A business partner of mine was reminding me today that if we buy our airline tickets with our credit cards we receive automatic travel insurance, but have to activate this before you depart. Every trip I have bee on then I have never been covered or this could be a new change in policy I do not know, but it is good to know this.
Last year his dad needed medical treatment whilst in Germany and a year later is still fighting to get reimbursed. His parents are due to fly again next month and they have bee told by the bank to activate the insurance if they want to receive the cover.
I have always taken it for granted that you are covered because you see the this being promoted on their web sites. Free travel insurance cover up to x amount if paid with your credit card.
When we travel in the next few weeks (fingers crossed) I have taken out a family travel cover which is not something I would have normally done, but I just don't trust these companies anymore. Nothing is clear and obvious like they state ad there is always something they are not telling you.
Get FREE Global Travel Insurance cover when you use your qualifying FNB Cheque or Credit card to purchase your local or international return travel ticket(s). SAVE on your insurance and be conveniently covered for the first 90 days of your journey.
When I lived in the UK we had car insurance and one would presume you are covered if you cross the English Channel and drive in Europe. You are if you inform them and have a letter from them covering your travel dates. I only found out when I took the company car over and told me to get permission first from the insurers.
The funny thig is we only find out via other people who have learned the hard way and have needed insurance cover only to find they are not covered due to the fine print. We presume far too much because this is what everyone has believed all along due to their misleading advertising.
Back in 2015 I hired a car in France and luckily I requested the full comprehensive cover which was only around 50 euros more. Someone had dented the bottom of the passenger door and it was not due to one of us and must have happened when it was parked. On returning the vehicle to the car hire they noted the damage and that was the end of that due to being fully covered. If I had not had full comprehensive cover I would have had to pay the excess fees which I have no clue how much those would have been and guaranteed far more than 50 Euros.
The moral of the story is always read the fine print knowing exactly what you are covered for avoiding any nasty surprises that may be lurking. I never do and have learned through experience never to presume and always ask if unsure what is being covered.
