Bid to clamp down on false holiday claims

ing holidaymakers. eign holiday claims.

Ministers have said they want to Ministers have asked the Civil reduce cash incentives to bring spuProcedure Rule Committee – rious claims against package holiresponsible for setting rules on legal LANS to clamp down on day tour operators. costs – to urgently review the rules bogus holiday sickness claimUnder the proposals tour operagoverning holiday claim costs. ants from Halton have been tors would pay a prescribed sum The MOJ spokesman said as a drawn up. depending on the value of the result of proposed changes, fixed

The Ministry Of Justice (MOJ) claim, making the cost of defending recoverable costs can be extended made the announcement after cona claim predictable. to cover claims arising abroad, closcerns from the travel industry that Justice secretary David Lidington ing the loophole and meaning paymore suspected false insurance said: “Our message to those who outs for tour operators will be subclaims for gastric illnesses like food make false holiday sickness claims ject to stricter controls. poisoning are being brought by is clear – your actions are damaging The spokesman said: “The vast British holidaymakers. and will not be tolerated. majority of holidaymakers will not

An MOJ spokesman said the “We are addressing this issue, make false claims, and those with travel industry has reported an and will continue to explore further genuine claims will still be able to increase in claims – which could be steps we can take. claim damages. as high as 500% since 2013. “This Government is absolutely “But it will crack down on those

Due to the reported increase in determined to tackle the compenwho do make bogus claims and claims and many tour operators sation culture which has penalised help stop the price of package holiappearing to settle out of court, the the honest majority for too long.” days soaring for the honest majority.”coststotheindustryareincreasing.Asystemtocontrolcostsalready

The spokesman said it is ‘raising exists for most personal injury Holidaymakers can face up to fears’ of higher package holiday claims in England and Wales, but a three years in prison if found guilty prices for the majority of law-abid- loophole is being exploited in for- of making a fraudulent claim.

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