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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is just stealing.

155 replies

Parrotmore · 23/03/2016 11:08

A couple I know have be redecorating their front room and have been looking at new furniture so the husband purposely knocked paint off the top of his ladder splashing over the sofa, the tv, carpet and some oft he units.
They have claimed and been given Harvey's vouchers to use to replace it all.
Plus the company replaced the tv but as theirs wasn't like for like (old model) they got the newer model.
This is just fraud right??
I'm really disgusted by this and now my opinion of them is that they are just liars.
They think everybody does it and I'm sensitive but I don't think I am.
So Ainu to feel this way. I now wouldn't trust them at all.

OP posts:
JessTitchener · 23/03/2016 11:48

I had to make a (genuine) claim a couple of years ago as our TV was broken in an accident.

It was all done over the phone but over the course of a fortnight I had to explain how it had happened to three different people on three separate occasions.

I assume this was in case they could catch me out in a lie but I've never made a claim before so maybe it's standard practice.

I agree that it's theft to claim fraudulently, I was surprised at the amount of people who told me that I should claim for other stuff at the same time.

It's one of those (like shoplifting) that's seen as a 'victimless crime' but we all end up paying for it.

angielou123 · 23/03/2016 11:53

That's awful. Blatant fraud, and the reason the rest of us have to pay so much. I'm not sure I would have been able to hold my mouth when he told me so well done for that. I would not associate with them any further.

Realfootyfan · 23/03/2016 11:57

I was driven into while stationary in a car park and afterwards had a number of legal firms ring me up. Apparently the car repairers sell on information. I went mad because I didn't want to make a false claim for the very reason pps have mentioned: it's stealing, fraud and it puts up everyone's insurance premiums. Are you a bit tempted OP to shop these individuals. I know it's a difficult one because it's so ingrained not to be a snitch but really these people are doing it knowingly, it's not an accident that they're exaggerating, it's a predetermined fraud. Makes me seethe.

holdonfor1moreday · 23/03/2016 11:57

This is fraud and pushes us the prices for the rest of us.

legotits · 23/03/2016 11:58

I know someone like this, their solution is always something dodgy or on the fringe of legal.

In my opinion they don't benefit any because the constant hassle and finding of dodgy Ness takes loads of time and stress.

As my beloved Nannan would say...
Fuck that, if it's meant for me it'll find me.
Smile

WellTidy · 23/03/2016 12:04

PIL were burgled once, and had jewellery stolen. Their policy only allowed them to be paid out in vouchers for Links of London. The jewellery in there is incredibly pricey, incredibly so, for what you get. I do think you have to look in detail at the policy wording on paying out.

Grilledaubergines · 23/03/2016 12:05

The whiplash thing makes me so damn angry. A woman drove into me, whilst on her mobile. Luckily very slow speed. No damage to either car. Police happened to go past and stop to see was everything ok. The officer asked 'are either of you injured?' Naively but honestly I said ' God no, there was no speed, just a bit shaken'. Other driver, well I could see the lightbulb moment in her head, grabbed her neck and talked of whiplash. Officer rolled his eyes. I rolled my eyes.

Yup, she claimed her standard £1,500 whiplash pay out from my insurance, who despite knowing she was at fault and having details of the officers who attended and therefore the ability to gain infornation, could not be arsed to fight my corner and paid out for ease. Doubling my insurance.

And I discovered she's a Forever Living rep. Which just adds to the injustice.

LurkingHusband · 23/03/2016 12:05

This is why insurers scour Facebook, Mumsnet, and other social media ...

splendide · 23/03/2016 12:06

It's a really stupid thing to do because if they're caught it invalidates all their insurance and will make it basically impossible to get any in the future.

I remember seeing on TV a couple who lost everything in a flood and put in a mostly valid claim but were caught out in a lie about a relatively small item. They got nothing from the insurers at all.

User543212345 · 23/03/2016 12:13

My sister and her boyfriend do this and don't get me started on her bragging about "playing the system" to get free computing stuff from uni - most recently they decided they wanted a new laptop, which they couldn't afford, so claimed "the cat knocked it off the table" so have a shiny new one. They're very proud of themselves for "winning" and brag to all and sundry about how they got away with it. It makes me so angry because it affects all of us in increased premiums.

LurkingHusband · 23/03/2016 12:18

invalidates all their insurance and will make it basically impossible to get any in the future.

The problem is (as with most things) the scum people who do this don't really care. Now I couldn't give a toss if they can't insure their own shit. But I do care that these are the sort of scum people who will charge around in uninsured cars.

It's axiomatic. People who break one law, tend to break a lot. Which is why when police used to stop for no/out of date tax, they would almost invariably discover no MOT and no insurance. And no licence wasn't unheard of either.

Roussette · 23/03/2016 12:18

I hope beyond all hope they get caught. I think it's absolutely disgusting. And when genuine people want to make a claim, they are questioned like the gestapo. It is so unfair.

