Hoseasons Holiday Insurance (Always read the small print!)

Hanco

Here's one I've just left with Hoseasons to review...

When you book a self catering home/cottage/villa, they offer you personal insurance and it's not immediately obvious how to "remove" this usual 'value adding option' (!) but I found that clicking on the line "Personal Insurance £26" in the statement of costs did bring up options to remove it.

BUT... If you select to remove it then you have to tick a box that says the following:

"Continue - I accept full liability for loss and damage - remove this cover"

Sounds bad doesn't it? Do I want to be fully liable for any loss or damage? I suppose I am as I am staying in someone else's property, but I have not been bothered about being liable for looking after other peoples' things in the past - at least not until I was presented with a statement like that.

So I wonder what peace of mind the insurance would actually provide me with? Off we go to the small print...

Quote (my bold text added to emphasise the issue with this):

PERSONAL LIABILITY - SECTION 5

We will pay up to £2 million plus any other costs we agree to in writing that relate to anything you cause during your journey for which you are legally liable and results in ...

• Loss of or damage to property which you do not own and you or a relative have not hired, loaned or borrowed.




So it appears to be worthless insurance. Certainly it is worthless linked with the worrying caution statement that made me check the small print. This insurance does not cover the insured against loss of or damage to the cottage being borrowed/hired for a holiday. So what value has the insurance got; for example, over and above general travel insurance which is available at excellent prices and found elsewhere on this MoneySavingExpert site? Pretty much no added value at all that I can see.

Anyway, Hoseasons are looking at this. I won't be taking this policy out. I have to say, great service in general from the company but this once again demonstrates the value of not accepting apparent sales/marketing spin, and always taking a moment to scan through and read small print.

Hanco

jenny_f

have you heard anything else back from this??

about to book with them

beanybop

I have a cottage that I rented out. Not through hoseseasons, another very large company though.

I did not know about this cover until last year when a customer mentioned it to me. They were very unhappy when I told them that there was no way that the cottage company was going to be giving me any money if there was damage, and that it was left to me and the guest to sort things out between us.

As you say, what is the point of the insurance, What does it cover? just extra bunce for the cottage company.

By the way, do not think that if you book a cottage for £400 and then pay a £30 booking fee that the property owner gets the £400. I used to get between a half and 2/3rds of the £400. They do rather make it look like they - the booking company - are only getting the £30.00. Believe me, that is not the case.