Central insurance claim register proposed to reduce level of ‘bogus claims’
THE MINISTER for Justice, Helen McEntee has been called upon to make stricter legislation when it comes to repeated “bogus claims”.
The appeal comes from a local councillor due to an “increase” of people “taking advantage” of the insurance system.
Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey submitted a motion at the latest municipal meeting of Adare-Rathkeale in relation to the matter.
Mr Teskey's motion stated that “I will move at the next meeting of this district to lobby both Minister Helen McEntee TD and
Minister Jennifer Carrol MacNeil TD to immediately make stronger and more robust legislation available to allow for a central insurance claim register that would be meaningful in targeting the issue of repeated bogus claims”.
“The register should be linked with one's PPS number to target individuals who repeatedly or possibly make regular bogus claims in order to profit from one's insurance,” the statement read.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader following the municipal meeting, Mr Teskey said: “I want to see the laws strengthened when it comes to repeat offenders who are cashing in on claims on a regular basis. They should be held more accountable.
“It’s a motion to target those who are continuously taking advantage of the insurance system and therefore, putting insurance premiums at an all-time high.
Mr Teskey says it is an issue you hear as a general member of the public.
“It’s not something you hear of as a councillor as such but you hear it from people in business, you hear it from motorists. We are in an era now where people are encouraged on social media websites to almost claim for anything,” Mr Teskey said.
“There is a huge presence on social media platforms encouraging people to a society of claiming. That is worrying.
“It’s worrying for business people, it’s worrying for motorists, it’s worrying for employers, it’s worrying for individuals who go about their day-to-day business that there are people out there that are intentionally seeking to benefit from an intentional accident or acting with intent to make monetary gain from one’s insurance,” Mr Teskey added.
Mr Teskey believes these continuous “bogus claims” are a major contributing factor to Ireland’s high insurance rates.
“I believe as a society we have changed and are changing. There are adverts on television that are encouraging the public to contact the legal system for no window claim situations which is really driving forward a culture of claiming,” he said.