Another travel insurance fight - Axa

[leasedaudi]

Hi all

I'm hoping there's someone out there who can help!

I'm currently engaged in a disagreement with AXA about my insurance claim for a trip to Portugal (accom only). I booked in January and already had insurance in place then.

I booked via booking.com but they didn't take payment, the villa company did.

When covid kicked off the villa company refused to refund me the booking amount because it was in their terms and conditions that they wouldn't refund in the case of cancellation. They maintained that they were open for business (despite Portugal being on lockdown).

Booking.com say that they won't intervene because Portugal weren't preventing UK nationals from entering Portugal (even tho FCO state that unnecessary travel should not be undertaken),

I have made a claim via Axa (I've had an annual policy for years). They've said that the CMA (in the UK) are saying that travel providers should provide the refund due to the points raised in the attached photo.

However I don't understand why they are referring to the CMA when my contract was with a non-UK business. How is the CMA guidance relevant to Portugal? They have their own laws.

Does anyone know where I stand on this?