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Original poster

Travel insurance won't pay out for cancellation due to FO advice

40 replies

Theduchessstill · 13/03/2020 22:12

Just checked my insurance for holiday to Greece in the summer and seen it won't pay out for this .

Churchill and Direct Line not selling travel insurance atm, can't see any on comparison site that will pay out for this. FFs - I'm going to lose the money... Anyone else? Seen a lot of threads on here that seem to assume all will pay out if advice is not to go, but obviously they all don't. And no I didn't get the cheapest.

OP posts:

tinybluerose · 13/03/2020 22:13

Why wont you be going to greece in the summer?

lljkk · 13/03/2020 22:17

sunshine might make it die down fast in summer

InArrears · 13/03/2020 22:19

I've spent all evening trying to find out if my insurance will cover this as we need to pay the balance soon. Can't get through to the insurance and no clear advice on their website.

But, you don't know that you won't be able to go yet.

delilahbucket · 13/03/2020 22:20

Are you ATOL protected? If so, this should cover it.

Chocolatepeanuts · 13/03/2020 22:22

When did you purchase it?

LovingLola · 13/03/2020 22:23

My travel insurance company pointed me to the small print which states that pandemics and epidemics are excluded, even with govt advice not to travel.
Luckily my flight was cancelled so I’ll get that back. Our accommodation has given us a voucher for 12 months.

Original poster

Theduchessstill · 13/03/2020 22:24

ATOL yes, but that states it's just for if the company goes bust rather than advice not to travel.

OP posts:

Stronger76 · 13/03/2020 22:25

What? You're looking to take out insurance for a journey you've already booked and paid for that is likely (at this point) to be cancelled? No, no new policy would pay out for this - they would be covering a certainty so would instantly loose out, why would they?

Double, triple check your policy. Contact the airline/holiday company. *Disclaimer - I only ever book flights as we stay in a friend's place but always take out comprehensive insurance on booking so not sure of airline/holiday company policy

Munchietime · 13/03/2020 22:27

@delilahbucket ATOL won't cover it. That's not what ATOL is for. It only covers insolvency.

OnlyLittleMissOrganised · 13/03/2020 22:37

Your insurance will cover it if the FO says you cant go as it is deemed a risk I.e. Chinq, Iran, Korea and Italy.

They not and you cant expect them to pay out just because you have decided you dont want to go. Things may be different in a couple of months just wait and see.

LovingLola · 13/03/2020 22:38

Your insurance will cover it if the FO says you cant go as it is deemed a risk

Mine will not cover it.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/03/2020 22:41

OP if your holiday is cancelled and you have booked a package you'll get a refund. If you choose not to go or its booked separately you'll lose out. When are you travelling? It could be completely different by then.

SeasonallySnowyPeasant · 13/03/2020 22:50

Mine won’t cover FCO guidance cancellations either. The same company would have covered it if I’d booked after 6th November 2019 but I was organised and insured the holiday as soon as I’d booked so nada.

Original poster

Theduchessstill · 13/03/2020 22:50

Hmm, yes I understand that if I just decide not to go I'm not covered. It clearly states that I'm not covered if the FO simply advise not to go but says nothing one way or the other about what happens if I can't go. I'm really not sure.

It's ATOL protected and bought online - flights and accommodation together, but don't really know whether that's actually a package - flights are Easyjet. Dear me...

OP posts:

SeasonallySnowyPeasant · 13/03/2020 22:53

That should be ATOL protected OP.

Original poster

Theduchessstill · 13/03/2020 22:53

I paid with a credit card - does that make a difference?

OP posts:

TheQueef · 13/03/2020 22:59

Have you checked out MSE special advice on corona for holiday insurance? Updated regularly.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 13/03/2020 23:12

ATOL doesn't cover for this but if it was bought in one transaction from one provider you'll be covered under Package Travel Regulations and be refunded by the operator if its cancelled.

MintyMabel · 13/03/2020 23:19

sunshine might make it die down fast in summer

Is that you, Donald?

Gohackyourself · 14/03/2020 07:16

I’ve cancelled my dream holiday in august because of this uncertainty , we are loosing the deposit.we figured we would rather have holiday money in our own pocket to possibly book another if the virus dies down by then, than fight a holiday company or insurance company for few months to get back .
There was a story on the news of a family due to go to india, their insurance wouldn’t pay out because the fco had banned travel but because their airline were still flying there they couldn’t get their money back.This is where some greedy travel/insurance companies will try to use small print and technical points to not pay out.so frustrating .

Bunnybigears · 14/03/2020 07:19

I've just cancelled my trip to Barcelona due to go in the next few weeks. I have to say if I was travelling in August I would be waiting until nearer the time to make a decision. After it peaks you may find it declines fairly rapidly.

Stronger76 · 14/03/2020 07:56

Taking out a new policy for travel that's already booked despite FCO advice would be like trying to take out a new car insurance policy after you've already crashed your car. August is months away, we could be all back to normal by then. Either way your money has already been spent, not much to do now except wait until nearer the time.

SometimesNotAlways · 14/03/2020 08:06

Wish people would stop saying "your insurance will cover it if the FO says you cant go as it is deemed a risk"

No, they won't!!

I had a policy and there was absolutely nothing in the small print about excluding pandemics, only that they won't cover if I just decide not go through "my fear"

I rang them to check and guess what? We don't cover Coronavirus even if FCO says don't travel.

When I asked why when there's nothing in the small print I was more or less told "we've decided we don't cover Coronavirus".

So I cancelled a bought a policy that was advertised as definitely as covering if FCO says don't travel.

They emailed me yesterday saying that after a review they're cancelling my policy and issuing a refund as is their right "within the cooling off period"

I can only hope that by October there is sone sense of rebalance otherwise I potentially stand to lose £12k.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 14/03/2020 08:23

My travel insurance (for a small UK trip) doesn't include pandemics regardless of FCO advice. This was bought at the very start of the cases in china but way before the declaration of a pandemic.

DazedandConcerned · 14/03/2020 08:25

I'm quite lucky in that the annual travel insurance through my Barclays bank account covers FCO related cancellations. If you bank with Barclays you may be able to get the travel pack added onto your account.

I think, fingers and toes crossed, it should be contained by end of April. I fly 15 May through Italy to Egypt so that might just be wishful thinking.

I hope you get it sorted out.

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