Brits make 750,000 false holiday insurance claims
Brits make 750,000 false holiday insurance claims
Monday, 10 Sep 2007 10:25
As many as 750,000 British holidaymakers commit fraud by making a false claim on their travel insurance, new research reveals.
Many travellers falsify or exaggerate their holiday losses, with up to 11 per cent owning up to the practice, according to insurer Direct Line.
And with up to 13 per cent of Brits having made a holiday insurance claim, as many as 750,000 claims are thought to have been fraudulent.
"It's worrying to see from the results of the research that some consumers appear to underestimate the consequences of their actions. The telling of a 'little white lie' is fraud however they chose to justify it," said Chris Price, business manager at Direct Line.
"Contemplating committing fraud is a serious matter and we would urge anyone about to claim on their travel insurance not to take this lightly."
Up to five per cent of claimants add extra items to their reported losses.
Jewellery was the most popular item to add to a false claim, with 25 per cent of those admitting to embellishing a claim by adding it to their list of missing items.
This was followed by a camera (23 per cent), cash (14 per cent) and clothes (12 per cent).
Brits also use a variety of reasons to justify their false claims.
Some 18 per cent of claimants thought they were owed money as they had not claimed before and a further ten per cent thought the practice was so widespread they would be missing out by not making a claim.
Interestingly, as many as 13 per cent refuse to take responsibility for their false claim, laying the blame with their partner.