Holiday Extras Travel Insurance

jockhaggis

We have a family holiday booked for late June. Villa and flights booked individually and not as a package. When booking in January, we took out Holiday Extras Platinum travel insurance as we wanted to make sure we have the best level of cover for all eventualities.

On checking with Holiday Extras they are saying they will not cover us for FCO restrictions or Coronavirus related disruption. Our policy document issued when purchasing does not state anything related to this, but they have since revised their policy to exclude FCO/Coronavirus cases. They have also added a statement to their website to say that 'From 17th March 2020, there is no cover under your policy for FCO, etc.' I'm assuming this can't relate to policies sold before this date as that would be a change of agreed terms?

As we have to pay the balance of our villa in 2 weeks, with no guarantee of refund or insurance cover (I have read the MSE guide on this), we're in a bit of a situation.

I'm sure there is a legal claim here and appreciate insurance providers first stance is to deny liability, but would appreciate any advice the forumites may have on our situation.

p.s. if the wonderful Martin Lewis or any of the team want to have a word with Holiday Extras, then I would be eternally grateful. This is our first real holiday in 10 years, having saved up for some time and with my wife losing her entire income due to Coronavirus, the last thing we need is to lose £000's as well.

Browntoa

I'm reading it as you are Covered if the advice is not to travel to your destination 

https://www.holidayextras.co.uk/coronavirus-travel-insurance.html#FCO

Your are not covered if you still travel

jockhaggis

Thanks for the reply.

That's how I read it too, but they are saying they will not cover Cancellation, Abandonment, etc. in the note above the FCO one on Coronavirus.  However, my thought is that is states after 17th March, but as we bought policy before then, we should be covered, but they are saying that's not the case.

It's looking like a legal or ombudsman challenge if they don't back down, but that doesn't give us immediate comfort.