Military Hearing Loss Claims: A Straightforward Warning About Scam Adverts

As both a regulated solicitor and a former Commando, this issue matters to me personally. Noise-induced hearing loss is a real injury affecting thousands of serving personnel and veterans — and it deserves honest, specialist advice.

A recent Forces News investigation exposed adverts that implied a connection to an official MoD programme, when none existed. This is entirely consistent with what I have seen over many years. Their report can be read here.

A simple rule of thumb

If an advert is shouting “Veterans, claim now!”, “We love Veterans!”, or anything similar, treat it as a warning sign. In my professional experience, these organisations are rarely solicitors. They are usually unregulated claims-management companies whose business model is simple:

• collect your personal data
• sell it to the highest bidder
• push you into claims without proper legal advice

Turn back the veil and many also claim to “specialise” in immigration claims, cavity-wall insulation claims, housing disrepair claims and anything else trending that month. That scattergun approach tells you everything you need to know.

Why this matters

When you hand your details to a lead-generator, you lose control over who contacts you next. You may end up tied to a firm you never chose, with no clarity about who is actually acting for you.

I have reported misleading advertisers to the ASA, but the safest protection remains:

• Go directly to a regulated solicitor
• Avoid anything that feels overly emotional, patriotic or “official”
• Ask whether the person advising you is actually a qualified lawyer 

If you want independent, non-legal guidance before speaking to any solicitor, you can also contact the Royal British Legion, who offer confidential advice and support to serving personnel and veterans.

For further help, our guide on choosing the right military lawyer is here:

Everything at Alma Law is handled or supervised by me, a qualified solicitor and veteran — no call centres, no lead generators, no gimmicks - and no bull.

Grant Evatt

03.12.25