Thomas Cook reward points - advice needed

zzzLazyDaisy

I have a TC credit card. I use it for everything and pay it off by DD each month. I use the points earned to pay for my annual travel insurance. I have been doing this for the past 6 years or so.

[Just so we don't get side-tracked, this is the exception to prove the rule - I have several pre-existing medical conditions. Unlike most policies, the TC Annual Policy covers them all, and works out cheaper than most so called specialist policies]

Anyway, I digress.... my policy ran out in February. I was on holiday at Easter, so I went in to renew my travel insurance - to be told that they now only sell travel insurance when bought at the same time as a holiday, which is defined as at least two days abroad, but can be flight only. I was told that this is not a TC decision, but something that has been forced on them by the government.

That leaves me with a problem - firstly adequate annual travel insurance is difficult to get, and costly to pay for, so much so that single trip policies look like a better bet for me; and secondly I have to question whether this is the right card for me now, as I don't use TC, or any other high street travel agent, to book holidays.

I'd be grateful if anyone could throw some light on this 'new government rule', and also for any suggestions for a new reward card, if there really is no way round this problem?

Thanks

zzzLazyDaisy

"bump"

Mods, if you think this query would be better on the travel board, could you move it for me? Thanks, Daisy.

Galstonian

I don't know what legislation they are referring to, nothing springs to mind.

If you have a pre-existing condition then most insurers will cover you, just not for that condition. Sometimes this is okay, sometimes not, depends on the condition. I don't know of any specialists for pre-existing conditions, perhaps someone like Saga might be of help (I have no idea how old you are but I expect they will have experience of people with a large variety of medical complaints).

As for the card, if you are no longer getting the benefit you used to then it is probably time to shop around. Martin has articles that rank reward and cashback cards, the offers may be slightly out of date, always check any offer before you sign up to it.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1087717218,37843,
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1095802071,3353,