Dazbo5
My problems didn't arise from the small print, nor had I failed to read it.
It just didn't occur to me that it could be interpreted the way it was;
Would ANYONE expect to be ordered to drive to a hospital 230 miles away--- after an accident?
How many people memorise their return Flight No? or carry their ticket with them?
rachie-m
bit worrying for you to find your cover is with the same people--- your only real hope is if Lloyds TSB use a different assistance company in Jamaica than the one I had with Barclaycard. (They were calling themselves "Global Excel Assurance " last year).
Keep your head down & don't take any risks or you may have to swim to a hospital in Canada if they don't have an "Approved Facility" in Jamaica!- - might be worthwhile phoning before you go to find out if they do & where it is? especially if you're taking kids with you.
Re complaints at work;
How long have Lloyds TSB been using this particular Company?
And how soon will you get to hear about such failures?
Was my case such a rare one? --- ivor
only inasmuch as I lived to tell of it.---
- you should have heard the tales the Airline staff told me about what does happen!
How does your complaints system work?
Possibly the worse part was long after my return when legal proceedings were being threatened because Financial Insurance Company (now calling themselves "Lloyds TSB Travel Insurance") had indeed "failed to honour their agreement" with the US Hospital.
I approached the Ombudman to enquire what I could do, & was scared sick when his first comment was
"Oh yes, We are "aware" of this company!"
As far as I know there can only be 2 reasons for this----& I had to pray it was "only" a multitude of complaints --- the alternative would have bankrupted me!
bit worrying for you to find your cover is with the same people--- your only real hope is if Lloyds TSB use a different assistance company in Jamaica than the one I had with Barclaycard. (They were calling themselves "Global Excel Assurance " last year).
Keep your head down & don't take any risks or you may have to swim to a hospital in Canada if they don't have an "Approved Facility" in Jamaica!- - might be worthwhile phoning before you go to find out if they do & where it is? especially if you're taking kids with you.
Re complaints at work;
How long have Lloyds TSB been using this particular Company?
And how soon will you get to hear about such failures?
Was my case such a rare one? --- ivor
only inasmuch as I lived to tell of it.---
- you should have heard the tales the Airline staff told me about what does happen!
How does your complaints system work?
Possibly the worse part was long after my return when legal proceedings were being threatened because Financial Insurance Company (now calling themselves "Lloyds TSB Travel Insurance") had indeed "failed to honour their agreement" with the US Hospital.
I approached the Ombudman to enquire what I could do, & was scared sick when his first comment was
"Oh yes, We are "aware" of this company!"
As far as I know there can only be 2 reasons for this----& I had to pray it was "only" a multitude of complaints --- the alternative would have bankrupted me!
Its that time of year when I'm browsing for Travel Insurance yet again.
I/ve just discovered that "Travellers Protection Services", trading as "Primary Insurance", (anyone on here know why they all hide behind alternative names?) is using "Global Excel" as their N.American "Helpline" ---- you know, the "Helpline" you absolutely MUST call, in the very FIRST instance, if you need medical help.
Primary's policy carries, word for word, the identical "get out of paying" clauses to those contained in my "Barclaycard Direct Travel Policy"
Wonder which "parent company" holds the copyright on these clauses ????
I/ve just discovered that "Travellers Protection Services", trading as "Primary Insurance", (anyone on here know why they all hide behind alternative names?) is using "Global Excel" as their N.American "Helpline" ---- you know, the "Helpline" you absolutely MUST call, in the very FIRST instance, if you need medical help.
Primary's policy carries, word for word, the identical "get out of paying" clauses to those contained in my "Barclaycard Direct Travel Policy"
Wonder which "parent company" holds the copyright on these clauses ????
Ivor,
thanks for raising the topic of "insurance small-print". I'm off soon to the Caribbean and will later today check the wording on our annual worldwide policy.
My sympathies are with you for the problems you've suffered as described.
Thanks also for warning us about the proliferation of this kind of issue with, what one would consider to be, reputable companies.
That said, how WAS your medical treatment paid for ? How DID you get back home to the UK ? WAS your car returned to the renter or did you suffer one-way drop-off fees ?
You've not exactly made it clear what you are trying to claim back from your insurers.
In summer 2000 my immediate family and my mum & dad holidayed in Florida. Dad was taken seriously ill and hospitalised with a heart problem, missing his (and my mum also) return charter flight.
His insurers put up a modest fight but I was successful in recovering all real costs suffered by mum & dad including her taxi fares to/from the hotel (plus extension of accomm. costs) and hospital. My wife and I and our two kids few back home as we were not covered by my parents policy to stay - nearest relative to my dad only.
As for dealing with the ombudsman - succeeded in that aspect with a major Building Society about 10 years ago and only yesterday sent off a detailed report re. a complaint against one of the major UK banks. The ombudsman is in essence a (binding - upon the bank/insurer but not upon you) arbitration service. The "burden of proof" should not be overly difficult for you surely.
The car you drove in will have been covered in blood - your blood.
The phone calls you made prior to credit expiring will be traceable to a general area as the mast you're connected to will have been recorded - ask your phone provider to divulge this info.
The hospital treating you will have kept accurate records including the transfusion aspect, the amount of blood, the urgency of the treatment and their opinion that you could not have driven much further BEFORE receiving the transfusion.
The airline with the return ticket that was, I believe you reported, a 12 month validity would surely have permitted you to change to a later flight within the 12 months at no or very little cost - this cost cannot surely be refused by your insurers.
As a final suggestion, was your premium over £100 and did you pay by either a credit card or a VISA debit card ? If so, look at taking action against your card issuer if you really cannot get repayment of costs from your insurer.
thanks for raising the topic of "insurance small-print". I'm off soon to the Caribbean and will later today check the wording on our annual worldwide policy.
