The claimant, Parker, alleged that she had slipped and fallen on stairs while working as a cleaner, leading to an inability to work due to chronic pain, claiming that she was unable to perform basic tasks at home such as hoovering, filling the washing machine, or driving. However, investigations revealed that shortly after the alleged accident, Parker had started a valeting business, "Pride N Shine Mobile Valeting Service Limited," and was actively working in a manual role.
Evidence gathered showed Parker cleaning cars with her partner, with customer reviews praising their "hard work" in challenging conditions. Even when her partner fell ill, Parker continued to valet cars on her own, contradicting her claims of incapacitation. In addition to attempting to deceive the defendant, Parker was found to have received benefits of over £10,600 from the Department for Work and Pensions. The disclosure of this evidence led to her solicitors withdrawing from the case.
The court ultimately struck out the claim, resulting in savings in excess of £150,000. Furthermore, Parker was ordered to pay legal costs of £17,976.
Ben Fletcher, director of financial crime, Allianz UK commented: "At Allianz, we pride ourselves on our robust approach to tackling fraud and protecting our customers' interests. This case exemplifies the strength and dedication of our team, working tirelessly to uncover the truth and ensure justice prevails. The successful outcome of this case underscores our determination and collaborative efforts with partners like DWF to combat fraudulent activities effectively."
William Stobart, Associate at DWF Law LLP, stated: “When confronted with her deception, Ms. Parker attempted to come up with excuses to explain away the evidence. She attempted to conceal the extent of her deception but the court was not deceived by her attempts. Allianz rightly have a zero tolerance to fraud and we were delighted to work in partnership with real teamwork between Allianz and DWF to achieve this result.”
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