National Accident Helpline

The National Accident Helpline is one of the largest personal injury specialists in the United Kingdom. It is a private, for-profit company. They help people to claim compensation after they’ve suffered an accident where someone else may have been at fault. Accident victims get in contact with National Accident Helpline through their website or by phoning their call centre. The helpline and its panel of solicitors deduct their fees from the claims on a no win no fee basis.^[1]

History

National Accident Helpline was formed in 1993^[1] by two businessmen with no legal qualifications, Alan Kennedy (who became its managing director) and Paul Follett,^[2] along with the Northampton legal firm Tollers.

In 2006 Lloyds TSB Development Capital (LDC), the private equity arm of Lloyds TSB, backed a management buyout enabling Kennedy to buy out Tollers and other shareholders.^[3] LDC looked into selling its 49% stake in the company for £90 million in 2008, as the helpline achieved record levels of income,^[4] but the sale was not completed due to the credit crunch of 2008.^[5][6] LDC later sold part of its stake to Inflexion Private Equity.^[7]

National Accident Helpline also owns subsidiaries NoWinNoFeeClaims.com, and Benchmark Insurance. In 2010 they started advertising through underdog.co.uk.

In February 2011 the company acquired PPI Claimline, a claims management company that focuses on mis-sold payment protection insurance.^[8]

Publicity

National Accident Helpline initially generated its caseload mainly by advertising in the press.^[1] Afterwards, it was then the first such company to use television advertising,^[2] and this became its main source of business in the 2000s.^[3]

The firm states that reports of cold-calling have no connection with the real National Accident Helpline, and asks victims of this practice to report any such incidents.^[9]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Bresler, Fenton (30 July 1997). "Heads I win; tails you lose". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/heads-i-win-tails-you-lose-1253337.html. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Sturgis, John (18 April 2001). "The profit in accidental pain". Evening Standard. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-935492-the-profit-in-accidental-pain.do. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "LDC backs buyout of National Accident Helpline". Press release. LDC. Archived from the original on 2006-12-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20061209033804/http://www.ldc.co.uk/assets/documents/0604_NAH_Investment.pdf. Retrieved 2011-07-16. 
4. ^ Leftly, Mark (3 August 2008). "'No win, no fee' firm in line for auction". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/no-win-no-fee-firm-in-line-for-auction-883627.html. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
5. ^ Leftly, Mark (25 January 2009). "'No win, no fee' National Accident Helpline back on the market for £60m". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/no-win-no-fee-national-accident-helpline-back-on-the-market-for-16360m-1514989.html. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
6. ^ Foxwell, Mark (13 June 2009). "Bosses set to win £23m at Helpline as sale talks with LDC continue". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1192799/Bosses-set-win-23m-Helpline-sale-talks-LDC-continue.html. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
7. ^ Bollen, Jennifer (2 November 2009). "LDC gets welcome call on National Accident Helpline". Private Equity News. http://www.penews.com/today/index/content/1055610500/restricted. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
8. ^ "PPI Claimline Acquired by Consumer Champion National Accident Helpline". Press release. PPI Claimline. 10 February 2011. http://www.ppiclaimline.com/reclaim-your-ppi/ppi-claimline-acquired-by-consumer-champion-national-accident-helpline/. Retrieved 16 July 2011. 
9. ^ Policy against cold calling and cold texting, National Accident Helpline. Retrieved 16 July 2011.

Bibliography

• Community Legal Advice (2008) Community Legal Advice, Cabinet Office
• Ministry of Justice (2008) Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)
• Department of Constitutional Affairs (2004) DCA: Now the Ministry of Justice

External links

• "National Accident Helpline". National Accident Helpline. http://www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/. Retrieved 2008-10-02. 
• "Claims Management Regulation". Ministry of Justice. http://www.claimsregulation.gov.uk/. Retrieved 2008-10-02. 
• "BBC: How Did No Win, No Fee Change Things?". BBC. 2008-05-07. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7387796.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-02. 
• "Benchmark Insurance". National Accident Helpline. http://www.benchmarkinsurance.co.uk/. Retrieved 2008-10-02. 
• "LDC Investments". Lloyds TSB: LDC. http://www.ldc.co.uk/. Retrieved 2008-10-02. 
• "Underdog.co.uk". National Accident Helpline. http://www.underdog.co.uk/. Retrieved 2011-09-19.