| Product: |
Halifax Travel Insurance |
| Date: |
07/05/07 (590 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: NONE
Disadvantages: LARGE NAME COMPANY TAKING MONEY WITH NO INTENTION OF MEETING HONEST CLAIMS
HALIFAX TAKE YOUR MONEY BUT DON’T PAY OUT ON A FAIR CLAIM
I had a road cycle accident in Majorca on 14 April 2007 and ended up in hospital with a broken rib, severe shock, bruising and lacerations. I really needed help from my insurers but they turned their back on me absolutely and entirely.
The Halifax just flatly refused to consider my claim for medical expenses and assistance.
Halifax argued that my cycling was not an ‘incidental’ part of my holiday and was therefore excluded by the section on page 13 of their Policy Booklet. This section is headed ‘Hazardous Activities’ and starts with the words “We provide cover for most activities provided the activity is an incidental part of a normal trip”. The section then goes on to list twenty-nine activities as hazardous and therefore excluded from cover. Nowhere in this long list is road cycling [or, indeed, any form of cycling] mentioned. But when an attempt to register my claim was made Halifax just decided to include cycling in the ‘Hazardous’ category, in that they said it was not an "incidental" part of the holiday.
It seems to me that the Halifax uses a phrase that allows them to deny any claim they so choose.
Another cyclist involved in the same accident was insured with Direct Line. They met her claim without any argument.
Don’t bother with Halifax Insurance – they really have no intention of acting with integrity or morality in their business. They just want to take your money.
Summary: Halifax Insurance uses a phrase that allows them to deny any claim they so choose
|
Last comments:
 |
- 09/05/07 Have you contacted the insurance ombudsman about this to see what they say? Were you actually on a cycling holiday or just a day trip out? |
 |
- 09/05/07 This is an additional comment by Ezyozy on my review of the Halifax product, which I now make because I think that I was not sufficiently clear first time around on just how serious the loophole is that Halifax provide themselves with in their policy booklet document. Although my initial review seems to be specific to cycling, it is in fact of relevance to all possible travel claims.
Why?
Because the ‘incidental’ clause within the ‘Hazardous Activities’ section on page 13 of the Halifax Policy booklet can be used by them to deny any claim they wish. Almost no activity on a trip abroad is entirely ‘incidental’. For example, a motor touring trip to France would involve the use of car on most days – but this would then not be incidental. During the summer going swimming in the pool on most days would be reasonable – but this would then not be incidental. On a golfing holiday, playing golf on most days would be reasonable - but this would then not be incidental. All of these activities and many others could lead to accidents and a medical claim, but Halifax could use their ‘incidental’ wording to deny any claim, if they decide that what you have been doing is not an incidental part of the holiday. (they do not confine their definition of a ‘hazardous activity’ to the 29 items they list within the Hazardous Activities part of their policy booklet).
PS I hope that readers do indeed find this information useful. |
|
Deutschland 
España 
Italia 
France - 
