Hounded by people deseperate to give me money

Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (Full Version)

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AthenaSurrenders -> Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 7:30:58 AM)
I know, what a nice problem to have! I've always had a distaste for the culture of 'making a claim' for very minor accidents. The TV stations are filled with ads for 'no win no fee personal injury solicitors' and it always left a bad taste in my mouth when they used phrases like 'you are entitled to...' and 'you deserve...' A few months ago we were in a car accident. It wasn't a bad one, but we were the middle car of three so the car crumpled and since it was pretty old, it was written off. We had to claim on the insurance because we were completely without a car and needed a courtesy car until we could get a new one, and also because the guy in front who wasn't at fault either was claiming, and I didn't want it to go down as my fault. I felt bad about this, the guy who hit us really wanted to avoid the insurance companies and offered to pay for the damage, but obviously this wasn't possible in the end. Since then, I'm getting calls all the time 'reminding' me that I haven't 'started the ball rolling' on my personal injuries claim. I have told each one that none of us were injured. We really weren't! Not so much as a bruise on any one of us. But they say things like 'well it doesn't have to be serious, just a slight discomfort. Maybe you felt a bit stiff but didn't notice for a few days. Or maybe you had a bit of an ache and took a painkiller and it went away'. Basically trying to convince me that we could claim after all. They tell me the minimum amounts we are entitled to (multiplied by three, since there were three of you!) and then keep telling me that I have up to three years to claim! The money is set aside already by law, and if I don't claim it, it goes back to the big bad insurance companies at profit. Just leave me the hell alone! I will not make a claim. Could we use the money? Hell yes. But it's not mine, I won't take it and I won't contribute to this growing 'something for nothing' culture. I now totally understand why so many people do it. I've had a number of people tell me about their accidents and the money they got even though they weren't hurt. In my mind, the insurance isn't a lottery which I pay into on the hope that something bad will happen and I'll be in the big bucks. That's like betting against myself. And it is also insulting to those people who do have genuine serious injuries and really need the money to cover medical bills or to make up for huge amounts of lost earnings or what have you. But now that I have experienced it, I get it. I get why so many people claim even though common sense should tell you that this is not free money and in the long run, we all pay through insurance costs. When you are faced with some abstract possible future shared expense vs an immediate personal gain, it's tempting, especially when you are constantly reminded that everyone else is doing it (so why shouldn't you?) and that hey, it's only profit for the companies anyway! Sorry, excessively long rant over!

MariaB -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 9:52:36 AM)
Both Steve and me get texts at least once a week telling us they need our urgent reply so they can arrange payment of our accident claim! I hasten to add we haven't ever put forward a claim for an accident [8\|]

DomMeinCT -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 9:53:04 AM)
quote: Just leave me the hell alone! I will not make a claim. Could we use the money? Hell yes. But it's not mine, I won't take it and I won't contribute to this growing 'something for nothing' culture. I now totally understand why so many people do it. I've had a number of people tell me about their accidents and the money they got even though they weren't hurt. In my mind, the insurance isn't a lottery which I pay into on the hope that something bad will happen and I'll be in the big bucks. That's like betting against myself. And it is also insulting to those people who do have genuine serious injuries and really need the money to cover medical bills or to make up for huge amounts of lost earnings or what have you. Agree! When my child took a simple tumble on the playground (supervised, and on 12"+ of soft chips) at the daycare center and had the misfortune of breaking his elbow people came out of the woodwork urging me to sue. "Everyone does it!" and "You'll have his college fund all set!"

theRose4U -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 10:48:32 AM)
I totally get where you're coming from athena I however had the opposite situation, near fatal crash, old guy that shouldn't have still been behind the wheel & 6 months later witnessed cause the same accident, the same way in the same vehicle (police wouldn't listen). Injury from knees hitting dash healed, muscle & skelital damage lingers still 15 years later when its cold & with big stress the muscle that slipped under my shoulder blade in the accident will pinch causing terrible pain. I did get the lawyer, it drug out forever & in the end the doctor & lawyer split everything. Because most of these no $ no fee guys take 50-75% of whatever they get, its financially in THEIR interest to get you to take the hook. Sure kid might have SOME money for college, but the lawyer will get a new gulfstream for you hurtingh every time the weather is wet & cold.

