The dishonesty of insurance claimants

23rd February, 2012

New research highlights the problem insurance companies are facing through a growing number of claimants exaggerating their home insurance claims.

The research was carried out by AXA UK and indicated that around 17% of householders, an estimated 200,000, are willing to bump up their claim and on average add an additional £600 to the cost of their claim.

Many consumers do not see the fraud as theft and consider the action as a way to make more money from insurance companies. The research suggests that 12% of AXA’s respondents are more likely to consider making an exaggerated claim now than three years ago.

The research uncovered a worrying factor when only 45% of those respondents considered the act of exaggerating their claims resulted in them being considered as dishonest.

Many people did not consider the following to be dishonest when claiming on their policy -

To neglect to mention any previous claims.

Not dishonest to say windows and doors were shut or locked at the time of the theft when they weren’t.

It is okay to submit a receipt belonging to someone else in order to make a claim.

To deliberately damage an item to make a claim was not being dishonest.

 

• Next Article: Councils worry over end of insurance agreement
• Previous Article: Most claims made during riots have been settled
• This Month: News For February 2012