ABTA calls for April action over fake sickness claims
Nearly one in five Brits has been approached about making a compensation claim for sickness while on holiday, according to research released by ABTA today.
Based on a YouGov survey of over 2,000 adults, ABTA says 19% of Brits have been contacted about making a claim.
Of these, 14% were approached over the phone, 7% by test, 7% by email, 3% on social media and 2% in person in airports or in resort.
ABTA hopes the findings will help persuade the Government to close a loophole in the law, which means claims management companies and legal firms can make more money in fees from sickness claims from overseas holidays than from personal injuries in the UK.
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ABTA also wants the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill – which will come to the House of Commons early in 2018 – to include a ban on cold calling for personal injury claims by claims management companies.
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Six months ago the Government announced plans to clampdown on the rise in false sickness claims, but ABTA is ramping up the pressure and wants new measures in place in time for the 2018 summer season.
With only two opportunities a year to make the planned changes – April and October – it says April is the last chance before the peak holiday period.
Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s Chief Executive said: "Closing the loophole in the law in time for the 2018 holiday season will make a big difference in tackling fraudulent sickness claims."
The new research also found that 70% people don’t realise that making a false claim for holiday sickness could end with a prison sentence in the UK or abroad.
In October 2017 a couple from Merseyside received a prison sentence after being found guilty of making a fraudulent sickness claim against Thomas Cook.
In the meantime, ABTA advises anyone who is cold-called and encouraged to make a fake or exaggerated claim to report the company to the Claims Management Regulator.
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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