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 11:20:59 AM)
I don't deny there is a time and a place for this type of claims, and it's for people who are suffering serious injuries, long term effects, and/or large financial consequences. A minor bump in the car is just part of life.

theRose4U -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 11:40:40 AM)
My point is MY needs, financial, pain & otherwise in the end didn't benefit. The doctor got a new car, lawyer a plane & got some cool papers to read when I hurt :(

needlesandpins -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 11:52:40 AM)
ask them if they record their phone calls. then tell them if they call again you'll sue for harrasment to commit fraud. usually works. needles

TheLilSquaw -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 11:59:52 AM)
Tell that you are recording the call for quality assurance. Then inform them that you wish to be taken off their calling list. And if they continue to call you you will file a complaint with the BBB. That worked for me when I had lawyers calling me after my car accident a few years back.

TenderTorment -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 12:21:39 PM)
I have encountered something similar to this lately which I find odd given I've never been involved in an accident, It would appear that here in the UK at least some companies operate a mass post drop, be it via e-mail, snail mail or text, no doubt working on the premise that if they do find someone unfortunate enough to have been involved in a recent accident they can then offer to pursue the claim for a fee or percentage of any pay out.

tj444 -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 12:24:51 PM)
well.. if a certain amount is set aside and the insurance corp settles out of court easily.. and sure everyone pays in the long run but given the way society is, everyone will pay anyway.. maybe you should do it and then give whatever money you get to a good and worthy charity.. that would (imo) be the best use of it.. you would be like robin hood..

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 1:27:56 PM)
While I understand your point about charity, I would still essentially be committing fraud and the more people that go along with this (no matter how noble the intentions) the more the system will lean that way; I don't want to be part of the problem.

tj444 -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 1:53:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders While I understand your point about charity, I would still essentially be committing fraud and the more people that go along with this (no matter how noble the intentions) the more the system will lean that way; I don't want to be part of the problem. oh I understand that.. which is why you would be like robin hood, as he was committing a crime also.. [:D] Where i come from the vehicle insurance is controlled by the provincial govt.. they most definately would not be hounding you to give you money!.. [:D] the only time i was in an accident (it was not my fault), they just fixed my car.. they asked me if i was hurt (I wasnt) but that was it.. What goes on in the US is quite the contrast to what I am used to.. I find it a very greedy selfish country in general.. people with morals and values and not out for just themselves is not the norm.. it is hard to go against the "flow" which is why you are being hounded.. they want their cut..

DesFIP -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 8:08:33 PM)
In NY State, there are laws forbidding this. If there hasn't been significant personal injury, and the state defines that, then no lawyer would offer to represent you. However, sometimes you feel it's something minor but it doesn't heal properly and will leave you with ongoing difficulties. Always go see a doctor, get xrays and so on. Better to make sure, and the insurance does cover that.

DarkSteven -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 8:23:29 PM)
Athena, arrange for your Dom to give you one helluva session, and then use the bruises to support a claim. [8D]

AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 11:00:52 PM)
tj444 - I'm actually in the UK, but there has been an explosion of this type of claim and the solicitors who handle it in the last few years. It must be very lucrative as everyone is getting in on the act. DesFIP- thank you but it was a few months ago now and we are all absolutely fine. You can't just request X rays on the NHS without a reason to think you have an injury (and I certainly wouldn't want the baby having unnecessary x rays again) DarkSteven - now you may be onto something there. Do you think they'd accept a dozen nice straight lines across the ass as injuries caused in a car crash?

TAFKAA -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/8/2013 11:34:53 PM)
You'll never make a good FinDomme.

theRose4U -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/9/2013 1:07:15 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TAFKAA You'll never make a good FinDomme. LMAO I think that's the last of athenas worries[sm=rofl.gif][sm=rofl.gif][sm=rofl.gif]

tj444 -> RE: Hounded by people deseperate to give me money (1/9/2013 10:50:33 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders tj444 - I'm actually in the UK, but there has been an explosion of this type of claim and the solicitors who handle it in the last few years. It must be very lucrative as everyone is getting in on the act. That is disappointing.. this I expect in the US, I thought the UK was more like Canada in that respect.. oh well.. I know the UK has been changing, especially with citizens from other countries moving there.. which has made the real estate market go a little nuts there, etc..

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