I've not claimed on house/contents ever and my premium just goes up and up because of no-marks like these people. The genuine and innocent people just get penalised because of behaviour like this and to be honest I would shop them.

KathyBeale · 23/03/2016 12:23

As well as increasing everyone else's premiums though, doesn't it massively increase your own?

We had a flood in our bathroom and I rang our insurance company to see if it was worth claiming for the damage to our ceiling and paint work. They were very helpful and told me what to do, but in the end we didn't claim because we thought we could just paint over it ourselves. When my renewal arrived, it was MASSIVE. I phoned to query it and it was because of this claim. I pointed out we didn't claim in the end and they rectified it but it really did cost a lot more. Less than the cost of a new sofa, of course, but combined with the risk? Not worth it in my opinion.

mummytime · 23/03/2016 12:26

My insurers are fighting a claim made against me. We were in very slow moving traffic. As we crawled along I briefly glanced away and went into the back of the taxi in front. We were doing about 2 or 3 mph (you could definitely have walked faster). I have a Super Mini, he had a BMW people mover.
We know I was to blame, but he submitted such an exaggerated claim that my insurance company decided to fight it, even though this probably cost them more. They are trying to clamp down on fraudulent claims.

IdealWeather · 23/03/2016 12:27

But how can they be caught on a situation llike this? Unless you have a photos and that the splash of paint don't make sense, how can the insurrance 'prove' that it's fraudulent?

I was involved in a car accident. My insurrance company asked me if I had a photo of what has happened. I didn't. Never thought about it plus I was in shock (even though no injuries). I could also have claimed wishplash (I had actually had treatment for it privately) but again, it didn't cross my mind and I was just happy that the insurrance was so good re the claim, finding a replacement car for me, have the car repaired.
When I was involved in another 'incident' (very small that time), I did think about the photos and very interestingly, the other car owner, who was so set on having my insurrance paying, never got it touch again. He knew full well that with said photos, it would be clear the responsibility was split and it would actually cost him money (due to the increase in his premium).

I'm getting the feeling that insurers will ask more and more to get photos etc.. of what has happened.

FinallyFreeFromItAll · 23/03/2016 12:30

I presumed it was Harveys vouchers as the original furniture had been purchased there. In which case completely fair.

If however it was say a dfs sofa and they've been lumped with Harveys vouchers then that's not fair. However people like those the op describes have probably caused it - their fraud costs insurance company making more important that insurance company saves money on cost to replace (and I assume Harveys have given insurance company a discount on the vouchers).

HolaWeenie · 23/03/2016 12:33

An old work colleague committed insurance fraud (I know her engagement ring was in a shop to sell but she claimed for it, plus a few other luxury items were claimed for even though she didn't own them). She also claimed against someone's insurance for whiplash in an accident, she was absolutely fine and back at work the next day with no reduced movement. Glad to not be working there anymore.

Some people have more front than Brighton.

GuyMartinsSideburns · 23/03/2016 12:45

I know a couple who did this - they were broken into one day and made a claim for £4000 worth of (non existent) jewellery that was stolen! We don't see them anymore. They've always been selfish - found someone's shopping from Gap in town before, but instead of taking it back to the shop the woman of the couple checked the size of the item (hoodie) and then took it back to the shop to exchange for her own size!! Shock The male of the couple actually said "well, finders keepers!" I wish I was there at the time, I'd have taken it back.

LurkingHusband · 23/03/2016 12:55

But how can they be caught on a situation llike this?

Bragging on Facebook ? It happens (more often than you'd think).

curren · 23/03/2016 13:03

How can they be caught?

Because they brag. Either in RL or on social media. It only takes one person to tip the insurance company off.

splendide · 23/03/2016 13:14

Also remember that they don't need to prove it beyond reasonable doubt, it's not a criminal standard of proof, they just need to act reasonably.

mummytime · 23/03/2016 13:17

Or they keep doing it - eventually it becomes obvious.

When I was on holiday in Orlando once, a British family were claiming their locker at a water park had been broken into. What made it seem like an obvious insurance scam was they were claiming for thousands of pounds worth of good (Sunglasses costing £100s etc.). It made me feel embarrassed to be British.

Gabbyaug · 23/03/2016 13:22

Yanbu. It's fraud. & no, not everyone does it

Roussette · 23/03/2016 13:31

They will get caught because they will get greedy. Thick twats like that will think they can leave it a year and do it again with something else.

SecretsAndStuff21 · 23/03/2016 13:50

It really makes my blood boil to hear of this kind of fraud.

I had a neighbour who used every trick in the book to get new stuff for free as well as claiming on breakdown cover for very old items long passed their guarantee.

I always think that if people are dishonest when it comes to insurance claims, they are probably dishonest in other ways too and I have zero respect for them.

Their contents insurance will go up by about the same cost of the replaced items.

Idiots!

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