My journey insurance coverage supplier is refusing to pay for my cancelled journey

On 28 August 2023, my now spouse and I received married. I’d booked a shock honeymoon the following day to Lake Como. 

It was a shock as we actually couldn’t afford it while planning the marriage, so we agreed to not have one initially.

I needed my spouse to have a honeymoon as the marriage planning had been a troublesome time for us. I managed to work further shifts on the weekends to pay for this journey.

Unfortunately, as a consequence of air visitors management points our flight was first delayed for an prolonged time frame earlier than finally being cancelled.

My insurance coverage firm Admiral, with whom I’ve been making a declare, have solely agreed to pay half the lodging prices for our journey. 

It states it is as a result of it solely covers the price of the particular person insured. 

But the lodging was booked solely by me and I’d have wanted the identical lodging (one room) even when I used to be staying alone (the lodge solely had double rooms obtainable on the time).

We are unable to guide or plan the honeymoon as we had been ready for our a refund.

It’s actually unfair as your entire scenario was out of our management and all we ask for is our a refund so I can take my spouse on our first vacation/honeymoon. S.T by way of e mail

Harvey Dorset of This is Money replies: You had been very unlucky in that you simply had no selection however to cancel your journey, much more in order that it occurred to be your honeymoon.

When taking out an insurance coverage coverage, it is very important concentrate on the main points within the phrases and situations, particularly in relation to travelling with a associate. 

However, usually journey insurance coverage is an afterthought – and T&Cs not often fully combed over. 

In 2021, solely 14 per cent of people that took journeys overseas had single journey journey insurance coverage. Of people who did not, 1 / 4 stated they did not suppose they would want it, and 16 per cent forgot.

Unlike automobile insurance coverage, insuring your journey overseas is just not a authorized requirement, however the prices of failing to take action might be sky excessive.

In your case, you had the forethought to take out a coverage earlier than travelling, however your spouse was not named in your insurance coverage coverage, that means that though you solely booked one room, your insurance coverage supplier was solely keen to pay out in your share of the lodging price.

However, your spouse did have her personal journey insurance coverage – however the truth she was not named in your lodging reserving signifies that she was not in a position to declare her share of the lodging by way of her supplier.

I spoke to Admiral in your behalf, however sadly on this case This is Money was unable to get the outcome you had been searching for, with Admiral refusing to pay out in full as your associate was not named in your insurance coverage coverage.

I spoke to client skilled Scott Dixon, to seek out out what you need to do subsequent.

Scott Dixon, a client and motoring disputes skilled who runs the web site The Complaints Resolver, advised This is Money: It’s necessary that you simply learn the T&Cs on insurance coverage insurance policies, as this varieties a part of your contract with the insurance coverage supplier.

Insurance firms will undergo your declare with a effective tooth-comb to see if there’s a motive to say no your declare. 

In this occasion, Admiral have handled their buyer pretty and have honoured their contractual obligations.

If you’re sad with the end result from an insurance coverage declare, request a impasse letter. 

This is a closing response from the insurance coverage firm, which lets you refer your declare to the Financial Ombudsman Service for consideration.

Insurance suppliers don’t like claims being referred to the FOS because it prices them cash.

Key Terms should be honest, daring, clear and balanced in-line with S62 and S68 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Insurance suppliers can’t depend on small print buried of their Terms and Conditions to say no a declare.

Stick to your weapons should you imagine that you’ve got been unfairly handled by an insurance coverage supplier, as they usually depend on spurious Terms & Conditions to say no a declare.

Perseverance breaks resistance each time.

A spokesman for Admiral stated: We’re sorry to listen to that Mr T’s vacation was unable to go forward due to air visitors management points on the day they had been as a consequence of journey. 

We perceive from Mr T that he is obtained a full refund from the airline, and we hope that they get to benefit from the journey collectively at a later date.

We have appeared into Mr T’s declare and might see that he purchased one journey insurance coverage coverage with us on-line for himself solely and chosen a begin date of 10 August 2023. 

As Mr T’s associate didn’t take out journey insurance coverage with us, the declare has been settled to cowl his proportion of the lodging prices solely.

Our coverage guide wording advises prospects we can’t cowl prices for anybody not named on the coverage:

General Exclusions – web page 27, 30. Paying prices for others

Any prices the place you have got paid for anybody not named or insured on this coverage. This applies even the place, for instance, you have got paid for an additional particular person’s journey or lodging prices.

We strongly advise all prospects to make sure that they take out journey insurance coverage for everybody who is because of journey earlier than beginning their vacation. 

A abstract of canopy might be discovered on our web site together with full phrases and situations for all of our insurance coverage insurance policies.