You answer and a voice says it is sorry to hear about your recent accident. Sometimes it is a recording, sometimes a person racing through a script. Often there was no accident at all, and you are left wondering who handed over your number.
Who makes "sorry to hear about your accident" calls?
These are claims cold calls. The aim is to find someone who has had a car crash, a fall or an injury at work and sign them up for a compensation claim, which can then be passed to a claims firm or a solicitor. The caller rarely knows anything about you. They work through long lists of numbers and wait for the people who did have an accident to say so.
On UnknownDial, 01628362572 is one of the most searched numbers this month, with 79 lookups in the past 30 days and 43 comments. Several users describe a caller who opens with the accident line and talks over them until the script is finished. Others report a computer-generated voice that gives a name and a "helpdesk" job title, then asks about an accident that "wasn't your fault".
A London number, 02030106200, attracts similar reports: a prerecorded message saying the person had been in a car accident, or a call that rang off without leaving a message. These are our users' own accounts of the calls, and they do not establish who owns either line. Caller ID can be faked, so the number on your screen may belong to someone with no connection to the people ringing.
Is it legal for claims companies to cold call me?
In most cases, no. Since 8 September 2018, claims management firms in the UK may only make marketing calls to people who have given specific prior consent to be called by them. The rule is regulation 21A of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), added by section 35 of the Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018.
That sets claims calls apart from ordinary sales calls. The test is whether you agreed to hear from that particular firm, so it makes no difference whether your number is on the Telephone Preference Service (TPS).
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces these rules. On 29 July 2026 it executed search warrants at five companies as part of an investigation into the marketing of car finance claims, so this is a corner of the industry the regulator is actively looking at.
Why am I getting calls after an accident?
If you have not had an accident, the call is a fishing exercise. The same script goes out to thousands of numbers, and "recent accident" is vague enough that some people will remember a minor knock in a car park and start talking.
If you have had one, the call feels more personal, and it is fair to wonder how they knew. Your details may have been shared somewhere along the way, for example through an online quote form or an agreement whose small print allowed your information to be passed on. You can ask the caller which company they work for and where they got your number. Write down what they say, because it helps if you complain later.
Your own insurer may well contact you about a genuine claim. The simple check is to hang up and ring the number on your policy documents or in the insurer's app. A real insurer will know your claim reference and will not mind you calling back.
I already answered and gave some details. What now?
- If you only confirmed your name or said yes to a question, there is no need to panic. You may get more calls for a while, so let unknown numbers go to voicemail.
- If you agreed to a claim or described an accident, do not sign any paperwork that arrives afterwards. Reply in writing that you do not want to go ahead, and keep a copy.
- If you shared bank or card details, call your bank straight away. You can dial 159, which puts you through to the major UK banks, or use the number on the back of your card.
- If you lost money, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
- Be wary if anyone suggests adding an injury you did not have or making up details. A claim built on that is fraud, and it is your name on the forms.
It also helps to note the date, the time, the number that called and any company name the caller gave. You will need these if you report the call.
How to block and report accident claim calls
Blocking one number will not end the calls, because the same operation can ring from many different lines. It does stop the repeats from that number, which in the case of 01628362572 is what many commenters were dealing with.
- On an iPhone, open the Phone app, go to Recents, tap the info icon next to the number and choose to block the caller. Silence Unknown Callers, in the Phone settings, sends anyone not in your contacts straight to voicemail.
- On Android, open the Phone app, press and hold the number in your call history and pick Block or Block/report spam. The wording varies slightly between manufacturers.
- Report the call to the ICO using its ICO nuisance calls form. Give the number, the date and time and any company name the caller used.
- Text the caller's number to 7726. It is free, and it is the spam reporting number used by UK mobile networks. If the approach came by text message, forward that message to 7726 as well.
- Register with the TPS. It is free, and while it does not decide whether claims calls are allowed, it cuts down other kinds of sales calls.
Before the next call
If you are not expecting a call, let unknown numbers ring out. A firm with a real reason to contact you can leave a message with its name, which you can then check independently.
If you do pick up, say nothing about accidents, injuries or insurers. Ask who is calling and on behalf of which company, note it, and end the call. Afterwards, search the number on UnknownDial and add a short comment about what the caller said, so the next person who looks it up knows what they are dealing with.