Red Pennant "will not cover anything Coronavirus"

Would BF not let you carry over the deposit until next year?

Yes indeed. Ferry bookings bought directly from Brittany Ferries need not be cancelled - they can simply be amended forward to any date within the current published timetable, and when the 2021 timetable is published in July they can be amended forward again. All can be done on line . 

This exactly what I have done online..moved my current May/June return booking to end of current timetable with a view to amend when the 2021 timetable is published...

Aside, On the main Corvid-19 Latest page..under frequently asked questions and Red Pennant tab / Can I cancel my Insurance? ..there is this post...

Can I cancel my policy?
If you have a single trip policy and your trip has been cancelled we will cancel your policy and provide a full refund. Please be aware we can only cancel your policy if you won’t be making a claim on the policy. If you want to cancel please call us on 01342 336633.

If you have an annual multi-trip policy with a start date on or after 1 February 2020 until 13 March we will be writing to you to tell you how you can defer your cover for up to six months.

This actually applies to my annual policy...waiting for the letter.

I have just cancelled my France trip this year and as I booked Eurotunnel I cannot get a refund of the fully paid fare but Eurotunnel have taken the very sensible view that they will roll over the fare until anytime in 2021. A company taking a sensible and fair view of the unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in.

However, Red Pennant take the opposite and penny-pinching view.

RP will NOT entertain ANY claim related to Covid regardless of when the policy was taken out and I am informed by the Club that the reasons given by Intana and the underwriters are that the policy did not specifically state if covered me in the event of a pandemic – even though the risk wasn’t known at the time - so they decline to pay out on any financial loss incurred by policy holders. I had always believed that insurance was there to cover against unknown risk!

As a result I have cancelled the RP policy and will get the premium back and as a result of the laudable stance of Eurotunnel I am not significantly disadvantaged.  

Next year (or even later this year if the lockdowns are lifted) I will again take out insurance but it is highly unlikely I will consider Red Pennant (or CC&C version as they also use Intana) as they are not to be trusted and will look elsewhere. Does anyone have any suggestions for a reputable alternative?

Watendlath, if you want an alternative all embracing policy (car and caravan breakdown, repair and recovery + cover for medical emergencies, repatriation, theft and everything else) then that will be hard to find outside the two Clubs. 

I myself split things in half and take out a normal travel insurance policy (annual or single trip) taking advice  from St Martin Lewis and tne range of comparison sites - and then a separate breakdown/recovery policy which includes Europe as well as U.K. That latter can be a freestanding policy or an add on to annual car insurance. 

There are infinite ways to go . What suits one person's requirements won't suit someone else, but over the years I have had overseas motoring breakdown/recovery policies with GreenFlag Europlus and the  RAC via an M&S Premium motor insurance, while others swear by Britannia Rescue via LV motor insurance. But personal medical insurance is another matter and is so much dependent on age and medical history. I just cannot say which policy will do for you. 

Enjoy your search ! 

PS.  And back in tne day when my Freelander was new I had three years of free Land Rover assistance cover, for Europe as well as UK, so I simply relied on that and merely took out an annual personal travel policy to cover medical expenses and the like. 

Watendlath, I use the insurance provided by the Nationwide B/Soc under their Flex Plus account.

It provides me with Full Worldwide Annual Travel plus European Breakdown including UK (provided by LV) and covers towing. It also provides other bits and pieces cover such as Mobile Phone loss or accident etc. Whilst they give 31 days as standard you can increase it for additional premiums. They'll cover my pre existing medical problems, again at extra but less than RP wanted. We've even extended it when needed to cover MiL when she goes on a holiday with Mrs WN. She's 87 (MiL not the wife) and they wanted £20 for a 10 day holiday in Europe. The cover is not just for caravanning but any trip worldwide.

We pay a monthly fee which at one time was only £6 per month but has since increased to about £13 although we do get credit for some purchases etc. All in all it's still worth it at the moment.

Booked ferry & red pennant in February R.P. paid in full £406.00 for multi trip.CMC cancelled ferry & full refund.However many e-mails re R.P. refund,& the Club trying very hard for its members with the insurer I have only had £305.00 refunded.Loss of £100.00 is a lot for admin purposes.Wonder if it is goodbye CMC?

Very interesting , and i dont doubt what you are saying, however, it was not my experience, we had single trip Red Pennant paid in December 2019 for trip commencing April 2021, telephoned March to cancel, person was working from home so took some time to cxl as system slow, full refund of all monies received some 3 weeks later, they did say it would be 2-3 weeks due to volumes, so no complaints, maybe as we cxld after the ban by the government of non essential foreign travel.