Who's trying it on?

The above was the heading on the monthly newsletter from the Financial Ombudsman Service, and it makes interesting reading. 

In short it was taking about the endless ads on TV and the irritating unsolicited phone calls and texts offering help with PPI claims. A policy type we never sold by the way! 

The Chief Executive and Chief Ombudsman (it's same person, Natalie Ceeney) gave some interesting figures that seem to dismiss all the hype about our society turning into a compensation culture.

Her view is that, 

“I’m not seeing much that suggests consumers are more likely to make a speculative claim now than in the past” 

All I can say is that if you feel aggravated please don’t fester on it, make your complaint, this is the only way we will speed up the process and make change happen. Most importantly if you are going to complain always write to the party you are complaining about first. The Ombudsman service will not do a thing except acknowledge your letter or e-mail until the party you are complaining to, is given the right of reply first.

On Insurance claims excluding the PPI ones in the last quarter the number of claims resolved in favour  of the consumer for contents was 25%, commercial property insurance 35%, buildings insurance 49%, car and motorcycle 48%. There are a load of other areas from debt counselling (63%) to spread betting (68%) all of which most of us didn’t think the Ombudsman was involved in. 

I am a big fan of the Ombudsman Service because it does take an objective view and helps the end consumer. If you would like to get in touch with them on any issue you can call them on 0845 080 1800 or find out more at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

Accident of the Month.

It’s not good form to laugh at someone's problems, but I suppose we all do it to make ourselves feel better.  Here's one example where we think it'g good to laugh. We recently received a call from a Client who said, no word of a lie,

“I’ve had a fatal accident!”

I’m not sure what the lady our end replied with, as the Client was clearly distressed, but to cut a long story short it appeared he had simply run over his cat!!

So please, we realise how distressing thinks like this can be, especially in the moment, but when you call to report an accident, please, try to have your sensible head on and stick to the facts as much as possible, it makes everything so much easier and less confusing all round.

Horror story of the month ...

We had a story where a client tapped his car into the back of the car in front, it can happen at any time as we know. The difference was that the lady driver of the car in front didn’t just get out of the car to check, she stormed out of the car effing and blinding and waving her hands hysterically to check for damage which was apparently not to be seen.

They both go their separate ways and our Client hears nothing more for 6 weeks when he receives a claim for whiplash. Both the driver and Trident pleaded to the Insurance company that this is fraud, but they won’t have it ,and they paid out £1,800 and upped his premium. They paid because it was cheaper to pay-out than fight the case which begs the question what’s the point of insurance when the very principals of protection are ignored because of legal fees!!

It’s a nightmare and can happen to anyone, and all I can say is having seen our guy’s just give up with the insurance company. If you find yourself in a similar situation, maybe take some pictures with your camera phone, to back up that you are clean and what the exact damage was. 

It’s a sad old world and fraud is getting worse, and whatever may appear to be clear between two people  can’t be taken for granted anymore. So please keep the camera to hand and start protecting yourself.