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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:

EachPeachPearMum · 02/09/2008 11:17

It is fraud.

But also you know- your premiums will go up, and you will find it more difficult to get insurance once you have made a claim. Appeal to his wallet if he has no sense of morality.

Original poster

bluenosebear · 02/09/2008 11:24

EachPeach, funny thing is, he's normally really very moral, I think that's why I'm so upset because it's so out of character for him. I'm shocked really. I hope it's his colleagues making him think this way .

OP posts:

HappyMummyOfOne · 02/09/2008 11:28

Most insurance companies have software on the phones that recognise when somebody is lying. If caught and they void the policy, you will always have to declare having a policy cancelled by an insurer and you'll struggle to get a policy in the future.

There is also a claims database where both honest and fraudulant claims are logged and again this can affect future claims that may be genuine.

Even on a new for old policy, they will replace with the same or equivalent model or sometimes give you vouchers or a cheque. Therefore if your TV isn't a flat screen or HDTV it is unlikely you will get one of these. They will have companies that can replace with the older CRT tv's.

Insurance is not a savings scheme that you can claim on for new items, its there to protect you in the event of a loss. A good percentage is added to premiums due to the number of fraudulant claims. If people weren't dishonest, everybody would get lower premiums.

mother2two · 02/09/2008 11:29

The question is: would you like to have ANY type of insurance ever again? At least at a reasonable rate?

If the insurance company ever discover the truth - and they have a canning way to do so - you will be blacklisted for life.

I know someone from my student days in a hall of residence, who made a fraudulent claim. 10 years on she still has problems obtaining insurance. Worst still, on her employer's life insurance scheme she has to admit that she has a court conviction for fraud.

In these days of economic turbulence and with companies clutching at any reason to say "no" to a reasonable rate, your dh's idea is extremely short sighted.

BTW, no - not everyone "does it." Only criminals make fraudulent claims and we are not all criminals, thank you very much.

littlestrawberry · 02/09/2008 11:30

It is fraud. I was reading in the paper the other day that insurance claims for accidental damage etc have gone up with the credit crunch so I think insurance companies may be looking a bit more carefully at these types of claims.

thefortbuilder · 02/09/2008 11:39

it is fraud and you will have problems with either renewal or increased premiums anyway. we are unlucky enough to have had to make 3 water damage claims on our household insurance in a house we have lived in for a little over a year because the previous owner cut corners and lied to us about some things - our insrance has gone through the roof and we have to stay with it as the house has a subsidence claim in the past.

tell him not to do it - it's just not worth it, apart from being illegal!

KatieDD · 02/09/2008 11:39

I didn't say everyone does it, and I didn't say I did it, just that plenty of people do and do get away with it and all the scare stories you are trotting out tbh are rarer than you think.
At the end of the day fraud is going on left right and centre, doesn't make it right. Your DH has to make the call as to weather it's worth it.

solidgoldbrass · 02/09/2008 11:42

What happens if you are caught out in a minor insurance fraud? Do you get fined/jailed? I am mildly concerned about an acquaintance doing somethign a bit silly.

slightlycrumpled · 02/09/2008 11:47

We have a friend who has done something similar to this before and used to think we were silly for not doing so.

A couple of years later we have a house fire, and we were so relieved that we had never claimed on our household insurance before, as it meant the loss adjusters and insurers dealt with our claim efficently and with minimum fuss.

You never know when you may genuinely need it!

YANBU!

thefortbuilder · 02/09/2008 11:47

SGB I think that if the insurance copmany want to they could make an example and prosecute - not 100% sure about that though, but it seems logical enough

titchy · 02/09/2008 11:48

You could probably get away with it. But you'd have to let them know the actual value and would only get the replacement costs anyway. So if its an old CRT TV you'd end up with the cheapest TV money could buy! If you claim it's fairly new they will want to see proof of ownership. And yes that's for an under £700 claim.

solo · 02/09/2008 11:54

They also send a loss adjuster who I believe is trained in sussing out lies etc - body language, voice pattern changes etc.
If you got caught, it could mean a criminal record surely?

sweetgrapes · 02/09/2008 11:57

Some of my friends have done this with mobile phones. I think it's stealing. You may get away with it or you may not - it's your call. Personally, I am not a thief so I don't.

One of the worse ones (no longer a friend) did it for a mobile phone, credit card and a car!! (£400 old car - but still !!)

Finally, their house got burgled and the police were most sceptical about it!

They lost dvd player, laptop, cameras, wallet, jewellery and they weren't insured this time so they REALLY lost it...

A few crocodile tears shed at the time I must admit.

Remotew · 02/09/2008 11:58

Also the vase/water down the back of the TV will have been used many times.

I had to make a fair few geniune claims last year. One clamity after another. No question of fraud at all. The insurance company has put a loading on my excess because of it. I know it wasn't because they were suspicious they couldn't risk having the liability that was me on a £50 excess. I'd also been with them for 20 years and these were my only claims.

Original poster

bluenosebear · 02/09/2008 12:00

I'm so glad that all of you are so anti-fraud (not that I expected anyone to say YEAH! GO for it!), I may show hubby this thread and he can see how stupid the idea is.

OP posts:

KatieDD · 02/09/2008 12:00

Playing devils, cos I'm bored.
There have been several occasions where we have claimed and they have been genuine losses, the pedigree cat being one and the insurance company didn't pay out. I know somebody else who claimed when their house was flooded and again the insurance company wriggled out of it on a technicality, now that's theft too.

Remotew · 02/09/2008 12:03

Katie DD, you need to read the policies carefully.

I've never heard of pets being covered on a house contents policy.

sweetgrapes · 02/09/2008 12:03

Oh and another person dh went to uni with tried to do it with his mobile phone. He said he left it on the bus. But they said since he left it on the bus it wasn't covered. And since it was lost, they blocked the phone and disabled it. And since it was on a contract he had to carry on paying them every month!

A few smug smiles all around this time!

KatieDD · 02/09/2008 12:04

It was pet insurance, he was hit by a car

Remotew · 02/09/2008 12:05

Sorry, thought you meant on a home contents. Pet insurance is different, sound like this should have been covered.

HappyMummyOfOne · 02/09/2008 12:28

"There have been several occasions where we have claimed and they have been genuine losses, the pedigree cat being one and the insurance company didn't pay out. I know somebody else who claimed when their house was flooded and again the insurance company wriggled out of it on a technicality, now that's theft too."

Presumably the insurance company were applying their policy conditions - all insurance companies have exclusions - exclusions are not theft. They are quite clearly stated in the policy document. Technicalities can be for all sorts of reasons, ie original data provided being incorrect, failure to disclose, not complying with the policies terms and conditions etc.

Quite a few pet policies dont cover death by accident but you can check that at the time of applying for a quote.

Making a fraudulant claim is theft, having an insurance company cancel the claim due to policy terms isnt.

slightlycrumpled · 02/09/2008 13:00

KatieDD, I don't think that there is any doubt that insurance companies would prefer not to pay out if at all possible.

They are in it to make money after all.

If they can find a discrepancy they will use it to their advantage, however, this is all the more reason to make sure you are beyond redemption.

TheHedgeWitch · 02/09/2008 13:40

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TheHedgeWitch · 02/09/2008 13:44

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Oblomov · 02/09/2008 13:53

This is not a good idea. For many reasons others have given, increased premiums, you would get nothing for a 10 yr old telly anway.

BUT, I am ASTONISHED that people do not think that others claim for this all the time. Believe me lots and lots of people make claims like her dh are suggesting. His bil and colleagues are not that unusual. It amazes me that you all think they are. Mn'ers. Honestly. You are all like saints.

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