Volcano insurance invalid

Salisbury

I am stranded abroad because of the volanic ash preventing flight and have just called my insurance company, Direct travel insurance, to discuss my options. They said that volcanic ash isn't stated in their policy, so their insurance doesn't cover me for anything. No delayed departure, no alternative means of travel...nothing. I am appalled.

Does anyone else have a similar experience? Is your insurance willing to pay out? Is your insurer one who hides behind the smallest of small print? Now is the time to find out where the good insurers actually are.

Personal recommendation - do not touch Direct Travel Insurance with a bargepole.

paulofessex

Can only say what l heard on the news....is your trip abroad part of a package deal? as if it is you are more protected.

A good question was rasied by a family who appeared on GMTV this morning, they are stuck in Malaga, they only had the usual holiday insurance for one week so they don't know if they will be covered for addittional costs as they have been advised they possibly wont be flyinh until Monday

I know it dont answer your question, l would continue to search the internet as l'm sure the answers will be there somewhere, hope you get sorted soon

glider3560

Have you spoken to your airline to discuss compensation? There is a thread about this somewhere else on the forums.

glider3560

The policy wording is:

If the public transport you are booked on is delayed at its departure point by more than 12 hours from the time
shown in your travel itinerary (plans) because of:
a) a serious fire, storm or flood damage to the departure point;
b) industrial action;
c) bad weather;
d) mechanical breakdown of the public transport; or
e) the grounding of an aircraft due to a mechanical or a structural defect.

I can't imagine that volcano ash would be considered as weather.

stevemarsh1976

Most insurers specifically exclude acts of god which unfortunately a volcano erupting or spitting out ash is an act of god

cogito

glider3560 wrote: »

The policy wording is:I can't imagine that volcano ash would be considered as weather.

It's arguable that the prevailing weather conditions are the cause of the ash accumulating in the area causing flights to be grounded. Having said that, compensation is typically limited to £20 for the first 12 hours, £10 for each subsequent 12 hours and an overall limit of £100.

The intention is only to cover miscellaneous costs as the airline are still contracted to get you home.

cogito

stevemarsh1976 wrote: »

Most insurers specifically exclude acts of god which unfortunately a volcano erupting or spitting out ash is an act of god

I have been waiting more than 40 years for someone to show me a policy which excludes Acts of God. I expect to be waiting a bit longer.

Salisbury

It is the responsibility of the airline to get you home. But the longer the delay, the longer the backlog of people to get on the aircraft. If I decide to go it alone I have to pay for a family of 4 to get home...somehow.

When I booked the insurance it looked OK. I didn't do a full risk assessment of all possible arisings. The issue for me is which insurance companies are now paying out. These are the ones I would use in future, because their wording is appropriately phrased to insure you in such situations, rather than having wording so tight that it hardly ever pays out.

Is dense fog or a hurricane an act of god? Smog? etc. Hopefully you see my point.

stevemarsh1976

cogito wrote: »

I have been waiting more than 40 years for someone to show me a policy which excludes Acts of God. I expect to be waiting a bit longer.

Speak to one they will tell you they dont cover acts of god, however they do hide behind clever wording like "we wont pay any claim arising from anything we dont specifically state is covered in the terms and conditions"

custardy

cogito wrote: »

I have been waiting more than 40 years for someone to show me a policy which excludes Acts of God. I expect to be waiting a bit longer.

http://www.theaa.com/insurance/pdf/car-hire-plan-policy-terms.pdf

3. This Policy does not cover the following:
a. any costs or charges incurred (other than the standard daily or hourly hire
rate) by You in relation to the Hire Vehicle (such excluded charges include
but are not limited to fuel, fares, fines, fees and excess waivers, additional
insurance premium or hire period extensions)
AA Car Hire
Policy Wording
b. any claim where the Insured Vehicle was being used for hire or reward
at the time of the Insured Incident
c. any claim where the insurer of the Insured Vehicle under the AA Car
Insurance Policy does not provide indemnity (in whole or in part) for the
Insured Incident
d. any hire charges incurred after the end of the periods stated in Section 1c
and 1d
e. any claim in relation to a hire vehicle not arranged by the AAIS nominated
Provider following notification of a claim to AAIS
f. any claim resulting from theft of the Insured Vehicle which has not been
reported to the Police as soon as was reasonably possible
g. any claim resulting from damage to the Insured Vehicle due to an act of
God, attempted theft, malicious damage or vandalism
h. any claim under this Policy reported to AAIS
(i) more than 14 days after the Insured Vehicle is declared a total loss
by the insurer of the AA Car Insurance Policy; or
(ii) more than 30 days after an Insured Incident in which the Insured
Vehicle is stolen
i. any claim for a Hire Vehicle where the commencement date of the hire
would be more than 30 days after a claim under this Policy has been notified
to AAIS
j. sea transit charges in the delivery and collection of the Hire Vehicle
k. any claim found to the reasonable satisfaction of the Insurer to arise out
of a deliberate or criminal act or omission (including of a fraudulent or false
nature). The Insurer will not be responsible for any costs paid or incurred as
a result of any such claim. See General condition 2h
l. any excess payable under the motor insurance of the Hire Vehicle in the
event of a claim, such as following an accident involving the Hire Vehicle or
a theft of the Hire Vehicle.

or do you mean travel insurance specifically?

StevieTravel

its quite bizzare how instistent the insurance companies are on retaining a clause about acts of god. Sureley there is money to me made ther for some brave underwriter?