My sympathies are with you for the problems you've suffered as described.
Thanks also for warning us about the proliferation of this kind of issue with, what one would consider to be, reputable companies.
That said, how WAS your medical treatment paid for ? How DID you get back home to the UK ? WAS your car returned to the renter or did you suffer one-way drop-off fees ?
You've not exactly made it clear what you are trying to claim back from your insurers.
In summer 2000 my immediate family and my mum & dad holidayed in Florida. Dad was taken seriously ill and hospitalised with a heart problem, missing his (and my mum also) return charter flight.
His insurers put up a modest fight but I was successful in recovering all real costs suffered by mum & dad including her taxi fares to/from the hotel (plus extension of accomm. costs) and hospital. My wife and I and our two kids few back home as we were not covered by my parents policy to stay - nearest relative to my dad only.
As for dealing with the ombudsman - succeeded in that aspect with a major Building Society about 10 years ago and only yesterday sent off a detailed report re. a complaint against one of the major UK banks. The ombudsman is in essence a (binding - upon the bank/insurer but not upon you) arbitration service. The "burden of proof" should not be overly difficult for you surely.
The car you drove in will have been covered in blood - your blood.
The phone calls you made prior to credit expiring will be traceable to a general area as the mast you're connected to will have been recorded - ask your phone provider to divulge this info.
The hospital treating you will have kept accurate records including the transfusion aspect, the amount of blood, the urgency of the treatment and their opinion that you could not have driven much further BEFORE receiving the transfusion.
The airline with the return ticket that was, I believe you reported, a 12 month validity would surely have permitted you to change to a later flight within the 12 months at no or very little cost - this cost cannot surely be refused by your insurers.
As a final suggestion, was your premium over £100 and did you pay by either a credit card or a VISA debit card ? If so, look at taking action against your card issuer if you really cannot get repayment of costs from your insurer.
The problem is very simple to resolve, but financially would penalise the insurers. The cost would also be much higher, although often the price has nothing to do with what actual cover you get.
When you take out these policies you have little chance of understanding what they do and do not cover.
So many of the clauses are confusing for anyone other than an expert. That is the reason so many claims fail.
Elsewhere I have written an explanation of overseas car hire. I was able to do so because I worked in that field and was trained. I would not even attempt to try to explain travel insurance.
Like others I do have it. I have read it and as far as I understand it, I am covered.
It is a topic we could spend many hours discussing, yet until we get a law that forces insurers to put it into simple terms, we have little chance of being confident in the product we have bought, and rely on so much.
fwh
When you take out these policies you have little chance of understanding what they do and do not cover.
So many of the clauses are confusing for anyone other than an expert. That is the reason so many claims fail.
Elsewhere I have written an explanation of overseas car hire. I was able to do so because I worked in that field and was trained. I would not even attempt to try to explain travel insurance.
Like others I do have it. I have read it and as far as I understand it, I am covered.
It is a topic we could spend many hours discussing, yet until we get a law that forces insurers to put it into simple terms, we have little chance of being confident in the product we have bought, and rely on so much.
fwh
Any & every other trader & businessman is responsible for the quality & fitness of any goods sold, or services supplied --- how did the Insurance Companies get exemption from this?
fwh
certainly good idea to READ your policy --- but learn from my experiences, I had read mine -
I knew I must ring the "helpline BEFORE going to hospital--- which, of course, I did, much to my cost.
Many Policies contain this get-out clause---
--- I had NOT, however, noted that I needed to quote my return flight number "at first contact" My failure to quote this was said to have put me in "breach of policy wording"
---- have you memorised yours? Who does? & you surely won't keep your ticket on your person at all times?
Many Policies contain this get-out clause---
---- I had noted that they "may direct you to our nearest approved facility", & like most mugs, assumed this meant IF there happenned to be a choice at(whatever) locality I hapenned to be. It just never occurred to me that it gave them the "absolute right" to direct me anywhere they chose, regardless of distance or my condition.
Failure to use an "approved facility" is sufficient reason to void a claim.
Many Policies contain this get-out clause--- & if it's in your policy, find out where your "approved facility" is, & how to get there --- before you need it!
Many policies also iclude a clause allowing their"medically qualified staff" to take over & direct your treatment.
The member of "qualified medical staff" who was perfectly entitled to tell my Surgeon, Drs, & nurses, exactly what they could do & how they should do it --- does in fact hold a medical qualification --- in nursing --- (obtainable via the internet for under $100)!
One of my Drs did comment that she had gained her entire medical knowledge watching hospital programmes on daytime TV.
This was the same "medically qualified staff" who ordered me to undertake the impossible dash to the airport to catch my (original) flight home (in spite of all the fuss about getting my return flight number she had forgotten to notify the Airline)
My refusal to undertake this journey(against the orders of my Drs!) was sufficient reason for them to cancel my cover with immediate effect--- only it was another 3 days before they bothered to tell me!
Many Policies contain this get-out clause---
How did I get home?
After the row about this stupidity, I went back to my mountain cabin spent the w/end, cleaning it,packed up my stuff,arranged another policy to get me home (tho' of course this excluded all my existing injuries), contacted Hertz & Delta to explain the position, & set off South on the Monday, eventually arriving at the Hertz depot on the Thurs, & flying back on the Friday
Delta were fantastic, in every way!!! When I explained what had hapenned, they offerd me a "wheelchair assisted" flight on any available seat whenever I was ready to fly home, altho' my ticket was really only valid for selected flights. I later learned that Global Excell did in fact try to cash-in my ticket, but- too late!! As I'd already re-booked,& Delta knew what was going on! It was then they told me I was never supposed to have got off that mountain -much less arrives at a hospital
So-I returned the car, & Hertz only charged me for the extra 2 weeks hire--no extra penalties & they hadn't reported it missing or stolen!!
