OT: Lies you are allowed to tell your insurance company

father_and_son · Jul 3, 2013

I work in Insurance and so far this week I've had a never ending increase in the bare-faced lies being told to me about people's car insurance.

I just wanted an unscientific but hopefully unbiased poll on what lies people think are acceptable and what you think is too far...

This pretty much covers mu week so far:

1. I park my car on the road outside the house but tell my insurer its garaged/on the drive. Ok or Too Far?

2. I lie about the postcode where I keep my car, saying its kept in a nice area when its not. Ok or Too Far?

3. I tell them I do 8,000 miles a year but I always do 10,000. Ok or Too Far?

4. I tell them I do 3,000 miles a year but do 30,000. Ok to Too Far?

5. The insurance is in my dad's name because its cheaper, even though it is my car. Ok or Too Far?

6. I have a new exhaust, alloy wheels and a window tint but told them no modifications. Ok or Too Far?

7. I told them I was 21 but I'm actually only 18. Ok or Too Far?

8. I said 5 years NCD but I haven't got it. They never check anyway. Ok or Too Far?

9. I drive without insurance because its too expensive. Ok or Too Far?

If you personally would do any/all of these, what is too far? Anything?

If you personally wouldn't do any of these, what lies would you tell?

W.C. · Jul 3, 2013

Make a poll with all the options available. Ok or too far?

father_and_son · Jul 3, 2013

W.C. said:
Make a poll with all the options available. Ok or too far?

Too Far. Would need 9 different polls, hence the numbered questions.

Titanic · Jul 3, 2013

1. I park my car on the road outside the house but tell my insurer its garaged/on the drive. Ok if you have a drive! or Too Far?

2. I lie about the postcode where I keep my car, saying its kept in a nice area when its not. Ok or Too Far?

3. I tell them I do 8,000 miles a year but I always do 10,000. Ok or Too Far?

4. I tell them I do 3,000 miles a year but do 30,000. Ok to Too Far?

5. The insurance is in my dad's name because its cheaper, even though it is my car. Ok or Too Far (assuming you mean 'Main driver')?

6. I have a new exhaust, alloy wheels and a window tint but told them no modifications. Ok or Too Far'ish?

7. I told them I was 21 but I'm actually only 18. Ok or WAY Too Far?

8. I said 5 years NCD but I haven't got it. They never check anyway. Ok or Too Far?

9. I drive without insurance because its too expensive. Ok or WAY WAY WAY Too Far?

BHAZiggy · Jul 3, 2013

Lying to the insurance companies inevitably costs us all. Why should I pay more because somebody else is a fraudster? Those who get caught lying should be made to pay double.

Cian · Jul 3, 2013

1, 2 and 3 are probably the only ones you'd have a hope in hell of getting away with surely? Anyone that tries the later ones doesn't deserve insurance.

hans kraay fan club · Jul 3, 2013

1. is okay if it is actually parked on the drive some of the time.
3. Could be a genuine mistake. You take out the insurance thinking / hoping you'll do under 8k, but it actually creeps over.
6. I'd say is okay, if the modifications are just superficial and affect neither the value or performance of the car.

Some, like 4,7 and 8 are just stupid, as you'll presumably 'get away with it' for as long as you never actually need to claim, at which point they'll check, and invalidate your cover, leaving you out of pocket / in court.

bha100 · Jul 3, 2013

BHAZiggy said:
Lying to the insurance companies inevitably costs us all. Why should I pay more because somebody else is a fraudster? Those who get caught lying should be made to pay double.

Do you think that if insurance fraud was eradicated the savings would go to reducing premiums or into the shareholders pockets?

father_and_son · Jul 3, 2013

BHAZiggy said:
Lying to the insurance companies inevitably costs us all. Why should I pay more because somebody else is a fraudster? Those who get caught lying should be made to pay double.

Average Car insurance costs £750. Typical fine for driving without insurance £180. Not really that much of an incentive!

dougdeep · Jul 3, 2013

If you lie then they won't pay out. OK or too far?

