Red pennant FAQ versus FCDO COVID policy
I was trying to figure out if Red pennant would allow deferment of my insurance should the FCDO block travel to Europe this summer due to COVID and therefore whether if it is worth paying for my insurance now (or at all).
The information boarders on contradictory (see below). I'm getting the impression, going by the policy document and ignoring the FAQ that no cover is provided, and if you have the misfortune of coming in to contact with someone via track and trace you can say goodbye to your policy and any deferment should the government change it's mind. It hardly seems worth paying in advance on these grounds.
This would be pity and why I opted out of Red Pennant last year and found another route.
I'm curious on other people's thoughts and if nothing else, hopefully the following will be useful to someone else.
——from quotation (no FCDO covid cancellation help, booo!)———
Cover will NOT apply if:
the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have advised against* all or all but essential travel to the countries you travel to/through during your trip.
——FAQ (FCDO covid cancellation help, erm, yes, no, no!)———
Can I cancel my policy if my trip has been cancelled due to Coronavirus?
If you have a single trip or long stay policy and your trip has been cancelled due to coronavirus we can amend the travel dates providing the trip is completed within a year of the policy’s inception. Alternatively, we can cancel your policy and provide a full refund (outside of the cooling-off period). 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 336 606.
Can I cancel my policy if the FCDO enforce travel restrictions to my destination?
[…] If you have a single trip or long stay policy and the FCDO enforces travel restrictions to your destination we can amend the travel dates providing the trip is completed within a year of the policy’s inception. Alternatively, we can cancel your policy and provide a full refund (outside of the cooling-off period). 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 336606.
I cancelled my trip after the FCDO advice changed to 'against essential travel' to the destination I was scheduled to go to. Can I get my money back for my trip?
[…]. If you have a Red Pennant policy there is no cover for cancellation as a result of the change in government advice not to travel. However, depending on circumstances eg when you booked your trip and took out your policy in relation to when the advice to your destination changed, your claim may be considered.
——Policy document (no covid FCDO cancellation help, no, no, no)——
Policy foreword
Please be advised there will be no cover under any section of this policy, including cancellation, if the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) have advised against all or all but essential travel to the countries you travel to/through during your trip.
Section 2.1
YOU ARE COVERED:
[…] providing the cancellation is necessary and unavoidable [..] due to one of the ten events listed below:
[A,B,C,D,E,F,H....]
I: 7 days before Your Trip start date the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel or all but essential travel to Your intended destination, provided the advice does not relate to coronavirus (COVID-19) as set out in the general exclusions.
General Exclusions
15. Any claim arising from a Trip to a country or region within a country where the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all or all but essential travel, apart from Section 1 Cancellation, where FCDO advice changed after You purchased this insurance or booked the Trip. This exclusion does not apply if We accept in writing that Your Trip is essential.