Industry rapped for petrol stretching claims

The insurance industry has come in for criticism from TDs and senators for refusing to pay out to policy holders who have had their cars damaged by petrol stretching.

Yesterday Kevin Thompson, CEO of industry body Insurance Ireland, told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications that its members had paid out on 600 claims relating to damage caused by petrol stretching, with a further 250 claims in the pipeline.

He told the committee that such claims would only be covered by comprehensive insurance policies and that in some cases, those who have claim protection on their policies would not necessarily lose their No Claims Bonus for claiming against petrol stretching damage.