Taxi Insurance CHEATS

[Osiris]

Here's what is on today's STforum

 

If what is written is true, make sure you make it a habit of taking photographs of any minor accident that resulted in no or little damage to prevent bad sheep taxi from cheating.

 

April 22, 2009 Wednesday

 

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April 22, 2009

RISING MOTOR CLAIMS

Blame blatant dishonesty

I REFER to Monday's special report, 'Motor insurers out to stop claims from piling up', in which various parties blamed one another for rising motor claims.

 

I will say, without any reservations, that the culprits are a combination of dishonest motor workshops, equally dishonest car owners and, probably, even some dishonest insurance surveyors who are in cahoots with the workshops.

 

I have personally experienced and seen these acts of dishonesty, which are carried out blatantly and openly.

 

Several years back, when my windscreen was hit by a flying object, I took my car to a workshop for the windscreen to be replaced. I was told by the workshop manager that I need not worry about the cost as it would be covered by insurance.

 

When I insisted on knowing the cost, I was told that it would be about $2,300. I immediately rejected it, refusing to be party to such a scam.

 

I bought a new windscreen on my own for only $350, then got a windscreen replacement company to replace it. I was charged $150 for the labour and material to carry out the job.

 

I then proceeded to my insurer, and after producing both receipts and explaining the situation, I received a cheque for $500 within half an hour.

 

Thus, I see no justification for the extra $1,800 that the insurer would have to pay to the workshop for such a simple repair.

 

In another incident, I was at a workshop in Eunos when a cabby drove his taxi in. There was no damage to it. The driver went into the office and after a few minutes, came out with the workshop owner. What I saw next shocked me. A worker removed the bumper on the taxi and replaced it with a damaged one.

 

The workshop owner then used a piece of chalk to mark out all the damaged areas on this bumper, then took several photographs. The damaged bumper was again replaced with the original one, and the driver then followed the owner back into the office. A while later, he came out with a stack of $50 notes. This incident make me realise why many workshops keep damaged headlights and other car parts.

 

The two examples I have cited show the amount of cheating that goes on within the motor repair industry involving various parties.

 

It is about time the General Insurance Association and the police look into these dishonest practices and come down hard on the culprits, so the problem does not become more widespread and result in car owners having to pay continually rising insurance premiums.

 

Loh Tiong Soo