Random 'I understand You've Been Involved In A Car Accident' Phone Calls

[SuzieSunshine]

I have started getting these calls again and apart from blocking the numbers I'm not sure how to stop them. I now start off by saying 'give me the details then' and have got as far as being told it was in a Red Vauxhall Cavalier. 1) I haven't got a current licence and 2) I haven't had a car for at least 15 years - where do they get my number from? I'd love to know if anybody is or knows one of these callers and because they end up hanging up on me how do they make a living?

I wonder where they come from too I have asked them repeatedly to remove my number from their database and I block them but keep on getting phone calls!

I normally put the phone next to the tv and turn on the classical music channel. They soon hang up.

It got to the point where we were getting two or three a night at one stage. DD would answer the phone and make various animal noises in a conversational manner. She'd put the phone on loudspeaker so we could all hear the bemused caller attempting to convince a cow that she'd been in a car accident.

They stopped bothering eventually.

Yes we get these frequently. "I understand you were involved in an accident that wasn't your fault." I say, oh, when was that? Then they hang up. Bloody irritating, but I don't know how to stop them (and yes we are registered with TPS). I did see a suggestion, on MN I think, of replying "Yes, I actually died, you know!"

I always tell them I’m in a car crash right there and then and start screaming.

They get numbers from social media, random dial patterns and various sites that collect numbers.

They really piss me off
I just hang up though

'Involved in an accident that wasn't your fault?'

'Well, that's what I told the police but between you and me, if they see the CCTV I'm fucked'.

I used to find them amusing on a long drive. Obviously I didn’t give them any real facts but it did entertain me to see how far and for how long I could push my completely fake scenarios. I think they must have shared the fact I was a time waster with other companies though because I’ve not had any for a couple of years.

They make so many calls - so I guess they must get some results?? But who would say oh yes, please can you help me??

I hang up the minute I hear accid ...

“I’m so glad you called. I had a terrible accident. Yes, I had a crash on a roundabout and ended up in hospital. I probably shouldn’t have had that fifth glass of wine, but STILL...”

That normally shuts them up after a while.

They seem to have picked back up around the deadline for PPI claims... I guess those firms are having to go back to ambulance-chasing to make ends meet.

My 15 year old daughter always answers "brilliant can you send the payment to my parents though because i died and they need help to pay for my funeral" they usually hang up without replying and don't call back on her number lol

I go for the unamusing but effective "could you tell me how you obtained my details and explain how you complied with gdpr ". They have hung up on me every single time with that one. Feel free to borrow.

kyrie and ban 🤣

12yr old DS is highly amused.

I think they just dial random numbers sometimes.

I usually ask them what accident it was, then where they got the details from. One of them told me the "national accident database" to which I told them there's no such thing and they tried to argue that there was. It must be a really soul destroying job to have, making those calls.

I put on my most interested voice and ask them to tell me ALL about it. They ask me for more details, and I say: No, no - YOU called ME - I wouldn't dream of stealing your thunder and I am FASCINATED to hear about this accident I had. When was it? Where did it happen? Was it terribly tragic?

They've usually hung up by this point but I do like to see how long I can keep them for - it's a little challenge to myself.

Yes - it must be totally soul destroying. The girl who rang me today sounded really young and I momentarily felt really mean - but not for long!! Just how do they make a living?

"Yes, I died, it really hurt"

gets rid of them

I've been getting them ever since I gave my details as a witness to a minor accident last year, and they always quote the date of that accident so I know it's because of that. Which basically means I did the right thing and the insurance company I indirectly helped out (by supporting their blameless client's version of events) has thanked me by selling on my details to people not much higher on the food chain than scammers. Lovely. If I could remember their name I'd name and shame.

These days when they say "You've been in an accident that wasn't your fault" I just reply with "Yes. It's called Brexit". Confuses the hell out of them

I get the odd one but it always sounds like a pre-recorded voice of a young woman? I’m guessing if you say yes then it puts you through to a human and ends the call if not? I just hang up.

My mum told them she’d been decapitated. Took them a while to figure it out!

I'm getting an interactive robot called Ben atm. The first time it took him repeating himself 3 times before I realised it wasn't a real person.

I always ask for the name & address of the company they are calling from. 50% hang up but 50% actually give it to me. So if I have a pen & paper handy, I write it down & then report them to the ICO via the form on the website.