From mousey soups to falling coconuts, and flying Christmas trees to phones lost in cows, people’s audacity when it comes to claiming insurance money is shocking. The more you read these, the more you’ll shake your head in wonder at what humans are capable of.
We all fall on hard times sometimes. For some of us, that can lead to incredible desperation. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Here are 5 of the craziest insurance claims to have ever been filed.
5. Fire Farce
We all fall on hard times sometimes. For some of us, that can lead to incredible desperation. And desperate times call for desperate measures. Here are 5 of the craziest insurance claims to have ever been filed.
5. Fire Farce
Having homeowners and car insurance is widely considered to be a good idea. You never know when things will go wrong.
Nicholas Di Puma, from Delaware, however, couldn’t sit back and wait for something to go wrong – he went ahead and set fire to his home and his convertible. That’s right – he had money for a sexy convertible, but wanted more, so he set fire to it. That’s wealth, friends.
He claimed that it began when he the pans on his stove exploded into a fierce fire. This then spread to a bucket of coals that caught fire. So, being the quick thinker that he is, Di Puma then tried to put the fire out, by throwing one of the buckets out the back door – directly into the back seat of his convertible. Pretty impressive – but it gets better.
On his way out the door with the second bucket, he tripped over and it landed on his sofa, ensuring the entire home was ablaze.
Yeah, the local PD didn’t buy it either. Di Puma ended up with five years probation and no pay out on his insurance benefits. Oh, and his home and car were obliterated. Good call, Nick. Good call.
4. Cow Phone
Nicholas Di Puma, from Delaware, however, couldn’t sit back and wait for something to go wrong – he went ahead and set fire to his home and his convertible. That’s right – he had money for a sexy convertible, but wanted more, so he set fire to it. That’s wealth, friends.
He claimed that it began when he the pans on his stove exploded into a fierce fire. This then spread to a bucket of coals that caught fire. So, being the quick thinker that he is, Di Puma then tried to put the fire out, by throwing one of the buckets out the back door – directly into the back seat of his convertible. Pretty impressive – but it gets better.
On his way out the door with the second bucket, he tripped over and it landed on his sofa, ensuring the entire home was ablaze.
Yeah, the local PD didn’t buy it either. Di Puma ended up with five years probation and no pay out on his insurance benefits. Oh, and his home and car were obliterated. Good call, Nick. Good call.
4. Cow Phone
We’ve all heard the creepy stereotypes about farmers and their animals – and they’re mostly untrue. Right? Right.
Well, one Ivor Bennett got himself in a bit of a sticky situation. The farmer from Devon, England, put in an insurance claim for having lost his phone up the dirty end of a cow. Apparently he had been using the super handy torch function on his iPhone while he was helping the cow give birth on a dark, dark night.
When the phone worked its way out of the poor gal’s system, it wasn’t functional. Shocker. It all worked out OK for Ivor and his cow in the end – the insurance company paid out in full and he replaced his phone.
3. Wind In The Willows
Well, one Ivor Bennett got himself in a bit of a sticky situation. The farmer from Devon, England, put in an insurance claim for having lost his phone up the dirty end of a cow. Apparently he had been using the super handy torch function on his iPhone while he was helping the cow give birth on a dark, dark night.
When the phone worked its way out of the poor gal’s system, it wasn’t functional. Shocker. It all worked out OK for Ivor and his cow in the end – the insurance company paid out in full and he replaced his phone.
3. Wind In The Willows
You’re driving home after some exhausting Christmas shopping, minding your own business. Excited to get home to a loving family and a warm fire. But, oh, yeah, your journey home is interrupted by a flying Christmas tree coming right at your car.
That’s exactly what happened to one Mr. Fairclough as he headed home during the holiday season. Regarding the incident, he said:
“He was driving too fast around a sharp bend and I saw the tree lift off and it flew straight at me. The trunk made a great dent in my bonnet and caused me to swerve off the road into a hedge.“
“The chap didn’t stop and he never came back for his tree, so the Police said we might as well have it. It wasn’t funny at the time, but looking back it was like a comedy sketch!”
He ended up with a free tree – and the insurance company paid out all damages. Merry Christmas, everyone.
2. Murder Most Foul
That’s exactly what happened to one Mr. Fairclough as he headed home during the holiday season. Regarding the incident, he said:
“He was driving too fast around a sharp bend and I saw the tree lift off and it flew straight at me. The trunk made a great dent in my bonnet and caused me to swerve off the road into a hedge.“
“The chap didn’t stop and he never came back for his tree, so the Police said we might as well have it. It wasn’t funny at the time, but looking back it was like a comedy sketch!”
He ended up with a free tree – and the insurance company paid out all damages. Merry Christmas, everyone.
2. Murder Most Foul
This one is pretty grim. O’Conner & Co. executive Mark Thompson couldn’t keep up with his lifestyle. So he set his abode ablaze, hoping to collect $600,000 in insurance.
He took it disturbingly far, however. To get away with it, he attempted to make the whole thing look like a suicide. He took his 90 year old mother downstairs into the basement, covered it in gasoline and lit a match.
The alibi didn’t fly, however, after the FBI carried out further investigations. No money, no mother, and 115 years in prison. A place he definitely can’t torch.
1. Till Death Do Us Part
He took it disturbingly far, however. To get away with it, he attempted to make the whole thing look like a suicide. He took his 90 year old mother downstairs into the basement, covered it in gasoline and lit a match.
The alibi didn’t fly, however, after the FBI carried out further investigations. No money, no mother, and 115 years in prison. A place he definitely can’t torch.
1. Till Death Do Us Part
Pretty bridesmaids, pumped up groomsmen, a beautiful blushing bride and a humbled, grateful groom. That’s what we want on our wedding days, right?
Well, Paula Catelli from Italy was in for a nasty surprise. Her incredible hand-made wedding dress wandered dangerously close to the barbecue on her special day. Her entire dress caught on fire. Luckily, her and her husband were great swimmers. So he tossed her into the sea. Phew! Good call husband.
As a result, the insurance company paid out 50% compensation for the catastrophe. No more barbecues at weddings guys – enough is enough.
Well, Paula Catelli from Italy was in for a nasty surprise. Her incredible hand-made wedding dress wandered dangerously close to the barbecue on her special day. Her entire dress caught on fire. Luckily, her and her husband were great swimmers. So he tossed her into the sea. Phew! Good call husband.
As a result, the insurance company paid out 50% compensation for the catastrophe. No more barbecues at weddings guys – enough is enough.
