Government finally closes sickness claims loophole
The government on Friday (April 13) announced it would fix the level of legal costs that can be claimed from package holiday sickness scams.
In doing so, it shuts a loophole the industry has long said has fuelled a rise in bogus claims and risked pushing holiday prices up.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the new rules would be enforced in the coming weeks – in time for the summer holiday season.
“Claiming compensation for being sick on holiday, when you haven’t been, is fraud,” said justice minister Rory Stewart. “This damages the travel industry and risks driving up costs for holidaymakers [and] tarnishes the reputation of British people abroad.
“That is why we are introducing measures to crack down on those who engage in this dishonest practice.”