Originally Posted by
ebaines
Come on Smoothy - stop being so rude. Our job here is to help people if we can, not insult them if we can't. We've had this question asked and answered on this site any time before. Often it comes up because a person gets in a fender bender, gets the other driver's name and insurance policy number, but neglects to note the name of the other driver's insurance company. It's an oversight that can be easily made in the confusion of the moments after an accident. I don't know if that's what happened in this case, and neither do you, but to start out by accusing the OP of trying commit a felony is inappropriate.
To the OP - as others have stated there is no way we can determine the other person's carrier from the policy number alone. Assuming that this is indeed about an accident you were in, if the police investigated the accident they would have noted the insurance carrier in their records, so you might try contacting them. You should also contact your own insurance carrier and ask them to help (in fact you should have already contacted them to let them know of the accident). You can call the other person and ask, though I realize you may be hesitant to do so. Your last resort is to work through your carrier to sue the other driver for the damages you sustained - then he will have to get his insurance company involved to protect himself.
What exactly is rude about that. Its perfectly true. If they got someone's insurance number for a valid reason... they would know the company and who its issued to, or even just who had the policy. What other reason would some have to need to track down a random insurance policy number they have no other information on?
If they had the persons name... they could call that person, or they would have a license plate number . Nobody gets JUST an policy number and nothing else.
You've been here long enough to see DOZENS of people ask the same thing... all they know is a policy number.
The insurance company even if you knew it... (in the USA anyway) legally could not give you any information without any other details because of identity theft is a very real thing. Filng a claim will require more than just the policy number. Trying to get MORE information when all you have is one piece of the puzzle via various means is called pretexting or social engineering. Anyone that works for a business where they have access to private customer information (at least in the USA) has to undergo annual training because of it. Its actually illegal do disclose a lot of information without proof the individual requesting it actually IS the account holder or at least has a right to such information. The penalties for it are significant.
Its also why you are required to present a photo ID when you try to use your medical insurance at a doctors office. Too many people DO try to use someone else's card, some times without their knowledge. I have several friends, my brother and one co-worker that has been the victim of identity theft. You also can't walk up to a bank...ask them if the account is here and how much is in it with only a number....they can't tell you.
And I would hope that if someone was ever trying to inquire about any of my policies or accounts with nothing more than a number. That they would do the same.
When you have access to such information (at least in the USA) you are legally required to assume the worst intention of those requesting it until proper information and credentials are presented.
I stand by what I said until the OP explains a situation why they need to know it, and how they came about getting that number. At which time I would review my stand on it.