James Harris Investigations offers Insurers a flexible level of service to meet the needs and requirements of individual cases. When suspicion arises about the validity of a claim, JHI can provide the claims manager with evidence that:-
• Confirms that the claim is valid or
• Evidence that the claim is not valid or
• Suggests further or alternative investigations are needed
We offer a three-tier service that gives a structured and cost effective approach to claim investigations to meet your needs and budget. At the same time, we follow strict guidelines about professionalism and integrity when undertaking our enquiries.
Much of our work is in the Income Protection (IP) market, but we also undertake enquiries for a number of clients in credit insurance related to sickness and unemployment claims, dread disease, TPD and waiver of premium.
Our investigations are expected to be familiar with client's individual policy conditions as well as their corporate and claims philosophies.
For Income Protection Insurance Claims Managers we offer three services: -
Desktop Investigation.
A desk-based investigation service designed to provide claims assessors with information gathered from detailed internet and other research, to make informed decision on the viability of further investigation. Desktop investigations routinely include a pretext call to the claimant.
All findings are full reported, and supported, where possible, by documentary evidence gathered during the course of the research and investigation.
This is an inexpensive, quick, and effective way of determining if a more expensive, and detailed investigation, is justified.
Preliminary Investigation.
A half days surveillance by two fully equipped enquiry agents to assess the circumstances at a fixed cost.
Our enquiry agents will try to identify the subject of the enquiry, obtain information about their daily activities, find out if there is any indication that they are working and assess their mobility. If the circumstances indicate that it would be advantageous to immediately proceed to a full investigation our enquiry agents will contact the assessor by telephone and seek agreement to proceed immediately to a full investigation. If you decide to proceed to a full investigation immediately the fee for the preliminary investigation will be absorbed into the cost of the full investigation. Otherwise we will provide you with a report to help you decide on the next action.
Preliminary investigations will be undertaken when we have enquiry agents in the location and normally we are not able to guarantee that the work will be undertaken within a prescribed period.
Full Investigation (Mobile Surveillance Unit).
We will commence with full administrative searches. Normally a fully equipped two-man team will attend. Where necessary additional enquiry agents can join the team. A day consists of 10 hours including surveillance, investigation and reporting time.
On completion you will be provided with a full report and copies of videotapes and still photographs. For a small additional charge we are able to provide video evidence on CD-Rom so that evidence can be viewed at the assessor’s desk and stored conveniently in the case file. The CD-Rom includes Windows Media Player Software (M Player 2) for convenience of use.
Investigations are normally undertaken in a four weekly cycle. There are occasions when a very urgent investigation is required and we will do our best to accommodate requests for an urgent enquiry.