Last month we told you about two British people detained in Majorca due to an alleged fraud scheme involving food poisoning claims. Now Members of Parliament (MPs) are said to be stepping in to stop this “damaging” trend.
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YourMoney.com report states that a group of MPs has asked the Civil Procedure Rule Committee to look into the rules governing holiday claims costs. They want stricter controls for tour operator payouts as well as fixed recoverable costs for overseas claims. Hopefully the move will deter British holidaymakers from making false claims.
“Our message to those who make fraudulent holiday sickness claims is clear – your actions are damaging and will not be tolerated,” said Justice Secretary David Lidington, as quoted by the report.
Current regulations for package holidays enable holidaymakers to lodge claims against UK tour operators for travel sickness – gastric illnesses, in particular – citing the hotel’s alleged negligence in food preparation.
Lidington – who believes a loophole is being exploited in foreign holiday claims – said they will continue to explore further steps that can be taken.
“This government is absolutely determined to tackle the compensation culture which has penalised the honest majority for too long,” he was quoted as saying.
The Association of British Travel Agents previously noted a 434% increase in the number of gastric illness claims made by British tourists since 2013. It wasn’t clear how many of the claims were fake.
Law firm DAC Beachcroft had earlier urged the insurance and travel industries in the UK, as well as their Spanish counterparts to work together more closely in fighting against the dramatic increase in fraudulent claims. In Majorca, for instance, tour operators have reported a 700% rise in cases of false complaints about stomach problems.
Related stories:
Two Britons arrested by Spanish police over insurance fraud
Warnings over “dramatic” rise in fraudulent claims
