Volcanic ash insurance claim rejected

missile

After several weeks of delay:

Direct Travel Group acting for Travel Plan Direct, have stated that my policy does not cover any cost assosciated with volcanic ash. has anyone had similar experience or have you had any success in claiming?

The policy is underwritten by Fortis. On this forum, I was advised that Fortis were "very good" and Fortis do say they would honour claims, see here> http://www.fortisinsurance.co.uk/policyholders/news/press-releases/Details/?newsID=134. Is there ANY insurance company who provide a better service for annual travel insurance?

I am sure this topic must have been discussed but my search did not bring up relevant posts. Appologies if this is a duplicate?

Quentin

There's only one person (FH Brit) who keeps banging on about Fortis being good, but he gets his impression/expertise from dealing with them as a debt collector in Florida, and seems to concentrate on how many bills he has to chase to decide who is a good insurer! (You will see he also recommends Columbus!). When asked by others why he keeps recommending them he gives cryptic answers (eg. "curiosity killed the cat"), so we can only guess at his motives!

Try Direct-travel - they say they treat volcanic ash as a weather related event:

If your flight has been cancelled or delayed, whether you are in the UK or abroad, in the first instance please contact your airline and/or travel company.
You can submit a claim under your Direct Travel Insurance policy for costs such as accommodation and transport that cannot be recovered from another source such as the airlines, tour operators, hotels etc.

foggytown

On what basis was your claim rejected? Did they refer to some section of the policy that excludes ash or some definition?

missile

Please be advised:

The link I posted to Fortis website offers similar assurances to Direct-Travel

Fortis will be treating the volcanic ash incident as a bad weather event which means that customers may be entitled to claim under the terms of their travel insurance policy.

They are quick enough to take your money, but ............

I completed a claim form and sent it 25.05.10, I phoned today to find out why I had no response. They claim they wrote to me on 03.05.10 stating that my policy did not cover volcanic ash. I did not receive their letter and have asked for a copy.

missile

foggytown wrote: »

On what basis was your claim rejected? Did they refer to some section of the policy that excludes ash or some definition?

Please be advised:
I took out my policy and booked flights, before volcanic ash erruption.
You may be familiar with their policy document? In my claim I referenced section 7 Delayed Travel

Quentin

missile wrote: »

The link I posted to Fortis website offers similar assurances to Direct-Travel ....

Fortis does have this weasel wording:

customers may be entitled to claim under the terms of their travel insurance policy.

(I don't "recommend" direct-travel, but their wording does seem more concrete!) And they are probably more appealing than the only other company so far to offer cover (at an additional price) - aviva.)

Judas

OP why exactly was your claim rejected?

missile

Judas wrote: »

OP why exactly was your claim rejected?

I don't have any more info, but shall report as and when I receive their letter.

missile

Still no copy of the letter. I got a phone call on Friday 11th from Mellanie. The same muppet who told me they had sent me a letter on the 03rd and would send me a copy.

She said could not proceed without letter from airline. Told her it was attached to my letter dated 25th.
"It is not in my file, are you sure you sent it"

blah blah

I sent an e mail to their complaints department and no surprise :rotfl:....... there has been no response

Oh how I hate this company :mad:

missile

Still no letter which was supposed to have been sent 03.06.10.

I have eventually received a letter from uk general insurance group dated 16.06.10. This company is not mentioned on my policy document. Who are they?, do they own Fortis or what?

They state

UK General have given carefully considered their position regarding this unusual and unexpected event. We do not consider a volcanic eruption is an insurable risk on your policy.

This seems to contradict Fortis Press Release that they would consider volcanic ash as a bad weather event, see here> http://www.fortisinsurance.co.uk/pol...ls/?newsID=134.

Barneysmom

HI hope you don't mind me butting in.

I bought my insurance from Argos (Travel Guard - Chartis).

I got my cheque yesterday for £300, for delay.

It says that it's in respect of travel delay on the basis of a payment of £25 per person for each complete 8 hours delay up to a maximum of £300.

I don't understand how one company will pay out and not another?