Travel Insurance - No Show Documentation

[Sharpkat]

I wondered if anyone had any advice. I was sent to A&E with expected appendicitis last Wednesday at midday.

I was due to get the train to London that evening and spend two nights there in a hotel before getting the train home on Friday.

I ended up being admitted to a ward and left at 21.30 on the Thursday.

The trains were Advance tickets, so no refunds and unable to transfer them. The hotel was also an Advance rate so no refund and I could not change it as I did not notify them until after midday.

My travel insurance is refusing to pay out unless I produce a "no show" letter for the train and hotel. The hotel I might be able to get (doubtful), but I cannot prove the train and there is no way to get a letter.

I have discharge letters from A&E and the hospital ward confirming everything but they do not explicitly state that I was unable to travel. Am not sure how I was supposed to be on a train at the same time I was on a drip and morphine.

Does anyone have any advice as to how proceed? I really don't want to write off the cost.

TIA

Your GP might agree to confirm you were unfit to travel on the basis of your discharge summary. They'll probably charge for it, but depending upon the costs, it could be worth it.

Many thanks @NeverDropYourMooncup I should also have mentioned that I was in the process of changing GP surgery and it was confirmed on the Thursday that the new surgery had accepted me.

All of the hospital letters have been sent to the old GP surgery and knowing their track record it is going to take a very long time for them to reach the new surgery.

Appreciate the suggestion.

You need a cancellation invoice from the hotel. Have you at least tried to get a refund on the rail tickets?

@Rocknrollstar I tried for a refund on the train tickets last week, but as they were Advance tickets there was nothing they would do.

Shall continue to chase the hotel.

Thank you.

Proof you didn't use the hotel and sending a photograph of the advance tickets should be enough- if used they'd usually be marked by a conductor or swallowed by the ticket barriers when exiting.

If still being difficult say to your insurer you are unhappy and feel that the barriers to claiming are too difficult to be fair to customers when needing to claim for ill health- which by definition makes you vulnerable. I'd then ask to raise a complaint as you would like your case reviewed.