{"id":2028,"date":"2023-02-07T12:31:52","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T12:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cmaclaims.co.uk\/?p=2028"},"modified":"2023-02-07T16:38:01","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T16:38:01","slug":"new-police-crime-report-agreement-hampers-claim-handling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cmaclaims.co.uk\/new-police-crime-report-agreement-hampers-claim-handling\/","title":{"rendered":"New Police Crime Report Agreement Hampers Claim Handling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Car theft victims frequently wait more than seven days longer for insurance payouts due to the new National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council (NPCC) and Association of British Insurers (ABI) data-sharing agreement.<\/p>\n

Analysis saw a sharp rise in theft case resolution times during the fourth quarter of 2022, following the introduction of the latest NPCC\/ABI National Guidance<\/strong> on Data Sharing<\/a> in August (dated 06\/2022)<\/p>\n

After 20 years of seamless working, a crime report can no longer be sent to a loss adjuster acting on behalf of an insurer, only directly to the insurer.\u00a0 This added bureaucracy helps no one.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, most constabularies still send this information by snail mail. Claims handlers at insurance companies then have to forward it on, either electronically or, again, by post. No wonder we\u2019re seeing delays! Thankfully some constabularies appear to understand this is not the best guidance and continue to deal with us directly. There are other workarounds too, but these require more time-consuming consent paperwork. It is all so unnecessary and problematic, especially for suspected fraud when time is of the essence.<\/p>\n

Vehicle theft is a traumatic event, so efficient resolution is key. But the latest Guidance actively exacerbates the inconvenience. We urge the ABI and NPCC to uphold the spirit of section 2.2.2 \u2013 a commitment:<\/p>\n

\u2018To offer support to victims of crime within our communities by expediting the finalisation of their insurance claim\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

by urgently revising the wording, possibly even reverting to the previous 2014 text. More broadly, I urge all interested parties \u2013 the police and all insurance professionals (both ABI members and non-members) \u2013 to adopt a more joined-up approach to vehicle crime.<\/p>\n

There appears to be merit in separate guidance for vehicle theft.\u00a0 What other property sees:<\/p>\n