Susan Skinner
The Co-operative Insurance
Ask the Expert: What is a ghost broker?
Susan Skinner, commercial insurance manager at The Co-operative Insurance, explains how to tackle the motor insurance scam of ghost broking.
Q. What is ghost broking?
Ghost broking is a motor insurance scam which can have a terrible outcome for drivers. The ghost broker is an illegal or bogus intermediary who targets communities with offers of cheap motor insurance policies which are literally too good to be true. That's because they have already completed an application with the insurance company using false information to obtain a significantly cheaper policy. The ghostbroker uses a stolen credit card to pay the first instalment, then gets the remaining money in cash from the customer – and pockets it leaving the customer uninsured. That only comes to light when the customer is contacted by the insurance company to tell them that their insurance has been cancelled – or in the worse case scenario – when the motorist has an accident and has to make a claim.
Q. So how can I avoid becoming a victim?
The golden rule – if it sounds too good to be true it probably is! So avoid suspiciously good offers from intermediaries and only deal with reputable insurance firms. Always check your policy document for any incorrect information and report them immediately to avoid insurance void or cancellation. If you have any suspicions of insurance fraud you can report them (anonymously if necessary) to the dedicated Insurance Fraud Bureau Cheatline on 0800 422 0421 or go to http://www.insurancefraudbureau.org/report.
Recent Experts
About Susan
Susan manages The Co-operative Insurance SME and Corporate insurance accounts.
Contact Details
Susan Skinner
Commercial Insurance Manager,
The Co-operative Insurance
commercial.enquiries@cfs.coop
01619033172
Services
Dealmakers Services Directory
Find an advisor to help you buy, sell or invest
Property Services Directory
Find an advisor across property services
Commercial Property Finder
Full commercial property listings in the North West
Venue Finder
The online resource for business event organisers in the North West
Guides
North West City View
The news, features and analysis that matter for your city
International Trade
Our guide provides expert analysis on a range of trade destinations
42 under 42 Members
The latest class of the North West's brightest young business people
Back the Bid
Help Insider's campaign to improve the trans-Pennine rail network
- Contact us
- Midlands
- North West
- South West
- Wales
- Yorkshire
- Other regions
- 0121 232 0980
- 0161 907 9711
- 0117 906 5900
- 02920 434500
- 0113 220 4410
- 0161 907 9718
- Insider regions
- Central & East
- Ireland
- Midlands
- North East
- North West
- South East
- South West
- Wales
- Yorkshire