TRAVEL INSURANCE DIFFICULTIES
 

In September, we took a one month trip through Spain obtaining travel insurance through World Access Service Corp at the recommendation of our travel agent. We have filed two claims, one for travel delay/trip interruption due to illness of my wife in Madrid, the other for baggage loss due to stolen luggage. So far we have received repeated requests for information that was supplied with the initial claim---appears to be a delaying technique by this co. <BR>Has anyone had any dealings with this co? Good? Bad? <BR>Any suggestions on how to expedite these claims? <BR>Any rec for travel insurance co. in the future?

I have not had any experience with them however I am having a similar problem with a claim through TRIPMATE insurance. Has anyone had any dealings with them? We were to come back on a Sunday morming, but the airport was closed due to weather for three hours. You would think once the airport reopened and other planes were coming and going we would leave, but this was not the case. We were on a charter flight and did not leave until midnight monday night (actually Tuesday morning) over a day and a half later. We were not only inconvenienced by this delay but were required to find a hotel and pay for it ourselves in addition to all meals. We filed a claim within 28 days as required by Tripmate, very detailed I might add as I am an attorney). They promptly denied our claim. I made several telephone calls to them and they say they would re-evaluate the claim but needed more info, which I gave them. Last week we received another "nice" letter saying they were sorry but this was a problem with the charter airline and was not covered by the insurance! I find this outrageous. I have called and left another message with no response. this is not the end of this for me as I plan to pursue the matter and keep writing letters. By the way I purchased the plane ticket with my trip package not separately so you would think it would be covered!

I suggest you both contact the Ombudsman at Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. These are just the sort of things they help travelers with.

TOO IMPORTANT!!! To the top!

For jeff: If this was arranged as apackage deal through a tour operator, I wouldn't even make a claim to the insurance. Travel insurance is cover things outside the operator's control i.e. "act of God", natural disaster, or something that was your fault. None of these apply and i don't think travel insurance would either. It was completely the tour operator's fault that you were stranded. This is egregious behavior and i would complain to them and ask them to cover the expenses as good customer relations. I wouldn't even bother jumping through the hoops of the travel insurance company.

This is a concern for me as I am about to put down some money for trip cancellation insurance through World Travel Center. <BR> <BR>Are any of these insurance companies reputable??

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