News - Council clampdown on bogus claims
A South Yorkshire council is launching a campaign to weed out compensation claims which it says are costing taxpayers more than 1m a year. Rotherham Borough Council has set up a 24-hour phone line which can be used to report suspected bogus claims. Claims for trips on pavements doubled to 320 in 2003/4 since 1999/2000. Philip Wardle, cabinet member for finance, said: “Money we pay out on fraudulent claims is money we could be spending on other services”. Financial impact The campaign will be backed by posters and leaflets warning of the serious financial impact false claims have on council budgets. Like many other local authorities, Rotherham Council has a compulsory insurance policy excess of 100,000 on every claim. This means that virtually all claims have to be paid directly from the council’s own funds. Mr Wardle said: “We will honour all genuine claims, but fraudulent claims undermine the claims of people with deserving cases for compensation. ” claimants are a crime against their community, and we want them to be caught and punished.” Audit checks Details given on the 24-hour fraudline will be investigated by the local authority. Callers can remain anonymous if they wish, and any information will be treated in the strictest confidence, the council stressed. Letters sent to all claimants from 1 November will point out that the council is taking part in the anti-fraud initiative, and that details of their claim will be automatically submitted to the Audit Commission to ensure claims are not being duplicated. Similar letters are also being sent to who regularly deal with compensation claims. From 1 November, the number to ring to report a suspected fraudulent insurance claim against the council is 0800 328 8270.
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