Holiday Insurance - Why does my travel agent insist on me telling them if i have it

timothydavidnicholson

I have travel insurance but why is it my travel agent wants confirmation about my travel insurance details.

If im cynical id say its becuase they want to sell me some ... but maybe someone more informed could shed some light on this please.

stressed_mummy

It is to cover themselves if anything happened whilst you were away !!
they dont want to be taken to court for something that they should have sold you!!

timothydavidnicholson

stressed_mummy wrote: »

It is to cover themselves if anything happened whilst you were away !!
they dont want to be taken to court for something that they should have sold you!!

But its not a legal requirment for me to have have holiday insurance is it?

Alan_Bowen

It is a requirement under the Package Travel Regulations that agents advise you of the need for travel insurance, by getting your details, they can prove they complied with the requirment. It is each individual's choice whether to have it or not, but in this litigious world we live in, agents are frightened of being accused of failing to ask the question.

blindman

timothydavidnicholson wrote: »

But its not a legal requirment for me to have have holiday insurance is it?

And therein lies the problem.

The agent should ask if you have Travel insurance-No reason why you should have to prove it. IMHO

They are probably trying to sell you some.

katejo

I have done 8 trips with the firm Explore. On arrival at the destination you have to show insurance documents . If you have none, you cannot continue on the trip.

daveyjp

katejo wrote: »

I have done 8 trips with the firm Explore. On arrival at the destination you have to show insurance documents . If you have none, you cannot continue on the trip.

Same with cruises. You have to give your insurance details before they will complete a booking and send tickets.

dzug1

blindman wrote: »

And therein lies the problem.

The agent should ask if you have Travel insurance-No reason why you should have to prove it. IMHO

They are probably trying to sell you some.

Not necessarily - not all travel agents are allowed to sell it.

Often more a case of practicality - if you are taken ill or badly injured whilst away the tour rep is probably the first point of contact - if they know your insurance details then they can contact your insurance company to confirm they will pay for your treatment. Otherwise you might stay in limbo until a hospital prepared to treat you is found.

rocking69

timothydavidnicholson wrote: »

But its not a legal requirment for me to have have holiday insurance is it?

Well, that depends where you are going. If you are going to Cuba or somewhere in US, etc. it is ever more important than if you are visiting Europe.
OP is right, not everyone has a licence to sell it.

headpin

Where precisely in the Regs does it say that the "other party" i.e. the travel agent or similar, has to enquire about whether to have an insurance?

They are required to advise about health requirements, passport and visa requirements, etc. The following is an extract from the advice to "other parties" provided by the DTi

"Can I sell the consumer insurance? Answer: There is nothing in the regulations to prevent organisers making it a condition of the contract that the consumer take out their travel insurance. The only obligations imposed by the Regulations are that he must provide the consumer with information about an insurance policy to cover the cost of cancellation by the consumer or the cost of assistance, including emergency repatriation, in the event of illness which the consumer may, if he wishes, take out in respect of the risk of those costs being incurred. (See regulation 8 (2) (d).)

See http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file35634.pdf


So, whilst it can be a contractual requirement, there is no legislative requirement or obligation for the traveller to provide any information on what insurance they may have or not have.

stephb34

timothydavidnicholson wrote: »

But its not a legal requirment for me to have have holiday insurance is it?

It should be then we wouldn't have Tom, !!!!!! and Harriett begging in the local newspapers every year because they had hospital treatment they couldn't pay for or their close relation died and the body needed repatriating.
As others say some countries and some airlines won't let you fly without it, ie Cuba it must be in your hand luggage and if you can't produce it they put you on the next plane home.
If you have it why not appease the agent and just give them the info, if you haven't why are you risking losing your holiday or the value of it for the sake of a few quid.