THUNDER BAY — A Toronto-area man has been ordered to repay the benefits he received after falsely claiming he lived in Thunder Bay when he took out a car insurance policy.
The man applied for the policy in 2019, providing a Thunder Bay address and documentation about a lease agreement for a residence in the city as well as an account at a local bank.
Having a local address made his insurance premium 23 per cent less than the same policy would cost in North York, where he actually lived.
In 2020, he made a claim for medical benefits following a reported automobile accident, and initially received $2,315 from his insurer.
At some point thereafter, the insurance company decided to take a closer look at the case, leading it to file an application with Ontario's Licence Appeal Tribunal – Automobile Accident Benefits Service.
Citing wilful misrepresentation of material facts by its client, the insurance company asked for full repayment of the medical benefits, plus interest, and a ruling excluding him from receiving income replacement benefits.
In a decision made public this month, the tribunal granted both requests.
The Thunder Bay woman with whom the man claimed to have signed a lease agreement denied he had rented living accommodations from her, and said she only agreed to let him use her apartment as his mailing address.
She also stated that the handwriting on the purported lease agreement shown to the insurer was not hers.
A bank manager in the city confirmed, as well, that the banking statement the man had submitted to the insurance company was fake.
Based on the evidence, the tribunal determined he had misrepresented his address for the purposes of fraudulently inducing the insurer to provide coverage, and with the intent of securing a significantly lower insurance premium.
