ARmy Rumour SErvice

Thank you - that was a fascinating insight. No wonder premiums are going up so much. Before reading this, the general impression was that the insurers were just paying up without checking, and
the referral system was making it worse.

Just a quick one.

Are digitial phots the same as film when it comes to evidence?

And what abut the evidence gathered from Road Hawk and similar devices?

An excellent series of posts Arte .... like others I have also printed them off ... thanks .

Arte - fantastic.

Any more? Any "pull up a sandbag" stories from the days? Its bloody fascinating stuff.

This is a really interesting thread, and now has me paranoid about what I should carry in my car when out driving in UK.

Sorry guys - what's Road Hawk?

[Edited to add]

OK, Google is my friend - Roadhawk UK Home page - RoadHawk Driver Safety Camera

Originally Posted by chocolate_frog

Just a quick one.

Are digitial phots the same as film when it comes to evidence?

And what abut the evidence gathered from Road Hawk and similar devices?

Digital camera shots and video footage can be tested in Court the same as any other evidence.

But, as you've read, the chances of a slam on actually making it to Court are next to nil. However a Solicitor would be a complete fool if he looked at the photographs and video footage presented to him by an Investigator and continued the claim.

In reality it works like this.

Once investigative evidence has been presented to the Insurers they fire off a letter to the Third Party claimant explaining that they are declining the claim, and cancelling the Policy. If the Third Party has a problem with that they are to contact a Solicitor.

Most give up at this point and move on. Those who wish to counterclaim take on a brief, and the hard evidence is sent to their offices. Often, an Investigator attends the Solicitors and interviews the claimant, with the photographic, video and other assorted evidence the claim is quietly dropped.

Take photographs, use the video, as at the end of the day, and explained above, this will piss off a Third Party fraudster on the roadside (no bad thing, as he will not attack you or grab your camera, he really REALLY doesn't want the Police chatting to, and checking him out) and may well negate the start of any claim proceedings at all.

If everybody did this, the paymasters of slam on gangs will be, praise Allah, verily upset, and heads will roll.

Originally Posted by tiny_lewis

Arte - fantastic.

Any more? Any "pull up a sandbag" stories from the days? Its bloody fascinating stuff.

Cheers. It does make a change from my usually bollocky posts.

I have a heap of case files, so I'll dig out a couple of the more interesting ones and post them up. I can't talk in detail about the West London Afghani case though, it could still get to court, as my predecessors are continually updating the Insurers on that one.