1 December, 2017
Hastings Direct has again ensured a fraudster has paid the price for wrong doing when it won its court case against the accused last month. The individual was ordered to pay £5,000 costs and handed a 22 week prison custodial sentence by the Royal Courts of Justice.
The accused had previously reported a road traffic accident where a Hastings Direct customer had hit his parked car – at this time he confirmed that he wasn’t inside the vehicle and therefore not injured and the claim was closed. However, a few months later Hastings Direct received a claim for personal injury via the accused’s solicitor. Although a statement confirmed the accused was not in the car at the time of the accident, he now became adamant he was and had suffered an injury he wanted compensation for. After many months of hard work from Hastings Direct Counter Fraud department, in association with solicitors Horwich Farrelly, he was brought to court where he was found guilty of fraud and his sentence was delivered.
The judge commented that the decision of Hastings Direct and its customer to pursue the matter to the extent which they did sets a positive message to the industry and any would be fraudsters. Paul Priestley, Director of Hastings Direct’s Counter Fraud department said, “The team spent several years investigating this claim and it was great to see justice done for both Hastings Direct and our insured customer who has been very patient throughout. We are committed to protecting honest customers and will always take the most appropriate action to pursue and deter fraudsters.”
Hastings Direct adopts a zero tolerance for fraud and is committed to protecting honest customers – this persistence was clearly demonstrated in this case.
Natalie Sadlier, Hastings Direct PR Manager
Tel: 01424 735735
Email: pr@hastingsdirect.com
Hastings Direct is a fast growing, agile, data and digitally focused general insurance provider to the UK market, with over 2.6 million live customer policies and employing over 3,000 colleagues at sites in Bexhill and Leicester. Hastings Direct has built its business by providing refreshingly straightforward customer service and products and offer car, bike, van and home insurance directly to the public.
Hastings Direct is a trading name of Hastings Insurance Services Limited, the UK trading subsidiary of Hastings Group Holdings plc, which also trades via “People’s Choice” and “insurePink”.
For more information about Hastings Direct please visit: https://www.hastingsdirect.com
1 December, 2017