Travel insurance

keli520

Hi can someone help please?  I took out a yearly travel insurance policy to start from the date of our first holiday (tomorrow). Unfortunately I have an infection which means I am unable to go on holiday,  my guy from from insurance states that as it’s before the policy starts (tomorrow) we cannot make a claim…… I’m actually stumped for words…..  when we are advised to get travel insurance as soon as you book should it run from that day?  What happens with 1 off holiday trip insurance?  Surely this doesn’t mean I lose all that money?  

Advice welcome.  

Sandtree

Single trip cover - incepts from the date of purchase and covers you until the end of the trip

Annual cover - incepts on the date of your choice and should be the date of purchase if your new to annual travel insurance or the date of the expiry of your current policy so you have back to back cover.

It sounds like you have chosen to defer the start of your cover despite not having other cover in place and as this illness precedes the start of the insurance its therefore not covered. Your only hope would be a complaint that their sales channel (website or whatever) wasnt clear enough as to what the commencement date should be.

keli520

Thank you so much for your comment.  

I certainly wasn’t aware of the cancellation date not starting on annual policies until ‘the day’, obviously due to the current climate there was no ending of a previous policy as this lapsed many months ago and the only reason I booked annual as we moved another holiday to next May so thought it best to incorporate the two holidays.  

It certainly wasn’t advised this was the case and to be honest feel it unfair to have to fight for something when I’m feeling so poorly. Sad times to have lost so much money 😞 

Sandtree

In the first instance go back to their website, assuming thats how you bought it, and check what it says about start date including any helper text.  If on second read its clear that its your mistake obviously it may end up being a learning experience but if its ambiguous then you may have a chance of a complaint succeeding 

keli520

Thank you I’ll do that.  What is extremely odd is that TUI has stated that they would have covered for this (without taking out their insurance) but as we took out our own insurance then they can’t help!!  Thanks again for your help,

Sandtree

keli520 said:

Thank you I’ll do that.  What is extremely odd is that TUI has stated that they would have covered for this (without taking out their insurance) but as we took out our own insurance then they can’t help!!  Thanks again for your help,

Its easy to make comments about what would have happened in different circumstances... you'll see Apple make many comments about if you'd bought their iPhone from them then they'd have dealt with it but as you didnt its up to JL/Currys etc to deal. Whilst in reality Apple are better than many other retailers they are not as good as they claim when you;ve bought from else where.

SaverRate

keli520 said:

Thank you I’ll do that.  What is extremely odd is that TUI has stated that they would have covered for this (without taking out their insurance) but as we took out our own insurance then they can’t help!!  Thanks again for your help,

If thats the case dont tell them you have travel insurance as technically you didnt have travel insurance until tomorrow?

keli520

Sandtree said:

keli520 said:

Thank you I’ll do that.  What is extremely odd is that TUI has stated that they would have covered for this (without taking out their insurance) but as we took out our own insurance then they can’t help!!  Thanks again for your help,

Its easy to make comments about what would have happened in different circumstances... you'll see Apple make many comments about if you'd bought their iPhone from them then they'd have dealt with it but as you didnt its up to JL/Currys etc to deal. Whilst in reality Apple are better than many other retailers they are not as good as they claim when you;ve bought from else where.

So very true!

keli520

HarryDavies01 said:

keli520 said:

Thank you I’ll do that.  What is extremely odd is that TUI has stated that they would have covered for this (without taking out their insurance) but as we took out our own insurance then they can’t help!!  Thanks again for your help,

If thats the case dont tell them you have travel insurance as technically you didnt have travel insurance until tomorrow?

That’s a good point…. Unfortunately the fight goes on…..

benss

keli520 said:

Thank you so much for your comment.  

I certainly wasn’t aware of the cancellation date not starting on annual policies until ‘the day’, obviously due to the current climate there was no ending of a previous policy as this lapsed many months ago and the only reason I booked annual as we moved another holiday to next May so thought it best to incorporate the two holidays.  

It certainly wasn’t advised this was the case and to be honest feel it unfair to have to fight for something when I’m feeling so poorly. Sad times to have lost so much money 😞 

I've just had the same issue. Bought annual rather than single trip cover, paid on 4th April, which i assumed was the start date for cover, but turns out doesn't start until 20th. Wife gets covid on 18th so i Phone to explain and start our claim. Then get told can't claim due to the policy not starting until 20th and she took ill prior to that date. Annoying and I didn't go with the cheapest, went with one that has 5 star ratings etc. 
Some where on the application process it asked for the first travel date so i put that in. Didn't think that would lead to that date being the  start of the policy, live and learn i suppose but really annoying. 

Sandtree

benss said:

Some where on the application process it asked for the first travel date so i put that in. Didn't think that would lead to that date being the  start of the policy, live and learn i suppose but really annoying. 

It sounds like you went through an aggregator? If you did, did you then check on the insurer/sellers own website how the details had come through? The Q&B question set for annual travel insurance typically doesnt ask for any travel dates as these are broadly irrelevant. 

If the vendor themselves, not the aggregator, ask for first travel date and dont ask for an inception date for an annual policy you would have reasonable grounds for complaint.