Travel insurance claiming back cancelled non-refundable bookings

Betty_the_cat

My son has had an accident and is unable to travel, so I want to claim back the costs of the non-refundable parts of an upcoming holiday from my travel insurance. This is ferry and euro tunnel bookings, and some accommodation. The insurance company (cover for you, underwritten by Axa) says I need to ask for a refund from the travel and accommodation providers first before making a claim.

This seems needlessly complicated, when the bookings clearly state they’re non-refundable. Does anyone have experience of claiming with this company (or others underwritten by Axa). Did you really have to contact the companies asking for a refund first, and then claim. I’m concerned it could take several days to get an answer in writing from the travel providers. And if they offer me something else (eg a change of dates or credit note) will I have to accept this instead of claiming the money back on insurance?

DullGreyGuy

Travel insurance has always been "of last resort" and so if you can get a refund or do a chargeback etc you're expected to do so. 

Surely its not too much effort to drop a short email to the providers and wait a couple of days for the email back saying its non-refundable? From personal experience I have on rare occasions had refunds or offers to switch dates from providers where on paper it was non-changeable/non-cancellable. 

Hoenir

Betty_the_cat said:

 And if they offer me something else (eg a change of dates or credit note) will I have to accept this instead of claiming the money back on insurance?

Insurance companies will seek to minimise their losses. In the event you've suffered no financial loss there's nothing to claim for. 

Betty_the_cat

Thanks you both for your advice. This is the first time I’ve had to claim on travel insurance before so I wasn’t sure if this was standard, but I’ll send the requests and see where I get. In answer to ‘surely it’s not much effort’ no I guess not, but on top of the stress of my son going through surgery I was hoping for a bit less jumping through hoops in order to claim on the insurance. 

DullGreyGuy

Insurers ultimately take a lot on trust, they can't tell if you've a second or third travel insurance policy you are also claiming on, but they do ask for basic proofs like confirmation that the monies haven't been repaid by other mechanisms (eg you attempting to cancel or chargebacks etc). 

Unfortunately there are those out there who'll try and get the money from all three routes as insurance fraud, ripping off banks and taking things from business is thought of as a victimless crime

Grumpy_chap

Betty_the_cat said:

My son has had an accident and is unable to travel, so I want to claim back the costs of the non-refundable parts of an upcoming holiday from my travel insurance. This is ferry and euro tunnel bookings, and some accommodation. The insurance company (cover for you, underwritten by Axa) says I need to ask for a refund from the travel and accommodation providers first before making a claim.

This seems needlessly complicated, when the bookings clearly state they’re non-refundable. Does anyone have experience of claiming with this company (or others underwritten by Axa). Did you really have to contact the companies asking for a refund first, and then claim. I’m concerned it could take several days to get an answer in writing from the travel providers. And if they offer me something else (eg a change of dates or credit note) will I have to accept this instead of claiming the money back on insurance?

Why not simply ask the "non refundable" providers to provide a refund?
Sometimes they do regardless of the "non refundable" status.
I have had positive outcomes in such cases along with the expected number of "sorry- non refundable" responses.