Titanic · Jul 3, 2013

father_and_son said:
Average Car insurance costs £750. Typical fine for driving without insurance £180. Not really that much of an incentive!

and a ban?

father_and_son · Jul 3, 2013

bha100 said:
Do you think that if insurance fraud was eradicated the savings would go to reducing premiums or into the shareholders pockets?

Lowering premiums - every time. Very few insurance companies make any money from motor. Typically only 1 year in every 7 is there a profit. Its used as a way to get your household insurance, which is generally profitable 6 years in 7. We don't need to cross-sell to that many customers before its worth making the loss on motor for the profit on home/pet/travel/life.

father_and_son · Jul 3, 2013

Titanic said:
and a ban?

But if I'm happy to drive with no insurance, then why would I be unhappy to drive while banned? The ban is pointless.

Triggaaar · Jul 3, 2013

father_and_son said:
If you personally would do any/all of these, what is too far? Anything?

If you personally wouldn't do any of these, what lies would you tell?

6 isn't too bad IMO. The others are too far.

Lies I would tell:
If my wife and I share a car, but one of us uses it a lot more, I'd insure it in the name of who's cheapest, rather than who uses it the most.

Cars · Jul 3, 2013

Number 3 is an estimate, not an accurate figure.

As for not declaring modifications, your insurance is void if you have an accident. So that's just very very stupid....

DavidinSouthampton · Jul 3, 2013

dougdeep said:
If you lie then they won't pay out. OK or too far?

Exactly. If you have an accident and they find out you have led about something - even if it is not deliberate, you could well not get your claim paid.

Westdene Seagull · Jul 3, 2013

Titanic said:
1. I park my car on the road outside the house but tell my insurer its garaged/on the drive. Ok if you have a drive! or Too Far?

2. I lie about the postcode where I keep my car, saying its kept in a nice area when its not. Ok or Too Far?

3. I tell them I do 8,000 miles a year but I always do 10,000. Ok or Too Far?

4. I tell them I do 3,000 miles a year but do 30,000. Ok to Too Far?

5. The insurance is in my dad's name because its cheaper, even though it is my car. Ok or Too Far (assuming you mean 'Main driver')?

6. I have a new exhaust, alloy wheels and a window tint but told them no modifications. Ok or Too Far'ish?

7. I told them I was 21 but I'm actually only 18. Ok or WAY Too Far?

8. I said 5 years NCD but I haven't got it. They never check anyway. Ok or Too Far?

9. I drive without insurance because its too expensive. Ok or WAY WAY WAY Too Far?

Pretty much agree with these answers. I find it rather stupid that insurance companies think most of us can predict a whole years mileage to the nearest 1000 miles.

I have some sympathy with people trying get their insurance down with some little lies - the insurance companies try and screw you over when you try and make a claim so they hardly be surprised when their "customers" attempt to do the same to them !

Tricky Dicky · Jul 3, 2013

Triggaaar said:
6 isn't too bad IMO. The others are too far.

Lies I would tell:
If my wife and I share a car, but one of us uses it a lot more, I'd insure it in the name of who's cheapest, rather than who uses it the most.

Agree. Not sure I would have even thought to tell my insurer of 6, but I wouldn't do the others, I'd just assume I'd get caught out of something happened and they wouldn't pay a penny.

elninobonito · Jul 3, 2013

What about points on your license, if you were caught speeding or on a mobile or any offence that ended in points? Would you tell your insurance or not bother? Wonder how many people dont declare these to avoid higher costs?

strings · Jul 3, 2013

I've always been honest with my insurance company, but the whole 'estimated miles' thing is a joke. I recon the only one of the above that I'm guilty of is 3 - but again, that is because I don't have a ruddy clue. I suppose the best way would be to look at the mileage between your last 2 MOTs and estimate the same (assuming you have the same distance commute to work as the previous year).

Also, giving them your job title is a nightmare - mine never matches any of the categories, so I have to guess (if I do it online), or the person at the other end of the phone has to try a shoehorn my rough description of my job into one of the categories.

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