To be a bit suspicious of this...

[goldface]

My car was written off a couple of years ago, v straightforward accident, bloke went in the back of me, his insurance paid up. I have had a call tonight from a company saying I am entitled to category b compensation, apparently money gets put aside for people in accidents where the damage is more than £500. They say cat b is for accidents where you have some discomfort but dont need a dr, time off etc. I had a headache and was a bit shook up (and sad, loved that car) but was off down the park with kids that pm.
So apparently, if I say I had 'discomfort' and go for a brief 'verbal interview' I get between 1 and 3 grand...I told them to ring back cos am feeling a bit iffy about it.....like I say, I was shocked but that was about it...what to do?

I would steer clear, it's because of company's like this that all out premiums are going up. As you said his insurance has already paid up

Do you have the number that called you? Google it and see what comes up but I would be thinking scam to

It's not free compo, we will all pay, including you, in raised insurance costs.
These people are the scum of the earth, don't do it

YANBU. Stay away.

I get texts and emails through all the time saying I am entitled to compensation for my accident. It must have been a really bad accident because I can't remember anything about it at all.

Whoever called you sounds really dodgy, and I'm sure if you lie about your level of suffering you will get some money out of it, while the company claims thousands more in legal costs. I wouldn't do it.

It's bollocks.

These people cold call you. Hoping to hit on the fact you may of had an accident. If you have bingo! They try and get you to claim for personal injury.

Good luck with that. This far down the line with a settlement already, the value of the right off has nothing to do with injury claims. It's all bollocks. It will end up costing you.

Good, we are agreed then! It all felt like pretty unethical bollocks to me!

Emmmmmm I ignore them obviously as you were not injured.

I am still being called about an accident in 2010. Agreed that premuims raise due to this sort of activity and it is disgusting.

I suspect the firms make their money claiming costs whilst the compensation about is far less.

I'd say they are on a fishing trip, trying to get you to make a false claim which ultimately would put up everyones premiums.

I've had a couple of calls and texts about an accident I had a couple of years ago. It was a hit and run, I wasn't hurt so I claimed on my own insurence and reported it to the police who never traced them as I didn't get the full reg before they drove off.

When I mentioned that, they said the Motor Insurence Bureau covers payouts for uninsured drivers, I explained that as the driver fled so they don't cover that scenario. Then they pressed me saying just a quick interview and we can get compensation for you. I asked how if I wasn't hurt and the damage to the car has been paid for?

Well surely you had some after effects? It must have been traumatic? etc etc In the end I said please stop trying to get me to lie!

When they called the second time I said please remove me from your database (nicely I've worked on phone so I know its not the individual callers fault), but the 3rd time in 24 hours I demanded their name, and said if I wasn't removed I'd report them to Ofcom for harrasment as I was getting fed up (Id also had 5 missed calls and 6 texts)

He wad super smarmy and asked me if I was a 'married lady' and said I 'sounded much younger, like a teenager'! Twat. It was at this point that I said I was too busy to talk.

Insurance companies have processes in place to spot fraudulent claims and they report them to the police. People do get prosecuted, which means you'd end up with a criminal record and a fine or prison sentence.

It's a criminal offence. You wouldn't break into someone's house so why would you make a fraudulent insurance claim?

I too have received such emails, calls and texts from companies saying they want to talk to me about compensation for my recent accident.

I haven't been in or had any accidents.

I have had several and the most recent was from After The Event

Woman asks to speak to me and then says in slightly off manner we are speaking to you regarding accident in 2010 with who was injured.

I'm monosybyllic however waiting for their move/intention and just enquire And....?. She's obviously cross with this and asks me again to confirm it was me - I'm non committal and said And? in response to her statement phrased as a question. I get a further statement phrased as a question and respond with And? I'm waiting to hear the point of her call. She then says snottily there is no need to be so rude. I ask how have I been rude. I've said three words. All of them enquiring?

She proceeds to have a go at me

I sigh and say can I have your name and she pauses before reluctantly giving it. I then ask for company name and then ask for phone number which she refuses to give (it's on my caller display anyway...) I ask again and she slams the phone down.

Something not quite ok about this do we think???

actually toothbrushthief, he got a bit snotty with me after a bit, i think cos i kept saying, 'but i wasnt hurt!', and he kept saying, 'but did you have any discomfort?'

dh has pointed out that i went out on the piss with some old mates that night and so any discomfort i may remember is possibly due to that!

DH sounds awesome!

I've had these calls too. DH and the girls were in the car when someone went into them when they were at a red light.

Apparently, even I am entitled to £1-2k, I wasn't even in the car.

I recognise the number on call minder now and don't pick up the phone

I deal with these claims, and can assure you that there is no 'fund' put aside for claims like this. It's all part of the reason insurance premiums are rising, and these claims are fraudulent. You will be expected to go along with the fraud, and if the fraud can be proven, you would be tarred with that along with these scammers. There was an article about one of these companies who turned around and tried to sue the driver who initially went along with it, 'cos they'd dangled the money carrot in his face, but he then had an attack of conscience and backed out (I've tried to find it but not manaaged to so far). The company lost out on the £1140.00 fee they were banking on, and decided to sue him to try and get the money anyway even though the claim was fraudulent and they shouldn't have gotten a penny. Don't do it. They'll be presenting a claim fraudulently on your behalf, and there is a strong possibility that you could end up tied up with a massive fraud which will continue to affect you long into the future on all insurance you take out. Information is exchanged between insurers, and insurers don't take too kindly to people who have been involved in fraud.