Car at the garage? Expect a cold call

DRIVERS who take their car to a garage for repairs following an accident are having their details sold to cold-calling claims firms.

A major investigation by a car repair trade body found ambulance-chasing firms were getting hold of customers details within hours of a motorist dropping off their vehicle at a garage.

The motorists are then bombarded with calls encouraging them to claim compensation for whiplash.

Customers have accused workshop staff of selling their personal details to claims firms. Garages deny this, but have been unable to explain how customers’ names and numbers appear in claims firms’ files.

The probe by trade body RMI Bodyshops worked by entering fake details into garages’ computers. Its executive director, Jason Moseley, says it has evidence claims firms called up asking to speak to these made-up customers shortly afterwards.

He fears computer systems garages use may have been hacked and the information found sold to claims firms.