J2Ski Forum Posts and Replies by msej449

Until it's resolved, I'm disinclined to air too much about the specific details, as the AA could claim (with some justification) that it's a bit one-sided to be criticising them on a web forum. They won't want to engage in a public argument about a specific case, so they've no effective opportunity to reply.

However, I think that it is reasonable to report publicly that they took over 15 weeks to process a very simple claim and waited until the end of that process to point out that some information was missing, when it was too late to go back and rectify the omission. The latter will be the main element of my complaint to the Ombudsman.

It's this matter of following the fine detail that annoys me. In this case, I did everything I could in a relatively familiar context. And 'all' I was dealing with was a stolen rucksack. But what if I'd been on somewhere more remote and injured, with no knowledge of the local language, culture and administration? The odds are high that I wouldn't follow their process and they would take the same approach: "Sorry, but when you were helicoptered off that Alpine mountain you didn't check with us first ('coz I was close to dying), and you underwent hospital treatment without authorisation ('coz I was unconscious), so we're not going to reimburse you or repatriate you." I can just hear it now ......

The only way to check things out would be to ask what they'd do in various scenarios when you take out or renew the policy. But I really can't imagine that the average telesales operator will be able, or want to go through a half hour of "What happens when ...?" discussions. And even if they did, it wouldn't be binding. The problem is with the ruthlessness of the claims management process and the only way to test that is with a real claim.

20 weeks since I submitted my claim to AA Travel Insurance. Back from holiday, and I've received their response to my complaint about the claims handling process. Basically, they have re-stated the same as their claims handlers, Drakefield, and referred me to the Insurance Ombudsman. Next step - Insurance Ombudsman.

Any bets on how long the AA are going to string this out for, no doubt in the hope that I will give up?

And bear in mind that while I'm in dispute with the AA, I can't get the bulk of the claim with my house contents insurer settled .....

I used my SANEF Liber-T screen tag for the first time over the last two weeks. Well, it worked fine - although a bit unnerving the first time you use it. As mentioned, if the traffic is light it doesn't save much time, but on the return journey Fri/Sat a couple of tolls were busy and we sailed through. Southbound, the queues were heavy and I reckon you could save an hour+ of queuing on autoroutes down to the Mediterranean in peak school holidays. I also didn't appreciate that the tag isn't vehicle-specific, so you could share one between family members or friends. Also, it's obviously ideal for lone GB drivers.

I have to ask the inevitable question - why specifically the Trois Valees? I've skied it from Courcheval 1850 and Val Thorens and it is good provided you can actually utilise the whole area. But when our kids were younger, we far preferred Italy because it was (a) much friendlier instruction (b) far cheaper (c) much less aggressive queuing and (d) they couldn't manage the whole TV area anyway. Don't get me wrong: now they're grown up they go to Val Thorens for its undoubted advantages. But when younger, Italy was our preference.

I have never been that impressed with the reps from Ski Club GB and frankly couldn't see how membership was cost-effective. But this may just be me. In resort, the reps seem to spend a lot of their time trying to sell memberships and quickly hit on likely punters early on. I've eavesdropped on some of their advice to members in resort and have often disagreed. But this isn't a systematic survey, so I may just be unlucky.

Firstly, put proper winter tyres on your 4x4. Lots of UK 4x4s have ridiculous summer tyres fitted, which are useless in snow. As mentioned, 4x4 + Winter tyres will cover most conditions.

BUT have chains as well. Not just because of the Gendarmes, but because you may actually need them. Deep snow and an incline, and/or ice may mean they're essential, even on a 4x4 with winter tyres.

Also check your wheels and that your wheel size can take chains. Surprisingly, even 4x4s get fitted with wheels that are so low-profile that you can't fit chains (because the inner tyre wall is too close to the drive/brakes/steering). Look in you user's manual, or ask the dealer.

I had this with my Jeep Grand Cherokee: The wheels fitted to the UK version simply couldn't take chains at all. When I asked the dealer, he said that the logic was that they fitted low-profile wheels because UK buyers preferred the improved handling. And that we didn't get snow in the South of England so cars here didn't need chains.

I agree about the 'secondary' elements of cover, but it's actually the Big Ticket items that have me worried.

The AA claims handler, Drakefield, is trying to wriggle out of around £800-£1,000 of lost property cover. Say they get 20% of what they 'save' - that's £160-£200 for them: If they're prepared to spend 16 weeks delaying me for £1K what are they going to do when the bill is £100K, or £1m?

OK, so apart from the on-going dispute with AA Insurance on my stolen camera equipment, an interesting statistic:

The costs associated with losing my passport in the end came to £792.
The AA insurance ceiling on costs related to replacing a passport are £250.

And this was in the event where British airways kindly re-scheduled my return flight at no extra charge (something I know easyJet would certainly not have done).

So check your cover on this item alone, and consider - if you lose your passport, you will probably have to travel to a British Consulate somewhere distant, and stay in a hotel for 3-4 days before you can pick up your replacement.

Now, I'm not complaining about this element - I read through the policy and accepted the £250 ceiling. But it has made me realise that you need more like £1,000 maximum to cover the 'loss of passport' costs.

You may be 'lucky' and lose your passport early on in the holiday and just lose a final skiing day going to pick the passport up from a nearby Consulate. But if you're unlucky you'll lose it on a Friday/Saturday, not have any local accomodation, have to travel to a distant Consulate city, stay at least 2-3 nights, and then pick it up on the Monday. And in the very worst case scenario, you then have to wait a few more days until there's a flight home, for which you have paid a premium price.