Post office best for travel insurance?

RachelBrown_2

My sister is off to New York next week (lucky so-and-so) and needs travel insurance.

I've suggested Post Office as cheapest place to get it - is there anywhere better and how much is she likely to pay for 5-day trip?

dacouch

Its underwritten by Fortis who are fairly good on travel insurance claims.

It is often cheaper overall if you have a trip planned to the USA and other holidays planned to take out an annual policy so it would be worth checking the annual prices as well as it won't be a lot more than the single trip.

If she has cover on her home insurance for contents away from home normally called unspecified personal possessions or unspecified personal belongings she can normally get a cheaper travel insurance price by deleting the baggage cover on the travel insurance.

alared

http://www.direct-travel.co.uk/
I usually use the above but the last time I visited

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/travelinsurance/?source=TS

and they came up cheaper all though it was still with direct-travel

koolmummy

It came up cheaper on the MSM website because it is the same D.T.I policy but with sections of cover removed.

axsanexvoice

I purchased PO travle insurance, only problem, my on-line account still had the policy details saved from the last time I ordered, I didn't notice and clicked OK, so when I noticed the policy had the wrong policy holder details I called the PO customer service desk to cancel it.

Would they cancel it? nope! although I paid for the policy with my credit card and the account it was bought under is my name they want to speak to the person I accedently put on the policy! Wouldn't be so bad only that she now lives in Australia. I explained this but the PO want her to call and infomed me that they are open 8ap-8pm.. when I explained that it is 7am in Sydney when 8pm here the PO didin't think it was too much to ask!

Long & short, PO refuse to cancel the policy I bought with my money - will NEVER use them agai! If customer service is SO bad over a simple matter like this, the lack of understanding they have shown, I shudder to think what would happen if I ever needed to make a travel claim..

axsanexvoice

PS excuse the spelling mistakes.. I'm annoyed.. :mad:

dacouch

When did you buy it? I say this as providing you have not travelled you can usually get a full refund under the 14 day cooling off period

axsanexvoice

Yes 14 days is what they say but my name isn't on the policy, I made a mistake when filling out the policy details. According to the PO, the person who's name I put on there is the only person who can cancel it now and get me my refund... thing is she now lives in Australia... I don't even know if I have her current contact details!!

I paid for the poilicy with my credit card, I made a mistake (well the website did by auotmatically populating the fields with the details I used last time I logged on, over a year ago) but the PO won't refund my money :-(

Can they do that? Is there some way I can get them to cancel the policy and give me my refund?

axsanexvoice

PS I bought it yesterday

dacouch

axsanexvoice wrote: »

PS I bought it yesterday

Thats lucky...

This is in the Policy near the start under Important Information

Cancellation Rights
You can cancel this policy within 14 days from the date you receive the policy wording booklet and policy schedule. We will then refund your premium in full. No refund of premium is available after the 14-day period. If you have any questions on this matter or wish to cancel your policy please contact Post Office® travel insurance on 0800 169 9999.†

Hope this helps

koolmummy

The P.O are just being pedantic - they are saying only the policy holder can cancel the policy.
As you paid with you C.Card you should be showing on their records as the purchaser and they should be dealing with you.If you are the purchaser then they can take instructions from you as well as the PH
.
If they won't see sense then you need to look in the policy booklet and find how to complain, there should be a section giving the details. Write to them now returning the policy schedule (take a copy before you post it). Explain that you have called to cancel the policy and have found staff to be unhelpful and your letter is one of complaint.

Say you wish to cancel the policy and claim a full premium refund, you have not traveled using the policy and there are no claims known or pending against it.

This should work if not, take it to the next level of their complaints procedure.