Oh --- there was no blood in it --- before setting out that night I'd put my towels & all my dirty washing on the seat to prevent this, but of the 4+ pts of blood I'd "lost", at least 3 of these were actually still sloshing around INSIDE me. (later told this included one single blood clot some 5" in diameter)
What did I claim for?Apart from the hospital charges you mean? Well the policy said I was due £15/day --- not got a penny
It also said I was due the cost of prescription drugs I had to buy --- not got a penny.
But on top of that:
had the "Helpline" actually helped me, in ANY way whatsoever, when I first called them, I could have got to that hospital (in daylight) in less than 2 hrs - & consequently I would :
- NOT have lost anywhere near as much blood
- Not have run risks attendant with blood transfusions
- NOT have been anywhere as near as ill & weakened
- most probably NOT have needed the surgery
- I could have made my original flight home
- NOT had to pay the extra 2 weeks car-hire
- NOT had to pay the extra Motel & living costs
- NOT have needed more corrective surgery after my return
Evidence?
They rely on the fact that I was travelling alone, & said straightaway I'd never be able to prove a thing!
& that I only had a pre-paid cell-phone- you cannot get a print-outs of calls made/received by these, tho' T-Mobile did look up these for me & give me the exact times & duration of all calls made that evening, they were unable to print these for me.
To meet FOS requirements of proof would have cost me well into 4 figures --- AND entailed another USA trip to collect it---
& here's the rub ----
because I was either awaiting the further corrective surgery, or had had surgery within 12 months --- I was absolutely unable to get insurance to cover such a trip.
FOS took 2 yrs to tell me I'd made my complaint against the wrong firm!!! (Pointing out at the same time that complaints HAVE to be made within 6 months of the "final" letter)
I had complained against the Underwriters for failing to pay, & ******** for selling a policy "not fit for purpose".
According to FOS,I should have complained against some firm called Barclays Insurance Services Co --- who I'd never heard of !!!
I tackled a Customer Services manager about this one -- & he'd never heard of'em either!
FOS have today offered me £100 for the "distress & inconvenience" caused by the way they've handled my case.
You may draw your own conclusions on that.
**Edit to remove potential libellous comments - Admin**
certainly good idea to READ your policy --- but learn from my experiences, I had read mine -
I knew I must ring the "helpline BEFORE going to hospital--- which, of course, I did, much to my cost.
Many Policies contain this get-out clause---
--- I had NOT, however, noted that I needed to quote my return flight number "at first contact" My failure to quote this was said to have put me in "breach of policy wording"
---- have you memorised yours? Who does? & you surely won't keep your ticket on your person at all times?
Many Policies contain this get-out clause---
---- I had noted that they "may direct you to our nearest approved facility", & like most mugs, assumed this meant IF there happenned to be a choice at(whatever) locality I hapenned to be. It just never occurred to me that it gave them the "absolute right" to direct me anywhere they chose, regardless of distance or my condition.
Failure to use an "approved facility" is sufficient reason to void a claim.
Many Policies contain this get-out clause--- & if it's in your policy, find out where your "approved facility" is, & how to get there --- before you need it!
Many policies also iclude a clause allowing their"medically qualified staff" to take over & direct your treatment.
The member of "qualified medical staff" who was perfectly entitled to tell my Surgeon, Drs, & nurses, exactly what they could do & how they should do it --- does in fact hold a medical qualification --- in nursing --- (obtainable via the internet for under $100)!
One of my Drs did comment that she had gained her entire medical knowledge watching hospital programmes on daytime TV.
This was the same "medically qualified staff" who ordered me to undertake the impossible dash to the airport to catch my (original) flight home (in spite of all the fuss about getting my return flight number she had forgotten to notify the Airline)
My refusal to undertake this journey(against the orders of my Drs!) was sufficient reason for them to cancel my cover with immediate effect--- only it was another 3 days before they bothered to tell me!
Many Policies contain this get-out clause---
How did I get home?
After the row about this stupidity, I went back to my mountain cabin spent the w/end, cleaning it,packed up my stuff,arranged another policy to get me home (tho' of course this excluded all my existing injuries), contacted Hertz & Delta to explain the position, & set off South on the Monday, eventually arriving at the Hertz depot on the Thurs, & flying back on the Friday
Delta were fantastic, in every way!!! When I explained what had hapenned, they offerd me a "wheelchair assisted" flight on any available seat whenever I was ready to fly home, altho' my ticket was really only valid for selected flights. I later learned that Global Excell did in fact try to cash-in my ticket, but- too late!! As I'd already re-booked,& Delta knew what was going on! It was then they told me I was never supposed to have got off that mountain -much less arrives at a hospital
So-I returned the car, & Hertz only charged me for the extra 2 weeks hire--no extra penalties & they hadn't reported it missing or stolen!!
Oh --- there was no blood in it --- before setting out that night I'd put my towels & all my dirty washing on the seat to prevent this, but of the 4+ pts of blood I'd "lost", at least 3 of these were actually still sloshing around INSIDE me. (later told this included one single blood clot some 5" in diameter)
What did I claim for?Apart from the hospital charges you mean? Well the policy said I was due £15/day --- not got a penny
It also said I was due the cost of prescription drugs I had to buy --- not got a penny.
