Knowing that ‘honesty is the best policy’ still does not motivate Brits to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when they’re applying for insurance products. Whether it’s home insurance, health insurance or life insurance; lies of all shades are told. For some it’s the common white lie about one’s weight for others it’s the slightly darker shade of a lie which comes in the form of withholding information about minor back problems.

Then again you get those that use the downright black lie of stating they don't smoke, as maybe it’ll be the motivation needed to actually quit the habit.

Women are the biggest culprit for telling the white lie about their weight, while some 25% of men conveniently forget to disclose how much alcohol they consume according to insurer Axa. These pieces of information are vital in the constructing of your policy and thus the quote you are offered for the service. Misleading your insurer via information told or by concealing important details is likely to invalidate your entire policy. When it comes to life insurance shaving a few pounds off your scale’s digits is hardly worth sacrificing the protection of your family’s financial future.

Axa noted that half of the individuals in the survey felt embarrassed about revealing personal information during their application while 17% thought that they would be rejected all together if they were honest. Ultimately you will only reject yourself by lying as your ‘secret’ condition could hamper your claim’s success, even if it is completely unrelated.