Red Pennant "will not cover anything Coronavirus"

KeithL

Share your frustration that our insurance terms with Red Pennant have changed, and we are only finding out when we ask. Surely an update to all policy holders would have been the best way to inform members. Even telling us to refer to a website briefing.

I was told

If you just change your mind you would not be covered.

if the FCO advise against travel the Red Pennant would not cover you but we would contact the ferry company and sites to get a refund for you or amend your holiday to later dates.

Travelling against Government advise is not something I would do, as I travel worldwide and the FCO do not over-react with their advise to UK citizens not to travel.

Must be the only travel insurance provider that does not pay out when FCO advise against travel to a country. Industry commentators are all saying you can get travel insurance payouts when FCO advises again all or all but essential travel to the place you're going. Red Pennant obviously believe the sites we book are on Mars because FCO advise against all but essential travel globally!!

I feel a formal complaint and subsequent referral to the Ombudsman coming on.

Know where I'm never buying insurance again if this is there response to a cancellation claim

Must be the only travel insurance provider that does not pay out when FCO advise against travel to a country.

Actually not the only one at all if you look at exclusions from other insurers. I thought that there would have been cover but not on the T&Cs of several that I looked at

Is that for existing policies or new business?

I cannot be sure but believe that such an exclusion has been there for a while.

There is no such restriction within any of the policy documentation issued to me in January. I'm aware a lot of providers are currently refusing to provide travel insurance or excluding coronavirus impacts from their coverage as it's now a 'known risk' however that's all new business only. 

As an analogy would people accept Life Assurance not paying out on death caused by Coronavirus when the policy was taken out years ago? No of course they wouldn't so why should the club be able to refuse the cancellation cover people bought, in good faith, as part of the policy when travelling goes against FCO guidance, when you can't even get into those countries because they've closed borders, and/or they've banned all but essential travel within the country to a very short list of acceptable travel reasons?

This is not an example of a club, of which are we are all members and pay our membership fees, acting in the best interests of those members. 

I agree, although I am waiting for a response from the club to my email (phone too busy) requesting they cxl my policy taken out mid Feb for single trip 14th April - 7th July, no response as yet, I would be prepared to accept a credit note so that i could maybe take out a similar policy next year.

Giving cash refunds is not what insurance companies like to do, my daughter had an all inclusive booked for Egypt over the Easter period, all she has been offered is a voucher valid only for 6 months. As i said in a previous post, insurance companies will try to wriggle out of any sort of payout if at all possible.

There is no such restriction within any of the policy documentation issued to me in January. I'm aware a lot of providers are currently refusing to provide travel insurance or excluding coronavirus impacts from their coverage as it's now a 'known risk' however that's all new business only. 

Not to do with Coronavirus at all I still believe that many policies would have exclusions if the travel was prevented by countries closing borders or things of a similar nation in just the same was as they do regarding civil war, riots etc.

BF are saying this

We’re now in the process of automatically cancelling customers and issuing a voucher for the amount of the affected sailing. The voucher will be accompanied by an explanatory email (that will further explain your options) and can be redeemed against a future sailing or inclusive holiday with Brittany Ferries. The voucher will remain valid for 12 months.

so, ok you will not get your money back in cash but a voucher for  travel in the future, so if like me you are planning another trip then that is good, if not and RP are not going to pay any compensation then it is not good,but i think this is as good as it is going to get, I did not book my ferries via the club so have no re-dress with the club.

My inbound ferry for 22nd June is a BF flexi ticket so i can simply keep moving the dates out at no extra cost, even into next year.

as for the RP policy as i think stated by you, provided your policy has not actually kicked in then you can cancel and get a full refund.  I am still waiting for the club to respond to my request to cxl.

As for closing borders, technically nobody has closed the borders between France and the UK, BF have cxld all sailings but that is their choice, you can still travel via the tunnel and i believe some ferries out of some channel ports, what the F&CO have said is that they advise against any non-essential travel to many countries in the world, i think valid for 30 days, judging by some reports it would be very difficult to travel in France just now but not impossible, so arguably claus 28? is a non starter, but after having a long association with insurance companies, nothing surprises me.

I have cancelled my summer trip to Spain one week before the final payment was due.

I discussed this with the Club and they have returned my Red Pennant premium as it was only for a single trip, and refunded the deposit on the sites I have booked.

However the T&C's from BF means that the ferry deposit has been lost. A price to remain safe I suppose.

There is always next year - I hope!!

Stay safe everyone