Travel insurance v the volcano...who paid out what?

Tippytoes

Well, I'm currently stuck in the USA and my insurers (Insure & Go) couldn't give a toss. I'm told the earliest I will get to fly home is 29/4. In the meantime, being treated worse than a dog.

I only wish that some of the consideration and financial assistance that the UK government hands out like confetti to the world's waifs and strays could come my way. Hungry, tired and feeling utterly abandoned........

huckster

Tippytoes

So what are your airline doing ? Some of them are helping, even if legally they don't have to. And if holiday on packaged trip, what is the tour operator doing?

If you are a waif and stray, speak to the British Embassy. I would expect they have emergency procedures to help those genuinely in need.

TrishaM

I am with Insure and go and have an annual multi trip policy. I am going to the usa in july. I have read through the policy wording booklet, and unless I am blind I cannot see where it is stated that they do not cover the volcano ash problem. Would someone be able to tell me where in the policy wording I can find this?

stevemarsh1976

As reported in the insurance times

Fortis - treating as bad weather so will cover (thats most of my clients covered )
Axa - is providing some cover under its missed and delayed departure covers
Aviva - will be looking at good will gestures for every full 12 hours delayed
Equity - has said it will be offering some cover
Biba protect travel if taken out from a biba broker - will cover for delay or cancellation exceeding 24 hours

in all cases these companies are offering cover but ultimately only in the event the airlines wont pay out for instance Ryanair

david39

I don't think insurance companies are so benevolent as to truly offer "goodwill" gestures.

I would suggest that where these are being offered then the contract is binding on the company to pay out anyway - the "goodwill gesture" is to make the customer think that the company is soft and sympathetic - so that they will use them for their future insurance needs.

paparossco

Email from insureme4 re their Diamond Plus Annual Multi-trip policy;

Mondial Assistance the underwriters of your policy has issued a statement to say, the cause of this delay is not an insured peril – as such there is no cover from claims relating to Volcanic ash.

All affected customers are advised to contact their airline directly.

suethedriver

1 stop travel insurance NOT paying out but goodwill gesture they have changed the dates of my single trip policy to my new resceduled dates.

stevemarsh1976

david39 wrote: »

I don't think insurance companies are so benevolent as to truly offer "goodwill" gestures.

I would suggest that where these are being offered then the contract is binding on the company to pay out anyway - the "goodwill gesture" is to make the customer think that the company is soft and sympathetic - so that they will use them for their future insurance needs.

Actually you would be surprised most of the insurers agreeing to payout do not have to so in essence all are acting under "good will"

shockingmoment

huckster wrote: »

Tippytoes
If you are a waif and stray, speak to the British Embassy. I would expect they have emergency procedures to help those genuinely in need.

Huckster - We're stuck in Kuala Lumpur. Went to the high commission - spoke to Charlotte and Cheryl - they offered us a blanket and a pillow. If we were at the airport....

Only other assistance was use of a phone nd internet. WesternUnion would provide funds as a loan.

That's it.

The high commissioner (Boyd McCleary) was unavailable as he was out of the country.

Their website only had news of a planned badminton tournament.

David and Gordon (Milliband and Brown) said on TV that 'everything that could be done would be done to help stranded Brits abroad'.

Charlotte and Cheryl said this was nothing to do with them as they were Consular - then Charlotte hung up on me.....

Still here. Still waiting. 4th May.

shockingmoment

TrishaM wrote: »

I am with Insure and go and have an annual multi trip policy. I am going to the usa in july. I have read through the policy wording booklet, and unless I am blind I cannot see where it is stated that they do not cover the volcano ash problem. Would someone be able to tell me where in the policy wording I can find this?

Insure and Go have washed their hands of us.

We have (and have had for 4 years) a Platinum Annual Family policy.

Co-Op and HSBC are covering losses apparently.

Thanks IandG - just when we needed you.