ICBC investigation leads to guilty plea — August 25

Coquitlam resident guilty of providing false information

A Coquitlam driver has pleaded guilty to providing false information to ICBC.

Salvatore Figliuzzi appeared in court on July 29, 2004 and pleaded guilty to charges under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act. He received a fine of $800.00 and was also ordered to pay ICBC $1,073.94 in restitution.

“ICBC has a zero tolerance policy to this sort of thing,” said Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management. “Every dollar ICBC loses to false claims makes it more difficult for us to keep premiums low for our honest customers.”

The charges arose from Figliuzzi's October 2003 report of a single vehicle claim to ICBC. He stated that he struck a shopping cart and pushed it into a light standard. After having the vehicle towed to ICBC it was determined that the damages were not consistent with the vehicle hitting a shopping cart. Damages were estimated at over $6,000.00.

Meanwhile, a Vancouver resident initiated a hit and run claim for an incident that happened outside his home. Witnesses provided a licence plate number and description for the fleeing vehicle that matched Figliuzzi's vehicle.

ICBC investigated the witness information further and established that Figliuzzi's claim arose from the hit and run incident, and not as he reported.

“People need to realize that when someone profits from false information, they are stealing money from their neighbours and friends,” said Withenshaw. The insurance industry estimates that fraud increases premiums by about 15 per cent.

Anyone with information on a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to phone the ICBC Tips Line at 604-661-6844.

For more information contact:
Doug Henderson (604) 982-1332

ICBC investigation leads to guilty plea — August 25

Chilliwack resident guilty of providing false information

A Chilliwack driver has pleaded guilty of providing false information to ICBC.

Arnold Stanley David Burgess appeared in court on August 10, 2004 where he pleaded guilty to charges under the Insurance (Motor Vehicle) Act. He received a fine of $1,500 and was ordered to pay ICBC $1,410.85 in restitution.

“ICBC has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to this sort of thing,” said Mark Withenshaw, ICBC vice president of loss management. “Every dollar ICBC loses to false claims makes it more difficult for us to keep premiums low for our honest customers.”

The charges stemmed from Burgess' claim as the result of injuries he sustained from a vehicle collision in June of 2003. He stated to ICBC that that he was unable to drive and/or work as a result of the injuries.

ICBC's investigation was able to uncover that Burgess was driving a vehicle and was involved in activity that required heavy lifting. Even after this evidence was obtained, Burgess continued to claim he was disabled and unable to drive.

“People need to realize that when someone profits from false information, they are stealing money from their neighbours and friends,” said Withenshaw. The insurance industry estimates that fraud increases premiums by about 15 per cent.

Anyone with information on a suspicious, exaggerated or fraudulent claim is encouraged to phone the ICBC Tips Line at 604-661-6844.

For more information contact:
Doug Henderson (604) 982-1332

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