InjuriesBoard.ie Statement re: ASAI Ruling against Claims.ie
InjuriesBoard.ie Statement re: Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland Ruling Against Claims.ie website
InjuriesBoard.ie, the independent Government Agency that assesses personal injury claims today (Tuesday, 26th October 2010) welcomed the decision of the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) to uphold the Board’s complaint about online advertising undertaken by the website www.claims.ie.
“We have been concerned for some time that personal injury claimants were providing information to this website mistakenly believing it to be the official Injuries Board website - www.injuriesboard.ie ” said Patricia Byron, Chief Executive of the Board.
“Based on customer feedback, we believe that the online advertising used by the promoters of the claims.ie site misled potential claimants into thinking that they had made an online application to the Injuries Board. Instead, they had provided personal information, including details of their accident and injuries to an anonymous website, which provides no information about the individuals or organisation behind it.
“Typically, claimants who provide information to this website are then contacted by a solicitor to discuss being appointed as their legal representative. In a small number of cases, we have been told by some claimants that they were led to believe that the solicitors in question had been appointed or nominated by the Injuries Board and proceeded to engage them. The Injuries Board never appoints solicitors.
Since its establishment in 2004, all personal injury claims in Ireland must be submitted to the Injuries Board. The Board’s website, www.injuriesboard.ie, provides clear and detailed information for claimants about how the Board works and how to make a claim for compensation. It also offers a user friendly facility whereby claimants can submit an online application themselves.
Since the Injuries Board’s web based service was launched in 2008, there has been a significant increase in online advertising from sites which offer a variety of services to potential personal injury claimants.
While the ASAI ruling against the claims.ie website is welcome, the Injuries Board is advising claimants to be vigilant and follow some basic advice :
- If you have been the victim of an accident in the and are considering making an application to the Board, ensure that you click onto www.injuriesboard.ie and do not be deceived by online advertising which leads you to other sites
- Be careful about submitting personal data to sites where you have no idea who is the recipient is; unlike sites like www.injuriesboard.ie where you can clearly identify that it is a statutory Government agency. You would not give a stranger in the street personal and sensitive information, so why give it to a website which gives no information on who is behind it.
The Injuries Board also operates a Service Centre which is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and can be contacted at Lo-Call 1890 829 121.
Ends Tuesday, 26th October 2010
Notes for Editors
ASAI Case Report