But on top of that:
had the "Helpline" actually helped me, in ANY way whatsoever, when I first called them, I could have got to that hospital (in daylight) in less than 2 hrs - & consequently I would :
- NOT have lost anywhere near as much blood
- Not have run risks attendant with blood transfusions
- NOT have been anywhere as near as ill & weakened
- most probably NOT have needed the surgery
- I could have made my original flight home
- NOT had to pay the extra 2 weeks car-hire
- NOT had to pay the extra Motel & living costs
- NOT have needed more corrective surgery after my return
Evidence?
They rely on the fact that I was travelling alone, & said straightaway I'd never be able to prove a thing!
& that I only had a pre-paid cell-phone- you cannot get a print-outs of calls made/received by these, tho' T-Mobile did look up these for me & give me the exact times & duration of all calls made that evening, they were unable to print these for me.
To meet FOS requirements of proof would have cost me well into 4 figures --- AND entailed another USA trip to collect it---
& here's the rub ----
because I was either awaiting the further corrective surgery, or had had surgery within 12 months --- I was absolutely unable to get insurance to cover such a trip.
FOS took 2 yrs to tell me I'd made my complaint against the wrong firm!!! (Pointing out at the same time that complaints HAVE to be made within 6 months of the "final" letter)
I had complained against the Underwriters for failing to pay, & ******** for selling a policy "not fit for purpose".
According to FOS,I should have complained against some firm called Barclays Insurance Services Co --- who I'd never heard of !!!
I tackled a Customer Services manager about this one -- & he'd never heard of'em either!
FOS have today offered me £100 for the "distress & inconvenience" caused by the way they've handled my case.
You may draw your own conclusions on that.
**Edit to remove potential libellous comments - Admin**
hi there, reading your post makes me sooo angry, i think you have been treated disgracefully, i am a travel agent in a call centre and we HAVE to sell our insurance (no idea what it covers..more about that in a mo) or take customers own insurance details.
Many HT readers would not be aware of this "calling the helpline" clause first-i wouldn't have thought about doing so
We need to get a list of recommended insurers who have a clear,concise and fair policy in clear basic English terms!
I have asked for a copy of our insurance details at work to see what the policy we sell actually covers-since May no-one has yet supplied me one!
all the best
Many HT readers would not be aware of this "calling the helpline" clause first-i wouldn't have thought about doing so
We need to get a list of recommended insurers who have a clear,concise and fair policy in clear basic English terms!
I have asked for a copy of our insurance details at work to see what the policy we sell actually covers-since May no-one has yet supplied me one!
all the best
Am I right in thinking that this sort of cover applies to worldwide travel rather than Europe/short haul? I've luckily never had to make a claim and although most European destinations are covered medically by the card that replaced the E111, places like Turkey are classed as European travel but are not EU so medical treatment must be via insurance only.
I ask this because my brother was taken seriously ill in France in 2005 and obviously the first thing my sis in law did was get an ambulance and get him to hospital and then called the insurers the next day. Although they could be slow with things, everything was dealt with and paid for by their insurers (7 weeks intensive care treatment, accommodation for my sis in law and first class flights home accompanied by a doctor).
It really seems abysmal and I'm sorry for what you had to go through, but thank you so very much for highlighting this and it will be something that I take extra care in reading up on if I'm travelling worldwide.
I ask this because my brother was taken seriously ill in France in 2005 and obviously the first thing my sis in law did was get an ambulance and get him to hospital and then called the insurers the next day. Although they could be slow with things, everything was dealt with and paid for by their insurers (7 weeks intensive care treatment, accommodation for my sis in law and first class flights home accompanied by a doctor).
It really seems abysmal and I'm sorry for what you had to go through, but thank you so very much for highlighting this and it will be something that I take extra care in reading up on if I'm travelling worldwide.
Ivor,
I've considered PM'ing you or posting on the open forum.
I've decided on the open forum to give you the public chance to challenge my views as I am publicly challenging yours.
The points I raise are ONLY my opinion and may well be wrong. I do feel this forum is a complaints forum and is used primarily for the purpose of seeking help and advice in pursuit of a claim against a travel related company. The forum can also serve a valid purpose in bringing to our attention matters that may not have been obvious.
For THAT reason I thank you. I for one have read my full policy wording and can agree in the main that mediacl assistance above a certain value (£250 in my policy) requires contact with an 0870 number. I have added this to my mobile phone.
I must however question some of the points you've posted in answer to earlier questions.
If you were unable to meet the return flight deadline it seems inappropriate that you should drive back to the remote cabin, clean it (for goodness sake) and try to arrange another policy. You proceed to say that you then contacted Hertz and Delta. How did you achieve this from a remote location, using a mobile that you claimed in an earlier post
Summer 2005 my credit ran out and the ONLY way I could top-up was by credit card. Unfortunately, the credit card I'd assigned to the pre-paid voucher was one that had been stolen along with my car in the UK only 3 weeks earlier. I'd received a new cr. card with a new number and failed to inform my telephone network. I question therefore how you could have telephoned Hertz and Delta from the cabin.
I'd be surprised if Global tried to recover money from your ticket without first having re-booked you. When my father was hospitalised in Florida in summer 2000 his insurers accepted liability for flying him back after discharge and hence under standard terms effectively bought the redundant ticket. Your insurer had, you state, cancelled your cover.
The one part of this statement that stack's up is the volume of blood contained in a 5" diameter clot. Assuming it to be a perfect sphere could hold over 65 fluid ounces (volume terms not weight). I do find it hard to believe that you had the foresight to put towels on the car seat yet the lack of foresight to also introduce dirty washing and hence run the risk of infection.
