For my next letter - suggestions welcome lol

[donnashuggy]

A few months ago I purchased a return ticket to Perth as my daughter was expecting a baby on election day.

I took out insurance in case because of work and dates.

Silly or dumb me (who has never claimed insurance on a flight so made assumptions and didn't read the policy)

I ended up flying over earlier with a different airline.

I was told I had to cancel the flights prior to claiming insurance which I did. Then I filled out the forms and used 2 words for the reason to claim (work commitments)

They don't cover for that apparently, so I want to write them a letter and tell them that it is dumb and misleading as it clearly said 'cancellation' and I didn't think I would need to tell fibs and say I was sick or something 

Fair enough I didn't read their stupid policy, but I would have happily changed the dates and used the credit at a later date, this was not offered to me in fact both the airline and insurance company were cagey when I made enquiries prior to cancelling my flight and claiming.

I don't really expect a refund, nor do I expect a credit, I just want to write a letter complaining as I feel that a lot of people would be caught out with this, I thought work would be a valid reason, especially when giving notice.

[**meep**]

Donna, the only thing I can come up with so far is that you wish to make a complaint about the policy being misleading because

"....people think when they take out cancellation insurance they think that unexpected work commitments may cover them" when in fact, the policy does not cover those circumstances.  This is where I am stuck because I don't understand why they think that.  You will need to give reasons, specific examples to show them the part/s of the policy that is misleading or unclear.   Are the exclusions in smaller print?  Perhaps stated in a way that is difficult for an average person to understand?  

[**meep**]

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@am*3 wrote:

If I knew this it would have encouraged me to lie ha ha!

That wouldn't work either, because no matter what you claimed.. you would have to have proof  (medical certificate, death cert (if immediate family member died) etc.

Work commitments aren't  going to cut it. If that was happened a person could expect their employer to refund  forthe tix, if they said they could have holidays and then later said no leave.

---

Some insurers offer cancellation insurance that covers in case of an employer cancelling your leave but you would need to be  in full time employment.  Just like with everything else, its a matter of shopping around.

[donnashuggy]

I didn't give it any thought whatsoever, I simply read cancellation insurance and to protect myself from the unexpected.

Never read an insurance policy in my life meep.

If I were insuring my home and lived in a flood zone I might check that out lol

I only found out that they didn't cover it when I lodged the claim, it is my fault entirely 

However, since this has happened and speaking to more than a handful of friends I had one person tell me that you need to be careful and read the policy, the rest of them were surprised. I don't think I have dumb friends and would guess that the majority of the population don't read insurance policies (could be wrong there).

Hopefully you get my drift meep 

[*crikey*mate*]

My suggestion is that you don't say anything. C'mon, Donna, you're a smart lady, even though you don't, being in business, I'm sure that you know you really should read everything before you sign/commit to it.

On the facts so far, your letter will achieve nothing, but maybe give someone a chuckle over morning tea.

However, some things to consider would be.

a) did you have the opportunity to read the terms and conditions before you committed? (by law they have to)

b) how did you purchase the insurance, on line or in person? (was your attention drawn to the terms and conditions)

c) how do you think they could improve how they set out their terms and conditions so that you are easily aware of what is and isn't covered? Big red letters across the front?

d) are you a frequent flyer, do you use that airline a lot?

e) is the insurance offered by the airline or a third party?

f) were you in a hurry/flustered when you purchased the insurance/tickets?

g) was that apparent to whoever sold it to you?

Depending on how you answer will determine whether you can push for a refund.

[donnashuggy]

I'm going to write a letter, it's pretty hard to find people on cs that don't read insurance policies, that is funny 

Did you miss this bit crikey?

I don't really expect a refund, nor do I expect a credit, I just want to write a letter complaining as I feel that a lot of people would be caught out with this, I thought work would be a valid reason, especially when giving notice

[j*oono · Accepted solution]

I can't read contracts.  They do my head in.  So do company policies etc.  It's all gobbledygook to me.

[donnashuggy]

Next time I book a flight I might employ  solicitor to read the policy for me, but honestly some people are having difficulty reading my op........I know I am not the best writer because i do it quickly without a great deal of thought. But I think I covered my bases this time, even called myself dumb or silly ha ha

[*crikey*mate*]

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@donnashuggy wrote:

I'm going to write a letter, it's pretty hard to find people on cs that don't read insurance policies, that is funny 

Did you miss this bit crikey?

I don't really expect a refund, nor do I expect a credit, I just want to write a letter complaining as I feel that a lot of people would be caught out with this, I thought work would be a valid reason, especially when giving notice

---

Of course you want a refund!
 Check your inbox.

I haven't seen their policy (obviously) but c'mon hey! How can you blame them for you not reading their terms and conditions? There is only so much info they can put on the front page.

Did they try to hide them from you?

Did you ask if there were any exclusions/restrictions?

saying you "thought" work would be included is like me saying to you I "thought" I could put that t-shirt in the dryer, and you didn't tell me I couldn't when I bought it.

On the bright side, the lesson to always read the small print has been pretty inexpensive. My lesson was far more expensive than a couple of plane tickets LOL

If you're going to complain and want to be effective, also make suggestions as to how you feel they could improve - ie, on the front cover of the policy under the word cancellation, list what is covered with a big tick beside them, and what isn't covered with a line through it in large simple terms

CANCELLATION

# some illnesses

# death of .....

work committments

change of mind

[*crikey*mate*]

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@donnashuggy wrote:

Next time I book a flight I might employ  solicitor to read the policy for me, but honestly some people are having difficulty reading my op........I know I am not the best writer because i do it quickly without a great deal of thought. But I think I covered my bases this time, even called myself dumb or silly ha ha

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one of the airlines has in their T&C that they don't guarantee that they will provide air transport and reserve the right to get you to your destination by bus at their discression!

Might pay to read the small print LOL Imagine sitting next to a really big, fat stinky person who farted and burped every 5 minutes and snored abd dribbled and scratched their private bits all the way from Sydney to Perth on a bus! Now imagine doing that if there were no spare seats and you chose the window seat!

[donnashuggy]

I think if someone close to me died the last thing i would think of would be claiming a flight, do they ask for a death certificate i wonder? that might just tip me over the edge lol