RACV Insurance - Interesting question asked

[Spinner77]

Wife just had a minor bingle on the way to work. A young plumber in his boss's van ran into her side mirror - he had loaded the vehicle so that he could only use his side mirror to see, and had veered into her lane. A bit shaken, but she is fine.

Arriving at work, she went straight into the RACV insurance website, in case she had to make a claim (by the sound of it, I doubt it will be necessary). But what she found in the electronic claims form was interesting.

There is a question whether she had consumed any alcohol in the last 24 hours. 'Yes' or 'No'. No space for comment. So if she had a glass of wine with dinner last night, she would have to answer 'yes', to comply with the contract - even though the blood alcohol level would be zero.

RACV's question must have a purpose. Otherwise it would not be there. It must be some kind of factor in assessing the claim. Anyone here know how it is used?

Or is this a new instance of Victoria's fabled wowserism? This is after all, the Australian home of the dry, pub-free suburb!

[LTDHO]

ALL insurers ask that and have done for many years.

[hawke]

I spent most of working life in the insurance business. I have never found an insurer that asks relevant and or intelligent questions.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by hawke

I spent most of working life in the insurance business. I have never found an insurer that asks relevant and or intelligent questions.

Yep....

"Have you been declined insurance for any reason from another insurer?"

I have when I had the Festiva - some didn't like the fancy paint.

Buy a new car and did my insurance again / said no to this question.. I'm sure if I had said yes it would have been declined as well.

Alcohol.. what is it their business if you had a glass of wine or beer the day / night before??

How can this info be used in any way after the event? It can't be tested for and it is not against the law to have a drink.

[cheap]

Soy sauce is 3.9% alcohol by volume, I guess that means people need to be very careful with what Asian foods and condiments they consume, would not want to be an insurance risk.

[aussiblue]

Soy sauce is 3.9% alcohol by volume

And for the Lemon, Lime and Bitters drinkers Angostura bitters is 44.7% alcohol by volume.

[Bossxr8]

Why would you answer yes. How would they know otherwise?

[xisled]

This question is used for further questions down the track if the claim is to be investigated. Also it will be used to see if a claim needs potential investigation, they will look at the total claim and work out indicators, usually 3 or more means we would take another look at the claim in closer detail.

When working in claims we used to do a thing call a 12 hour statement. Basically asked what the person was doing 12 hours prior, if you felt you needed more than 12 hours you could ask. We would ask details such as places they have been, who they were with, what time they left the house went to bed and such. (Not all claims we asked this only certain claims)

Then we would use these questions to match up phone call records and such, witness statements, ask the insured further questions later on down the track to confirm movements and such and the private investigator could use this information also.

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Why would you answer yes. How would they know otherwise?

Disclosure?

[Spinner77]

Thank you, Xisled.

Very interesting. Good to know.

Fair question, Bossxr.

Unless you have a smart Samsung TV!

However I cannot imagine any Australian company trawling through your conversations via Nuance's speech recognition records. Can you?

That would be un-Australian, right?

This is a free country. Correct?