I know from personal experience how a relatively small amount of liquid can "slosh" around in a car. When I mentioned earlier my credit card having been stolen along with the car, the replacement car I bought in August after returning from holiday was only 2 weeks old when a 5 litre can of yellow paint I'd sat on the floor well behind the driver's seat fell over spilling 4 litres. OK, more than a pint or two but it was everywhere.
Now, I don't expect you to believe MY stories but I can provide documented proof of the car-paint story in the form of a full refund for carpet replacement from Kalon plc - the manufacturer and seller of the paint concerned.
The two quotes above puzzle me (
). In the first, posted in your initial post you mention Barclaycard's Travel Insurance (helpline) yet in your last post you claim to not know them.
Why tackle a firm of underwriters ? Your contract is with the seller of the insurance, let them recover (if possible) from the underwiters.
Better yet, why not seek the help and assistance of members of this forum at the outset - perhaps then your vitriol would have been focussed in the right direction.
Finally,
My conclusion is.........what coincidental timing especially as you stated the Financial Ombudsman Service took 2 years to inform you you had complained to the wrong company.
What more can I say ?
Mike
I've considered PM'ing you or posting on the open forum.
I've decided on the open forum to give you the public chance to challenge my views as I am publicly challenging yours.
The points I raise are ONLY my opinion and may well be wrong. I do feel this forum is a complaints forum and is used primarily for the purpose of seeking help and advice in pursuit of a claim against a travel related company. The forum can also serve a valid purpose in bringing to our attention matters that may not have been obvious.
For THAT reason I thank you. I for one have read my full policy wording and can agree in the main that mediacl assistance above a certain value (£250 in my policy) requires contact with an 0870 number. I have added this to my mobile phone.
I must however question some of the points you've posted in answer to earlier questions.
I went back to my mountain cabin spent the w/end, cleaning it,packed up my stuff,arranged another policy to get me home (tho' of course this excluded all my existing injuries), contacted Hertz & Delta to explain the position, & set off South on the Monday, eventually arriving at the Hertz depot on the Thurs, & flying back on the Friday
If you were unable to meet the return flight deadline it seems inappropriate that you should drive back to the remote cabin, clean it (for goodness sake) and try to arrange another policy. You proceed to say that you then contacted Hertz and Delta. How did you achieve this from a remote location, using a mobile that you claimed in an earlier post
until my cell-phone credit expired, & with it my cell-phone!
(One cannot "top-up" by Credit-card over there),
Summer 2005 my credit ran out and the ONLY way I could top-up was by credit card. Unfortunately, the credit card I'd assigned to the pre-paid voucher was one that had been stolen along with my car in the UK only 3 weeks earlier. I'd received a new cr. card with a new number and failed to inform my telephone network. I question therefore how you could have telephoned Hertz and Delta from the cabin.
I later learned that Global Excell did in fact try to cash-in my ticket, but- too late!! As I'd already re-booked,& Delta knew what was going on! It was then they told me I was never supposed to have got off that mountain -much less arrives at a hospital
I'd be surprised if Global tried to recover money from your ticket without first having re-booked you. When my father was hospitalised in Florida in summer 2000 his insurers accepted liability for flying him back after discharge and hence under standard terms effectively bought the redundant ticket. Your insurer had, you state, cancelled your cover.
Oh --- there was no blood in it --- before setting out that night I'd put my towels & all my dirty washing on the seat to prevent this, but of the 4+ pts of blood I'd "lost", at least 3 of these were actually still sloshing around INSIDE me. (later told this included one single blood clot some 5" in diameter)
The one part of this statement that stack's up is the volume of blood contained in a 5" diameter clot. Assuming it to be a perfect sphere could hold over 65 fluid ounces (volume terms not weight). I do find it hard to believe that you had the foresight to put towels on the car seat yet the lack of foresight to also introduce dirty washing and hence run the risk of infection.
I know from personal experience how a relatively small amount of liquid can "slosh" around in a car. When I mentioned earlier my credit card having been stolen along with the car, the replacement car I bought in August after returning from holiday was only 2 weeks old when a 5 litre can of yellow paint I'd sat on the floor well behind the driver's seat fell over spilling 4 litres. OK, more than a pint or two but it was everywhere.
Now, I don't expect you to believe MY stories but I can provide documented proof of the car-paint story in the form of a full refund for carpet replacement from Kalon plc - the manufacturer and seller of the paint concerned.
Barclaycards Travel Insurance Helpline said:
-This is NOW A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION SO NOT COVERED BY YOUR POLICY!
According to FOS,I should have complained against some firm called Barclays Insurance Services Co --- who I'd never heard of !!!
I tackled a Customer Services manager about this one -- & he'd never heard of'em either!
The two quotes above puzzle me (
). In the first, posted in your initial post you mention Barclaycard's Travel Insurance (helpline) yet in your last post you claim to not know them.Why tackle a firm of underwriters ? Your contract is with the seller of the insurance, let them recover (if possible) from the underwiters.
Better yet, why not seek the help and assistance of members of this forum at the outset - perhaps then your vitriol would have been focussed in the right direction.
Finally,
FOS have today offered me £100 for the "distress & inconvenience" caused by the way they've handled my case.
You may draw your own conclusions on that.
My conclusion is.........what coincidental timing especially as you stated the Financial Ombudsman Service took 2 years to inform you you had complained to the wrong company.
What more can I say ?
Mike
Mike, i don't know how you do the "quote" bits but here's my attempt to put you right (on many things!) the "Quote"s are yours, the "Reply"s are mine.
quote: I for one have read my full policy wording and can agree in the main that mediacl assistance above a certain value (£250 in my policy) requires contact with an 0870 number. I have added this to my mobile phone.
