Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Making a claim
Read through the small print carefully before you travel and make sure you understand ex-
actly what to do if you need to make a claim - most policies will insist that you report a
crime to the police where this is possible (often within a certain time period), and that you
send in the police report with your insurance claim. What you don't want to happen is to
have a claim dismissed because you don't have the right paperwork to back it up.
Insurers won't pay you money unless you have complied with all their rules and many
travel policies impose conditions that are virtually impossible to meet. For example, some
policies demand that you report not only theft of items but also loss of items. Fine, but the
police are likely to be pretty reluctant to write a crime report because you think you may
have accidentally left your camera in the loo!
If you do have anything stolen and you have to get the local police to give you a report, it's
a good idea to dress reasonably smartly when you visit them, be prepared to wait and try to
be pleasant and polite no matter what!
The Foreign Office website (
www.fco.gov.uk/travel
)
has a good page about insurance and
is worth checking out for advice and links. In addition to a list of what your travel insur-
ance should cover, which is similar to the one at the start of this chapter, it suggests the
following extras, which are not always included:
•
Legal expenses cover can be useful as it will help you to pursue compensation or
damages following personal injury while you're abroad - very important in coun-
tries without a legal aid system.
•
Financial protection if your airline goes bankrupt before or during your trip - given
the state of the airline industry this may be worth serious consideration for at least
the next couple of years.
A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers told us: “The vast majority of travel
insurance claims are settled quickly. However, the best way to avoid potential problems is
to read the policy before you go, and ensure that you fully understand what you are covered
for, and the terms and conditions. If anything is unclear, contact your insurer.
“Take a copy of the policy with you and make sure you know how to claim, especially any
emergency contact numbers that you may need.”
Our friends at DU Insure added that it is worth noting the excess on your policy -
something that is often overlooked.
