went on the forecourt.

Two weeks later we drove past and the car was on the forecourt and still had the plates on it.  A ‘deep and meaningful discussion took place with the Dealer Principal!  It turned out someone was about to buy the car and registration.  They were very disappointed.