Reply: Good for you for discovering that-
However, Make certain you do ring them BEFORE getting to hospital if you're anywhere in N America -
I clocked up $3538.05 in the ER within an hour of arrival.
£250 might just about cover the sort of first aid that you OUGHT to be able to do to yourself --- it'll be no use at all for anything that REALLY needs hospital treatment.
Quote: If you were unable to meet the return flight deadline it seems inappropriate that you should drive back to the remote cabin, clean it (for goodness sake) and try to arrange another policy.
Reply : This is the sort of nit-picking that I constantly suffered from the FOS
Do I really need to point out the difference between driving myself on a 200 + mile journey against the clock, ( see previous) & being driven sedately (by the owner) the 15 miles up to the mountain shack?
And, I guess I'm old-fashioned, but I felt it common courtesy to clean up the dried blood as best as I could, -- after all, the owners had really put themselves to a lot of trouble on my behalf.
Quote: You proceed to say that you then contacted Hertz and Delta. How did you achieve this from a remote location, using a mobile that you claimed in an earlier post
Reply: I did NOT say I did this from the cabin, or used a mobile to arrange it ---all these arrangements were made with the help of the cabin owners ---
Quote: Summer 2005 my credit ran out and the ONLY way I could top-up was by credit card. Unfortunately, the credit card I'd assigned to the pre-paid voucher was one that had been stolen along with my car in the UK only 3 weeks earlier.
Reply: & you question my actions?
My (UK) mobile was incompatible with US service, rather than pay UK prices, I bought a new one over there, from T-Mobile, (who say they have the widest coverage in the USA). I bought airtime with it.(extra $50 if I recall) . It was not until I tried to "top-up" with my cc, that I was told it was actually illegal to do this. I had no reason to dis-believe this, then or now.
Possibly things have changed since Easter 2004? - but--
---- I presume you were topping up a UK registered phone with a UK cc?
Quote: I'd be surprised if Global tried to recover money from your ticket without first having re-booked you.
Reply: I was not only surprised, I was livid!
Quote: When my father was hospitalised in Florida in summer 2000 his insurers accepted liability for flying him back after discharge and hence under standard terms effectively bought the redundant ticket.
Reply: Mind telling everyone which Insurance Company this was?
We'd all like to know of one that actually works
Quote: Your insurer had, you state, cancelled your cover.
Reply: That's right --- cancelled as of 1200 on Friday, but didn't tell me till I called them on the Monday-=
-- they also told me, categorically that they HAD cashed in my ticket,
I then had to re-check my (new) booking with Delta --- who confirmed an attempt HAD been made, but refused.
Quote: The one part of this statement that stack's up is the volume of blood contained in a 5" diameter clot. Assuming it to be a perfect sphere could hold over 65 fluid ounces (volume terms not weight).
Reply: What sort of sad person actually works out things like that? --- I only know what the Dr told me -- did you ever see a perfectly spherical blood clot? I didn't think to ask!
Quote: you had the foresight to put towels on the car seat
Reply: Remember, by this time I strongly suspected my insurance was useless, & I was expecting to have to pay -- there was little point in clocking up an extra cost for replacing the seat.,
Quote: yet the lack of foresight to also introduce dirty washing and hence run the risk of infection.
Reply: Such a negligible risk as to be unworthy of consideration !
it wasn't as if I was using these as bandages.
I'd already showered, disinfected & dressed the (external) wounds as best I could, & put on clean clothes.
Quote: I know from personal experience how a relatively small amount of liquid can "slosh" around in a car.
Reply: So do I , the reason for taking precautions to prevent it
Quote: you mention Barclaycard's Travel Insurance (helpline) yet in your last post you claim to not know them.
Reply: try reading it again!!
1) Barclaycard is the cc company who advertised, & sold the Policy --- giving the (deliberate) impression that it was their own
2) Barclaycard Direct Travel Insurance is merely one of the names under which the underwriters, at that time calling themselves "Financial Insurance Co Ltd" were trading at that time.
3) Barclaycard Insurance Services Company Ltd, is, I believe, a subsidiary of Barclays Bank - or at least, they share the same "Registered Office"
Quote: Why tackle a firm of underwriters ?
Reply: Because the "underwriters" were actually the ones who answered the phones at "Barclaycard Direct Travel Insurance" & man the claims dept! It was months before I discovered I wasn't actually dealing with the cc company Barclaycard's own personnel
Quote: Your contract is with the seller of the insurance, let them recover (if possible) from the underwriters.
Reply: That's what most people assume, I did too ---
--- the FOS say absolutely not!
FOS say anyone can set himself up to sell anything called insurance--- with absolutely NO responsibility for its performance
I spoke to my local Trading Standards Office, & found myself talking to a very sympathetic chap--- sympathetic, because he'd been "conned" in a very similar manner the year before me -- & had given up!
In any & every other trade & business, the seller is responsible for the quality & fitness of any goods sold, or services supplied --
- the Insurance Industry is exempt from this!
Quote: Better yet, why not seek the help and assistance of members of this forum at the outset - perhaps then your vitriol would have been focussed in the right direction.
Reply: you can see the answer too this from the date I discovered & joined
Quote : My conclusion is.........what coincidental timing especially as you stated the Financial Ombudsman Service took 2 years to inform you you had complained to the wrong company. What more can I say ?
