MC not covering CDW in Ireland anymore
 

I posted this on the general interest board, but thought maybe I should put it on the Ireland one as well. I personally don't check the other boards very often and didn't want someone to get burned with this.

Author: chemgirl
Date: 06/07/2006, 08:24 am
Wouldn't you know; I just booked my rental car last week using my Platinum MasterCard to cover the CDW when today I get a notice saying MasterCard is no longer covering insurance in Ireland, Isreal and Jamaica, effective 9/1/06. And my Ireland trip starts 9/2/06. Thought I'd better post something ASAP to get the word out. They reference the 800-MC-ASSIST number for questions. Rats! Oh, well. I guess it was only a matter of time.

I called MC in May to confirm coverage and they said I was fine, so I guess it just goes to show that you should always double and triple check before you travel! I would have gone on my trip assuming I was covered...

I just called that MasterCard number and they told me that Ireland will still be covered -- at least for my Capital One platinum credit card. Talk about mixed messages. Perhaps some cards are covered and others are not? The language in my brochure says "may not be covered in Ireland" not "will not". The car rental company must agree to it.

Have a look at insuremytrip.com for travel policies that cover rental cars. Very useful to have.

Sorry-I should have included that my Platinum card is issued by Citi, and unfortunately my Platinum Capital One is a VISA! I rented through Hertz/O'Scannlin; has anyone had to cancel and re-book with them before? My rental rate will almost double if I have to pay the CDW, so it would be worth it to me to get a Capital One Platinum card. I just wonder if I can cancel the original rental and then pay for it with a different card without getting hit by fees or something. I guess I'm getting ahead of myself-I need to call Citi first and see if there's any chance I can get grandfathered in or something since I paid for it with that card before they said they weren't covering Ireland. Then I'll have to call Capital One and get a Platinum card and *then* I'll have to call O'Scannlin. What a headache! Oh well, everything else has gone pretty smooth so I can't complain. Thanks for the info, Underhill, I'll check out that site.

Chemgirl, I also have Platinum MC issued by Citibank (AT&T Universal Mastercard). We called the 1-800 MC Assist number yesterday and were told that insurance coverage in Ireland was no problem. They told us it wasn't specific mastercards not providing coverage, it was that some rental agencies are not accepting the MC coverage.

You may wish to call the 800# yourself and find out for sure.

Hi-I called my Citi Plat. MC and they confirmed that they will no longer be covering CDW in Ireland. I called the MC-ASSIST # and they said it was a citibank policy; nothing they could do to help. So in my case it IS a specific card declining coverage. Seems like everyone has a different story!! Maybe since china cat's card is through AT&T then it is still covered. There are so many different types of 'Platinum Mastercards' it really pays to double and triple check. I'm still working on a solution; I'll post what happens in case any else finds themselves in the same situation! Oh-MC ASSIST did tell me that on Sept 1 is when credit card policies change (if they're going to) so I would think if you haven't received a notice about a change then there aren't any changes for this year. Good luck everyone!

I can confirm chemgirl's post about the Citibank Platinum Mastercard. I have a Citi Dividend Platinum Mastercard and received the notice yesterday in the mail. It specifically states that coverage is no longer applicable in Ireland, Israel, and Jamica, and that coverage might not be available in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand (rental car firm choice to accept/decline). It also states that the maximum length of rental the insurance is applicable is 15 days. It was previously 30 days if I recall correctly.

The notice is for MasterRental insurance which is the same insurance associated with all other Platinum Mastercards, although the notice bears a Citibank trademark in the fineprint. I'd be surprised if MasterRental has different terms & conditions for different brands of Mastercard, but I suppose it is possible.

I have Citi Platinum MC (AA Advantage). Just spoke to MasterRental about coverage in Europe (in my case France) and he said 31 days.

Yes - I got the notice as well for my ATT Universal Platinum Mastercard. Clearly states that Ireland is no longer covered. (china_cat, sounds like we have the same card, you might want to double check your coverage).

After going in circles 2yrs ago about their terms of coverage (as many have on here it seems), I realized that you need to call MC ASSIST about 5+ times to see what the average response is. Contradictory answers seem to be their motto, so if you get a notice that says it's no longer covered for your card, you can probably assume it's not covered. If you don't, I'm not really sure I'd trust what the operators have to say after that ordeal. You can request that they send the latest policy agreement booklet though, which should tell you.

Unfortunately, the websites don't make it easy to find the "Details" of this coverage. I did read on www.mastercard.com to check with your issuer of the card to see what benefits you're eligible for. So maybe it is a difference of issuers, but in any case, check numerous times and ask them to send you the infamous "letter of coverage" which rental agencies sometimes ask to see.

Don't make me nervous!! I'm leaving tomorrow, and renting my Irish rental with my AT&T Universal card. MCAssist said I'd be covered, and gave me a number for AutoEurope to call to verify. :(

I also received notice from AT&T Universal card that they will no longer cover car insurance in Ireland.

AT&T Universal card was bought by citi and they've now decided to discontinue this card alltogether.

I wish we had an answer to this question. I've called MC assist a couple times now. They say we'll be covered. They said to call the car rental agency. I did that, and they said it's not up to them, and to call the card company again. It goes back and forth. But from what I'm sensing.. yes, we'll be covered for our August trip. I did request information from the card company to show the car rental agency. But it says "You may be unable to receive benefits in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, and New Zealand. Please contact your vehicl rental agency before you travel"
We are renting from Hertz. Maybe I should call Ireland directly and speak to them.
Carrie

I called the MC ASSIST number and "Lynn" said that in September 2005 the benefits changed, and in September 2006 they will change again. Therefore if your trip is in August 2006, you still retain the same benefits which you have been enjoying since the September 2005 changes. However if your trip is past September 6, 2006, your benefits will be changing again. (She said that there will be system-wide changes and MC won't be covering CDW for Ireland after September 6, 2006.)

Also, here is some info about Visa which might help clarify the whole issue, even if you have a MC. We called the number on the back of our Visa and both employees said we do have travel insurance and CDW waiver benefits with this card for Ireland. NOT! When I expressed doubt and concern, they gave me a second phone number for the insurance department for our Platinum Visa. Bernard at the second phone number explained that although we have CDW waiver with Visa, 'IRELAND IS ONE OF THE COUNTRIES WHICH DOESN'T RECOGNIZE VISA AS AN INTERNATIONAL SERVICE.' He explained that the rental car agencies in Ireland won't accept the CDW waiver that Visa offers.

Therefore anyone with a MC has to worry about what benefits are offered to them by their particular MC, and also you have to worry about whether the rental car agency in Ireland will accept your MC's coverage. I think that is why a lot of us are feeling so confused.

In our case, we are leaving next month (July) for Ireland, and have just learned that the CDW benefits on our MC were cancelled in September 2005, but we didn't realize that. (I confess we didn't read that letter they must have sent us in September.) Therefore none of our cards at present can waive the CDW for Ireland in July 2006.

Underhill, Thanks so much for posting that link! I just checked it and for $34 I can get travel insurance that covers cancellation, medical, lost luggage, trip delay etc. AND CDW WITH NO DEDUCTIBLE and they do cover Ireland! I was able to click on a link that connected me to a live person that answered my questions right on line directly. I am using them next time for sure!

Citibank World Paltinum MC confirmed by phone I have 31 day coverage on my card - I am waiting to receive the benefits manual for my account in the mail - they were supposed to fax it and didn't, and Hertz is requiring this proof. If you go on the website MC gives you, it says 15 days coverage, because that is most common. When I originally called to confirm coverage in Ireland, the rep said that sometimes the car companies in Ireland etc do not accept the coverage.