IFED eyes ‘rogue’ repair sector
The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department – IFED – has warned it is keeping a close eye on unscrupulous repairers in its efforts to reduce insurance fraud.
Chris Thomas representing Laird Assessors was pleased to accept an invitation from Mark Hadaway of Bodyshop Magazine to attend an insurance fraud roundtable event held at The Connaught Rooms in London recently.
Mark had arranged for DCI Dave Wood, head of the City of London Police Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department to speak to a group of leading industry figures representing some of the most respected names in the industry. The event explored how the repair sector might help in IFED’s continual fight against insurance fraud.
Dave made it clear rogue repairers are under IFED’s watchful eye.
‘The accident repair industry is led by some very professional, highly skilled and astute organisations. However, these businesses are being negatively impacted by a minority who act in a dishonest, fraudulent manner. It’s this minority whose activities we’re interested in,’ said DCI Wood.
‘Motor is currently the biggest area of fraudulent activity insurers face. This event is a very important step in helping to address this issue,’ said DCI Wood. ‘It is great that such influential members of the sector are keen to explore areas in which our efforts can be combined. This could be the start of something very beneficial to all parties – IFED, insurers and the accident repair community.’
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) insurance fraud costs insurers £2bn a year.
In attendance at the event were: Simon Law, Allianz; Doug Brown, Anomaly42; Paul Sykes, Audatex; Mark Hadaway and Graham Threlfall, bodyshop; Ian Pugh, Fix Auto; Trevor Sutton, IAEA; David Young, IBIS; DCI Dave Wood, IFED; Chris Thomas, Laird Assessors; Frank Harvey, NAB; Adrian Sarjeant, Oxford Automotive Group; Chris McKie, Vizion, and Mark English, WNS.