Reply: I hadn't considered it a coincidence--
-but to put your mind at rest, here are the relevant dates:
Date of accident---------------------------------------------- 30th Apr 2004
Date of "Final letter" from Insurance --------- 16th Jul 2004
Date of complaint to FOS -------------------------------- 20th Jul 2004
Date of discovering this site --------------- 8th Sept 2004
Date told I'd complained about the wrong firm 3rd Aug 2006
Date of Final Decision from FOS -------- 16th Oct 2006
Date of letter offering the £100 16th Jan 2007
I trust this clears your mind.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hi , Sand C --- please let us know what, if any, "get out of paying a claim" clauses you find
-------------------------------------------------
Hi, MikeCunliffe
yes, this does apply much more world-wide, but you could get caught out anywhere in Europe as well ---
I'm told that it is customary for an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital, but there's no guarantee that this will be one that accepts the Eurocard,
It seems your brother was lucky enough to have insured with a genuine company - why not name it?
-----------------------------------------
ps to all --- Simple Travel Insurance is another "Travellers Protection Services", company which also uses Global Excel in NA
quote: I for one have read my full policy wording and can agree in the main that mediacl assistance above a certain value (£250 in my policy) requires contact with an 0870 number. I have added this to my mobile phone.
Reply: Good for you for discovering that-
However, Make certain you do ring them BEFORE getting to hospital if you're anywhere in N America -
I clocked up $3538.05 in the ER within an hour of arrival.
£250 might just about cover the sort of first aid that you OUGHT to be able to do to yourself --- it'll be no use at all for anything that REALLY needs hospital treatment.
Quote: If you were unable to meet the return flight deadline it seems inappropriate that you should drive back to the remote cabin, clean it (for goodness sake) and try to arrange another policy.
Reply : This is the sort of nit-picking that I constantly suffered from the FOS
Do I really need to point out the difference between driving myself on a 200 + mile journey against the clock, ( see previous) & being driven sedately (by the owner) the 15 miles up to the mountain shack?
And, I guess I'm old-fashioned, but I felt it common courtesy to clean up the dried blood as best as I could, -- after all, the owners had really put themselves to a lot of trouble on my behalf.
Quote: You proceed to say that you then contacted Hertz and Delta. How did you achieve this from a remote location, using a mobile that you claimed in an earlier post
Reply: I did NOT say I did this from the cabin, or used a mobile to arrange it ---all these arrangements were made with the help of the cabin owners ---
Quote: Summer 2005 my credit ran out and the ONLY way I could top-up was by credit card. Unfortunately, the credit card I'd assigned to the pre-paid voucher was one that had been stolen along with my car in the UK only 3 weeks earlier.
Reply: & you question my actions?
My (UK) mobile was incompatible with US service, rather than pay UK prices, I bought a new one over there, from T-Mobile, (who say they have the widest coverage in the USA). I bought airtime with it.(extra $50 if I recall) . It was not until I tried to "top-up" with my cc, that I was told it was actually illegal to do this. I had no reason to dis-believe this, then or now.
Possibly things have changed since Easter 2004? - but--
---- I presume you were topping up a UK registered phone with a UK cc?
Quote: I'd be surprised if Global tried to recover money from your ticket without first having re-booked you.
Reply: I was not only surprised, I was livid!
Quote: When my father was hospitalised in Florida in summer 2000 his insurers accepted liability for flying him back after discharge and hence under standard terms effectively bought the redundant ticket.
Reply: Mind telling everyone which Insurance Company this was?
We'd all like to know of one that actually works
Quote: Your insurer had, you state, cancelled your cover.
Reply: That's right --- cancelled as of 1200 on Friday, but didn't tell me till I called them on the Monday-=
-- they also told me, categorically that they HAD cashed in my ticket,
I then had to re-check my (new) booking with Delta --- who confirmed an attempt HAD been made, but refused.
Quote: The one part of this statement that stack's up is the volume of blood contained in a 5" diameter clot. Assuming it to be a perfect sphere could hold over 65 fluid ounces (volume terms not weight).
Reply: What sort of sad person actually works out things like that? --- I only know what the Dr told me -- did you ever see a perfectly spherical blood clot? I didn't think to ask!
Quote: you had the foresight to put towels on the car seat
Reply: Remember, by this time I strongly suspected my insurance was useless, & I was expecting to have to pay -- there was little point in clocking up an extra cost for replacing the seat.,
Quote: yet the lack of foresight to also introduce dirty washing and hence run the risk of infection.
Reply: Such a negligible risk as to be unworthy of consideration !
it wasn't as if I was using these as bandages.
I'd already showered, disinfected & dressed the (external) wounds as best I could, & put on clean clothes.
Quote: I know from personal experience how a relatively small amount of liquid can "slosh" around in a car.
Reply: So do I , the reason for taking precautions to prevent it
Quote: you mention Barclaycard's Travel Insurance (helpline) yet in your last post you claim to not know them.
Reply: try reading it again!!
1) Barclaycard is the cc company who advertised, & sold the Policy --- giving the (deliberate) impression that it was their own
2) Barclaycard Direct Travel Insurance is merely one of the names under which the underwriters, at that time calling themselves "Financial Insurance Co Ltd" were trading at that time.
3) Barclaycard Insurance Services Company Ltd, is, I believe, a subsidiary of Barclays Bank - or at least, they share the same "Registered Office"
Quote: Why tackle a firm of underwriters ?
Reply: Because the "underwriters" were actually the ones who answered the phones at "Barclaycard Direct Travel Insurance" & man the claims dept! It was months before I discovered I wasn't actually dealing with the cc company Barclaycard's own personnel
Quote: Your contract is with the seller of the insurance, let them recover (if possible) from the underwriters.
Reply: That's what most people assume, I did too ---
--- the FOS say absolutely not!
FOS say anyone can set himself up to sell anything called insurance--- with absolutely NO responsibility for its performance
I spoke to my local Trading Standards Office, & found myself talking to a very sympathetic chap--- sympathetic, because he'd been "conned" in a very similar manner the year before me -- & had given up!
