Holiday insurance

Jandie

I booked a cruise to the Greek Islands with Tui, for September 2020. We paid our deposits but decided not to pay  the balance  due on 12th June as we did not want  to go or postpone as I'd developed a potentially serious health issue. We were prepared to lose our deposits but not the AXA insurance which was £125 each. I wrote to Tui (as I couldn't get through on the phone)before 12th June but I've heard nothing. No surprise there. I've spoken to AXA but they tell me that I have to take it up with Tui. Does anyone know where I stand on this please?

mr_stripey

are you trying to claim back the insurance premium (because you're not going)?
This would be down to the insurer, and probably discretionary. When did you take the policy out? 

eskbanker

It may be more cost-effective to claim on the insurance (for the health-related cancellation) rather than trying to negotiate a partial refund of it, especially if cancellation charges exceed the initial deposit?

Jandie

I took the insurance out last August, and want to claim it back because I'm not going. It may be that making a claim on the insurance will be expensive, and obviously my friend won't be able to claim at all. 

eskbanker

Jandie said:

I took the insurance out last August, and want to claim it back because I'm not going. It may be that making a claim on the insurance will be expensive, and obviously my friend won't be able to claim at all. 

But the point is that you've had nearly a year of insurance coverage already - travel insurance doesn't just cover the period you're away but in between booking and travelling offers protection against the very situation you now find yourself in, i.e. having to cancel for reasons not covered by the travel provider.  You may be able to negotiate some sort of refund but don't assume that you're entitled to all your premium back just because your holiday hasn't started.

mr_stripey

you might be able to get a small proportion of the premium back if you're cancelling it, but surely it would be better to use the insurance to claim the deposit back since you have developed a serious health condition which prevents you from travelling?

As eskbanker said - you've had the benefit of the insurance for some time so you certainly won't all of it back (if anything at all).

Jandie

Thanks all

elsien

Your friend may be able to claim on his own insurance, depending on his policy wording.