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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Travellers warned over insurance | Travellers warned over insurance |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British standards are being applied unfairly overseas as a basis for rejecting travel insurance claims, according to a consumer watchdog. | British standards are being applied unfairly overseas as a basis for rejecting travel insurance claims, according to a consumer watchdog. |
| The Consumer Action Group (CAG) wants companies to be clearer with customers when selling travel insurance. | The Consumer Action Group (CAG) wants companies to be clearer with customers when selling travel insurance. |
| It cites the case of a 19-year-old who crashed a moped in Vietnam but his insurer refused to pay out. | It cites the case of a 19-year-old who crashed a moped in Vietnam but his insurer refused to pay out. |
| The insurance firm involved said the policy "clearly stated" that the driver must have a full UK motorcycle licence. | The insurance firm involved said the policy "clearly stated" that the driver must have a full UK motorcycle licence. |
| The warning from the CAG comes as millions of gap year students and schoolchildren prepare to take their holidays this summer. | The warning from the CAG comes as millions of gap year students and schoolchildren prepare to take their holidays this summer. |
| James's father had to pay £25,000 to fly his son home | James's father had to pay £25,000 to fly his son home |
| The group has highlighted the example of gap year student James Pinnington, 19, who crashed his moped in Vietnam in May breaking both his legs. | The group has highlighted the example of gap year student James Pinnington, 19, who crashed his moped in Vietnam in May breaking both his legs. |
| Although James had what he thought was comprehensive travel insurance and a full driving licence and was wearing a helmet, his insurer refused to honour the claim because he did not have a full UK Class A motorcycle licence. | Although James had what he thought was comprehensive travel insurance and a full driving licence and was wearing a helmet, his insurer refused to honour the claim because he did not have a full UK Class A motorcycle licence. |
| A licence is not required in Vietnam to ride some smaller mopeds on public thoroughfares, and helmets only became mandatory in December 2007. | |
| James's father Chris had to pay £25,000 to transport his son from a remote village in Vietnam to London via Bangkok. | James's father Chris had to pay £25,000 to transport his son from a remote village in Vietnam to London via Bangkok. |
| Insurance companies pay out when genuine claims are made Malcolm Tarling of ABI | Insurance companies pay out when genuine claims are made Malcolm Tarling of ABI |
| The policy, which was purchased from Boots Gap Year Travel Insurance, stipulates that a full UK motorcycle licence would be required on page 13 of a 64 page document containing all the terms and conditions. | The policy, which was purchased from Boots Gap Year Travel Insurance, stipulates that a full UK motorcycle licence would be required on page 13 of a 64 page document containing all the terms and conditions. |
| However, the Consumer Action Group said this condition should have been contained in the "Key Facts" booklet. | However, the Consumer Action Group said this condition should have been contained in the "Key Facts" booklet. |
| âWe consider that it was unwise and probably unfair that this important requirement was omitted from the âKey Facts' booklet (in the terms and conditions) and we believe that Mr Pinnington may have suffered as a result,â according to Marc Gander from the CAG. | âWe consider that it was unwise and probably unfair that this important requirement was omitted from the âKey Facts' booklet (in the terms and conditions) and we believe that Mr Pinnington may have suffered as a result,â according to Marc Gander from the CAG. |
| âWe consider that the provision of a "Key Facts" booklet and then the omission of important key facts amounts to a misinformation.â | âWe consider that the provision of a "Key Facts" booklet and then the omission of important key facts amounts to a misinformation.â |
| 850,000 claims | 850,000 claims |
| In a statement, Boots said: "Our Gap Year Insurance policy wording clearly states that a claim will not be paid 'arising from using a two-wheeled motor vehicle as a driver or passenger if you are not wearing a crash helmet and the driver is not a holder of a full UK category A motorcycle licence'." | In a statement, Boots said: "Our Gap Year Insurance policy wording clearly states that a claim will not be paid 'arising from using a two-wheeled motor vehicle as a driver or passenger if you are not wearing a crash helmet and the driver is not a holder of a full UK category A motorcycle licence'." |
| Last year more than 20 million people took out some form of travel insurance in Britain - of which just over 4% (850,000) claims were made. The Association of British Insurers denies using "small print" to avoid paying claims. | Last year more than 20 million people took out some form of travel insurance in Britain - of which just over 4% (850,000) claims were made. The Association of British Insurers denies using "small print" to avoid paying claims. |
| âInsurance companies pay out when genuine claims are made,â according to Malcolm Tarling from the ABI. âWe don't look at ways not to pay. | âInsurance companies pay out when genuine claims are made,â according to Malcolm Tarling from the ABI. âWe don't look at ways not to pay. |
| "The last thing we want is to leave people high and dry with medical injuries. Last year we paid out £200m for people who fell ill overseas. | "The last thing we want is to leave people high and dry with medical injuries. Last year we paid out £200m for people who fell ill overseas. |
| "The key thing to do is avoid getting into difficulties is to read the Terms and Conditions. If you are unclear, talk to your insurance company or broker.â | "The key thing to do is avoid getting into difficulties is to read the Terms and Conditions. If you are unclear, talk to your insurance company or broker.â |