In any & every other trade & business, the seller is responsible for the quality & fitness of any goods sold, or services supplied --
- the Insurance Industry is exempt from this!
Quote: Better yet, why not seek the help and assistance of members of this forum at the outset - perhaps then your vitriol would have been focussed in the right direction.
Reply: you can see the answer too this from the date I discovered & joined
Quote : My conclusion is.........what coincidental timing especially as you stated the Financial Ombudsman Service took 2 years to inform you you had complained to the wrong company. What more can I say ?
Reply: I hadn't considered it a coincidence--
-but to put your mind at rest, here are the relevant dates:
Date of accident---------------------------------------------- 30th Apr 2004
Date of "Final letter" from Insurance --------- 16th Jul 2004
Date of complaint to FOS -------------------------------- 20th Jul 2004
Date of discovering this site --------------- 8th Sept 2004
Date told I'd complained about the wrong firm 3rd Aug 2006
Date of Final Decision from FOS -------- 16th Oct 2006
Date of letter offering the £100 16th Jan 2007
I trust this clears your mind.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Hi , Sand C --- please let us know what, if any, "get out of paying a claim" clauses you find
-------------------------------------------------
Hi, MikeCunliffe
yes, this does apply much more world-wide, but you could get caught out anywhere in Europe as well ---
I'm told that it is customary for an ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital, but there's no guarantee that this will be one that accepts the Eurocard,
It seems your brother was lucky enough to have insured with a genuine company - why not name it?
-----------------------------------------
ps to all --- Simple Travel Insurance is another "Travellers Protection Services", company which also uses Global Excel in NA
Ivor,
Your last post tempted me to dig into my archives and I've found the paperwork relating to my claims re. my father's hospitalisation.
The insurance details are:
White Horse Insurance Ireland Limited.
(Aon Suretravel, The Pavilions, Kiln Park Business Centre, Kiln Lane, EPSON, Surrey, KT17 1EF).
All claims were dealt with by "The Claims Office", P.O. Box 141, Epson,KT17 1YZ. (01372 749755)
It was necessary that we phone +44 (0) 20 8773 5656 (International Medical Rescue) PRIOR to claiming UNLESS immediate treatment was needed to save life or limb (contact a.s.a.p. in that case).
The killer Ivor"¦"¦"¦"¦the correspondence I dug-out reminded me that my father was "not covered for taxi fares, food and drink and tips". They did however pay the taxi fares as a gesture of goodwill, plus £182.56 for additional accom. Costs, £108.48 for prescription charges, (£150.00 for taxis), and £30 for hospital benefit. All hospital fees were paid directly to the hospital in Florida.
That payment exceeded $4000.
It's the way you approach the insurance company. You have to provide them the opportunity to limit their costs. We did that but without compromising my father's treatment.
Interestingly, "The Claims Office" wrote to me on 7 Sept 2000 asking me to return my mum & dad's pre-booked tickets. They felt they could obtain a refund from the airline (Virgin) as they failed to realise these tickets could have been revalidated prior to The Claims Office having rebooked my parents on a return flight. It appears therefore they needed the physical tickets to achieve this.
I rather think you went about things in the wrong manner, but still thank you for bringing to our attention the aspect of checking the insurance small print.
Re. the volume of a 5" sphere. Got the formula from the internet. Its 4/3 * pi * radius cubed.
Yep, I'm sad; but successful in claiming my dues from insurers.
Your last post tempted me to dig into my archives and I've found the paperwork relating to my claims re. my father's hospitalisation.
The insurance details are:
White Horse Insurance Ireland Limited.
(Aon Suretravel, The Pavilions, Kiln Park Business Centre, Kiln Lane, EPSON, Surrey, KT17 1EF).
All claims were dealt with by "The Claims Office", P.O. Box 141, Epson,KT17 1YZ. (01372 749755)
It was necessary that we phone +44 (0) 20 8773 5656 (International Medical Rescue) PRIOR to claiming UNLESS immediate treatment was needed to save life or limb (contact a.s.a.p. in that case).
The killer Ivor"¦"¦"¦"¦the correspondence I dug-out reminded me that my father was "not covered for taxi fares, food and drink and tips". They did however pay the taxi fares as a gesture of goodwill, plus £182.56 for additional accom. Costs, £108.48 for prescription charges, (£150.00 for taxis), and £30 for hospital benefit. All hospital fees were paid directly to the hospital in Florida.
That payment exceeded $4000.
It's the way you approach the insurance company. You have to provide them the opportunity to limit their costs. We did that but without compromising my father's treatment.
Interestingly, "The Claims Office" wrote to me on 7 Sept 2000 asking me to return my mum & dad's pre-booked tickets. They felt they could obtain a refund from the airline (Virgin) as they failed to realise these tickets could have been revalidated prior to The Claims Office having rebooked my parents on a return flight. It appears therefore they needed the physical tickets to achieve this.
I rather think you went about things in the wrong manner, but still thank you for bringing to our attention the aspect of checking the insurance small print.
Re. the volume of a 5" sphere. Got the formula from the internet. Its 4/3 * pi * radius cubed.
Yep, I'm sad; but successful in claiming my dues from insurers.
Post a Reply
Please sign in or register an account to reply to this post.
Similar Topics
-
Travel insurance
Posted by Howler in Help And Assistance
-
Travel Insurance
Posted by carolmillington in Goa Discussion Forum
-
Travel insurance help please!
Posted by debbilou in DIY Holidays
-
Travel Insurance in UK
Posted by lincolnsue in General Holiday Enquiries, Hints and Tips
-
TC asking about travel insurance
Posted by alsbaby in Turkey Discussion Forum