Insurance company refused to cover

Mi55moppett

I have been chasing a claim we made back in March. Although the insurance company said they would cover it at the time, after they received my claim they refused, saying that it was us who cancelled rather than the tour agency. I took this to their complaints department with all the documentation and laws to support it. It has still been refused and they advised us to take it back to the travel operator. I have done this and a deposit was repaid in May (about £400); however, a further £1212 is still with the travel company, who kept that, saying it was because we cancelled not them. I was under the impression that they kept the deposit not the amount paid on top of that. At the time, the UK FO advised us not to travel but on the date of departure (July) all gates were open, including our destination, New Zealand. To complicate matters, our stop over in Melbourne, en route, would have had to be cancelled as their gates had locked down days before we were booked to leave! So, even if we had travelled , we would not have been able to enter without 2 weeks quarantine thereafter. Where do I stand with all this when a whole month's salary has been banked by the tour operator!

eskbanker

If your trip was booked to start in July but you claimed in March, then that would strongly imply that you cancelled it yourselves, as it's highly unlikely that travel operators would have cancelled that far in advance at that stage.  You'll be subject to their cancellation policy, which could plausibly entail having to pay 75% of the trip cost rather than simply forfeiting the deposit as many seem to think, so check the terms you signed up to.  However, I can see why your insurer wouldn't accept a claim if it boils down to disinclination to travel, regardless of conditions prevailing many months after you cancelled....

sheramber

Cover for FCO advice usually applies to advice given a set number of days before the date of travel. Cancelling in March for a July date would be too far in advance.
You need to read the terms of your booking.That should state what you lose depending on when you cancel. 

[Deleted User]

Oh wish I had better news for you but I don’t. It does sound like you jumped the gun.   Sadly you will be bound by the terms and conditions you booked with which is probably a loss of around 75% of the cost (you can check this).   Unfortunately it doesn’t matter what eventually followed re Australia, the fact that you cancelled is all anyone will look at.  Harsh but true. 

Edited to add. Sorry for repeating what eskbanker has said but at least you know We are in agreement.