Peers have been urged to put a stop to the epidemic of cold calling for personal injury claims when they debate the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill on Wednesday.
The Bill, which deals with the regulation of claims management companies (CMCs) has been described by lawyers as a ‘missed opportunity’ to tackle the scourge of cold calling and spam texting which encourages people to make personal injury claims, even when they are not injured.
“We are plagued with around 51 million unsolicited calls and texts a year from CMCs which are already regulated,” said Brett Dixon, president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
“We have been calling for a ban on the practice for years. A recent YouGov survey found that 67 per cent of people would support such a ban*. Insurers’ representatives have recently agreed to the need for a ban. There was even a commitment in the Conservative Party election manifesto to consider a ban. Yet this Bill falls short in delivering what is really needed.
“Solicitors are already banned from cold calling for personal injury, and rightly so,” said Mr Dixon. “But CMCs are not, and it is time this changed.
“Cold calling exploits vulnerable people,” he went on. “It is tasteless and intrusive and generates a false perception that obtaining compensation is easy, even when there is no injury.”