3. Excess travel insurance claim query
« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Excess travel insurance claim query  (Read 154 times)

0 Members and 0 Guests are viewing this topic.

JoCo

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Excess travel insurance claim query
« on: November 23, 2024, 01:57:06 pm »
I was recently in Ireland, where I hired a car, with minimum insurance, €2,000 excess.
As I have independent excess insurance. 


Whilst in Ireland I scraped the rear door, denting it,  no other party involved unless you include a gatepost.
My bad.


Anyway  I got the bill, and repair report.  The repairers are charging €3,500 to replace the door and ancillary work!  Not convinced it was needed, but that's not my problem... 


Avis only charged me the €2,000 excess, to the card which I booked the car hire with.


Looking at my Credit car Bill I have a  debit for £1,682.99  which represents  €2,000
However I also have a £46.28 Non Sterling Transaction Fee.


Question is: I haven't claimed yet, but can I include the £46.28 Non Sterling Transaction Fee, as part of my claim? 

It's seem obvious that it is a loss, but I wonder if the excess insurance company would try to claim that bank fees are not in their gift, because it isn't the excess.


Perhaps I should claim  £1,729 wording it:  Sterling settlement Calculated @ 1.18 incl bank fee.  And let them object.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2024, 02:01:35 pm by JoCo »
Logged

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Southpaw82

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 645
  • Karma: +10/-2
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2024, 02:48:27 pm »
What does your insurance policy actually say?
Logged

JoCo

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2024, 03:18:48 pm »
On certificate


Excess Reimbursement £7,000  (Total for the term of the policy)

In Policy document


This Policy shall be governed by English law

You should, where possible, contact Us within 90 days of You being charged by the Car Rental Company. Please
quote Your Policy number as a reference in all correspondence.

This Policy operates on a reimbursement basis, which means once You have paid the Rental Excess or
Administration Charges due under Your Car Rental Agreement, You can reclaim the costs from Us where
permitted by this Policy.

Your Car Rental Agreement may require You to reserve the Rental Excess amount against Your credit or debit
card when You collect the Rental Vehicle. If the Rental Vehicle is involved in an Accident or suffers Damage for
which You are held responsible, the Rental Excess amount or an Administration Charge will be deducted from
this reserve, and You will receive a loss damage report. You will then use this report to claim back the Rental
Excess or Administration Charge



Hence I wonder if they can assert that the Bank charges are a separate entity from the Rental Excess, as not emanating from the car rental company, but from the card issuer.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2024, 03:21:11 pm by JoCo »
Logged

JoCo

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2024, 03:27:53 pm »
Actually there's more which may be helpful:


Excess Reimbursement

If the Rental Vehicle is involved in an Accident or suffers Damage for which You are held responsible under the
terms of Your Car Rental Agreement, We will reimburse You up to the amounts shown on Your Certificate of
Insurance for:

• Costs directly relating to the Rental Excess, including charges for Loss of Use following a valid claim under
Your Car Rental Agreement

• Towing costs incurred following an Accident, Damage or Breakdown
• Administration Charges

This section includes Damage to auto glass (meaning any glass that forms part of the Rental Vehicle and includes
windscreens, windows, internal and external lights and sunroof), as well as Damage to the roof, tyres and under
body of the Rental Vehicle. You must supply written permission from the Car Rental Company or Car Club for any
direct repairs, such as replacement tyres or auto glass up to a maximum of £200.

Is a bank fee an administrative charge? I suspect they mean Car rental Company's administrative charge.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2024, 03:33:19 pm by JoCo »
Logged

PallasAthena

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 25
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2024, 04:09:11 pm »
I would include it in the claim as an administrative charge. If they only meant the car rental company's charge they have to say so. It covers towing costs and they won't necessarily be anything to do with the car rental company. I know it's the principle of the thing but even so it is only £46.
« Last Edit: November 23, 2024, 04:10:53 pm by PallasAthena »
Logged

666

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 283
  • Karma: +8/-6
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2024, 04:41:57 pm »
Quote from: JoCo on November 23, 2024, 03:18:48 pm
On certificate


Excess Reimbursement £7,000  (Total for the term of the policy)

In Policy document


This Policy shall be governed by English law

You should, where possible, contact Us within 90 days of You being charged by the Car Rental Company. Please
quote Your Policy number as a reference in all correspondence.

This Policy operates on a reimbursement basis, which means once You have paid the Rental Excess or
Administration Charges due under Your Car Rental Agreement, You can reclaim the costs from Us where
permitted by this Policy.

Your Car Rental Agreement may require You to reserve the Rental Excess amount against Your credit or debit
card when You collect the Rental Vehicle. If the Rental Vehicle is involved in an Accident or suffers Damage for
which You are held responsible, the Rental Excess amount or an Administration Charge will be deducted from
this reserve, and You will receive a loss damage report. You will then use this report to claim back the Rental
Excess or Administration Charge



Hence I wonder if they can assert that the Bank charges are a separate entity from the Rental Excess, as not emanating from the car rental company, but from the card issuer.
Indeed, they could argue that you should have used one of the cards that don't charge.

But anyway, claim it: they can only say no.
Logged

Southpaw82

  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Posts: 645
  • Karma: +10/-2
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2024, 04:46:20 pm »
“Administration Charge” seems to be a defined term. What is the definition?
Logged

JoCo

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2024, 06:10:25 pm »
Quote from: Southpaw82 on November 23, 2024, 04:46:20 pm
“Administration Charge” seems to be a defined term. What is the definition?

Well spotted.  Indeed it was defined:

Administration Charges – unrecoverable fixed amounts charged by the Car Rental Company or Car Club
separately to the Rental Excess following Damage to the Rental Vehicle



Not promising.

Logged

PallasAthena

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 25
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2024, 07:40:27 pm »
Ah, that makes a difference. Bung it into your claim and see what happens. There's an argument to be made that the cost to you of reimbursing the excess includes the charges your card company makes but how much it's worth arguing about for £46 is for you to decide.
Logged

JoCo

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 28
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Excess travel insurance claim query
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2024, 09:07:57 am »
£46 is not big meat. (Albeit the equivalent value to many PCN's challenged voraciously on this forum.)

So worth a try, as below. It might get rubber stamped.   Certainly won't if I don't ask.


Looking at my Credit car Bill you will note that I have a  debit for £1,682.99  which represents conversion of €2,000 to Sterling, and a £46.28 Non Sterling Transaction Fee.  Leaving a total loss of  £1,729.27 relating to this claim.

Logged
Pages: [1]
« previous next »
  3. Excess travel insurance claim query