Sickness claims – Spanish hotels being held to ransom

The costs of fighting fraudulent sickness claims are rising, say Spanish lawyers. Ian Taylor reports

Lawyers in Spain have challenged the idea that an epidemic of scam sickness claims by British holidaymakers is being brought under control.

They say Spanish hoteliers are being forced to pay for the new determination among UK tour operators’ to fight fraudulent claims.

Marie Rogers of Madrid-based law firm Rogers & Co said: “There is a lot of noise, [but] when tour operators fight [these fraudulent claims] the hotels have to pick up the costs.”

Fellow Rogers & Co lawyer David Diez Ramos, who acts for hotel insurers, said: “The situation is worse than a year ago. There are fewer claims, but they are more expensive.

“In the last year we received 20 instructions a month [on sickness claims] and perhaps one or two with a lawyer acting for the tour operator. This year almost every claim has a solicitor acting for the tour operator.

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