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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not want DH to lie to insurance company?

60 replies

bluenosebear · 02/09/2008 10:37

Seriously, AIBU? We've got a tele, its about 10 years old but it works. It's not great, and we'd love an HDTV. I'm quite happy to save up and buy one, but a few times now, DH has turned round and said "But that's what insurance is for." I was under the impression that insurance is for the unexpected, not to try and get a freebie because you want it. He wants to tell the insurance company we were moving it and dropped it, or a vase of water went down the back or something. He keeps saying things like "Oh but BIL has done it...everyone at work has done it". I argue back, saying I think it's wrong, and if we get found out it will make getting future insurance difficult, to which he replies that they don't investigate claims under £700.

He's making me feel like I'm the unreasonable one, that we could get a free T.V because everone does it. Do they?? Is this what insurance companies expect? His work colleagues have nearly got him convinced it's a good idea. I'm not comfortable with being dishonest, and while I'm not anywhere near being a saint this leaves me feeling quite unhappy. Should I let him get on with it, or stick to my guns as I view it as stealing? Am I being too goody-goody? Please set my mind at rest and tell me that I'm quite right not to want to lie to our insurers!

OP posts:

IdrisTheDragon · 02/09/2008 10:39

I think your DH is unreasonable.

Also, is your policy a new-for-old one or not? If it isn't, then you wouldn't get a new one anyway.

hana · 02/09/2008 10:40

of course not everyone does this. It's fraud.

WorzselMummage · 02/09/2008 10:41

He's being completly unreasonable.

It is stealing.

edam · 02/09/2008 10:41

You are right. His idea is to tell a big fat lie to get something for 'free'. Free to him, not the other, honest, policyholders whose premiums will have to include the cost of investigating dishonest claims.

If you want a new TV, you should buy one. It's that simple. What's more, his plans are dangerous as you have realised.

I do hope he's exaggerating about his colleagues and BIL.

ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe · 02/09/2008 10:42

Your Dh is being totally stupid. It is called fraud.

hotcrossfunnybunnies · 02/09/2008 10:43

It is not something I would do. YANBU.

laweaselmys · 02/09/2008 10:43

If they found out you'd be in sooo much trouble . Seriously not worth the risk in my opinion.

I also don't know anybody who has done this! I know people who after their house burning down up graded and got nicer things with new for old insurance... but that was very different!

LaDiDaDi · 02/09/2008 10:43

You are right.

It is illegal.

You would pay more for insurance in the future and it may be hard to get.

You might not be covered unless you have accidental damage on your policy.

This type of scam is not only stealing from inssurers but from everybody else who has to pay more for their premiums to make up for idiots like your DH/BIL.

Why woud you get a HDTV? Your policy will at best give you the cost of buying a similar model tv to the one that you have, at worst they will give you the value of your 10 year old tv, ie £50?? either would be minus the excess that you will have to pay.

clarke · 02/09/2008 10:44

Alot of people do this but i would never do it?
What if you did get caught?
Save and buy a new one or you can get buy now pay next year!

Don't risk it.

AMumInScotland · 02/09/2008 10:44

YANBU - people do this, and they may think they're getting away with it, but I'll bet the insurance companies are wise to it and will have a little mark against their names - next thing you'll find they won't renew your insurance, or the premium will skyrocket, or you'll put in a genuine claim and they won't believe a word of it.

It is stealing, quite simple.

procrastinatingparent · 02/09/2008 10:45

I don't think I would ever enjoy watching it if we had got it under those circumstances - there would always be an undercurrent of guilt.

It is fraud. I have never heard of anyone doing this. (Mind you, I'm the vicar's wife so they probably wouldn't tell me anyway ...)

FAQ · 02/09/2008 10:45

God I'd love a new TV - ours is nearly 8yrs old and the DS's have practically wrecked it.

BUT I wouldn't do this - it's fraud and illegal

overthemill · 02/09/2008 10:46

oh i think this is dreadful - i am terribly honest myself and this would make me feel so sick. it is stealing. like the shop lifters who put up prices of stuff in shops.

and it is also v environmentally unfriendly - you should use things until they are unmendable.

Original poster

bluenosebear · 02/09/2008 10:46

THANKYOU! I feel quite smug now (smugmode engaged). I'm not going to let him do it, and there's no way he would do it without me because he knows I'd make his life hell over it. I've told him it's fraud but hey, he's a man and therefore a little bit silly sometimes .

OP posts:

tiredemma · 02/09/2008 10:48

They do look at claims under £700. I had (a very nice) man come around from our insurance company so I could do a real life re-enactment of how I dropped my old laptop onto the kitchen floor.

annh · 02/09/2008 10:50

Well if your dh is intent on doing this, make sure he checks the policy carefully beforehand to check that accidental damage is covered and that your policy is new-for-old. Otherwise, as someone else mentioned they will apply depreciation and provide you with a similar TV which will NOT be top-of-the-range. Also, check your excess as you could well end up with a very small amount which won't buy you a B&W portable. And your premium will go up next year.

Oh and I think you can tell that we are all totally against this idea anyway!

fortyplus · 02/09/2008 10:51

Good for you! If my dh suggested something like that I'd start wondering what else in his life he was not quite 100% honest about...

Bumperlicious · 02/09/2008 10:51

If it was that simple more people would be doing it. I don't think it is that easy, and I would be pretty upset if my DH even suggested such a thing.

KatieDD · 02/09/2008 10:58

To be fair i know somebody who did this with a £10k rolex, lots of people do do this, regularly.

MrsPankhurst · 02/09/2008 11:02

Of course there may be some people that do that - they are called criminals!

What your dh is proposing is illegal! Please don't let him do this. If your name is on the insurance too, which it probably is, then both of you are committing fraud, for which you could be convicted and imprisoned. Whether you get caught or not, it is still fraud and it is still illegal.

Show him this thread if he doesn't believe you.

MrsPankhurst · 02/09/2008 11:04

Oh yes, and it's because of fraudulent people who do what your dh is proposing, that we all have to pay so much in insurance!

2DaysTilSchoolThankGod · 02/09/2008 11:07

i was burgled at uni. me and my housemates had loads of shit taken.

fortunately (and unusually!!!) we had insurance.

i claimed for what had been nicked and, because i was so honest, actually didn't get my computer replaced/reimbursed (didnt fulfill criteria).

my housemates claimed for mega-bucks worth of stuff that they had never even owned - and got it.

was i [envyd ???? very much so.

but even now am still glad i was honest.

sermon over

Remotew · 02/09/2008 11:08

He is contemplating being dishonest and committing fraud. If you want a new TV that badly then let him go ahead with it. Bearing in mind that everytime you look at the TV you may feel a ping of guilt.

ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe · 02/09/2008 11:12

My was for KatieDD. The thread had moved on.

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