Latest posts for the topic "Be sure to insure!"

Be sure to insure!

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:16:47 GMT

Having just returned from a fantastic week on fresh snow in Saalbach,I wanted to share a tale with every one. As we know fresh snow can mean difficult conditions and on one such day our group had made the decision to return to our hotel and whilst on a modest blue run of piste basher width, we had total white out conditions and one of our group miss judged the edge of the piste by no more than 3ft,he fell without injury, into deep snow of at least 4ft, ok so far you may think, but in doing so one ski came off. Could we find it? NO, even after digging for about an hour we had no luck.
Fortunatly we had insurance that covered kit, but we had to pay for the lost ski (premium grade 680Euros.ouch!)and will now claim it back.
I would urge any one who is new to our great winter sport and thinks that saving a few quid on the insurance would pay for a few beers, to think twice.
Whilst we were handing back our skis, an English guy had got the wrong skis from the apres bar and with no insurance, he faced a large bill for the replacements.
Remeber you are responsible for the hire kit, both whilst you are skiing or at any other time during the hire period.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:36:45 GMT

Surely far more important than equipment is if you get injured. A set of skis may set you back a grand, but if you get injured and have to stay in hospital and get a different flight back you are talking tens of thousands! I get annual family insurance for 4, including winter sports for GBP68 a year and get GBP12 of that back going through quidco. Thats about GBP12.50 each for a year, anywhere in europe and including 16 days skiing a yhr. Small price to pay.
A woman on my recent hol was injured by the chair lift and had to stay in resort suchwas her injury. You have to be mad to travel without insurance!

Regarding that man's skis, surely when the real owner of those skis appeared with wrong ones, it'd be sorted out, as they all have numbers on. My hubby and another guy got their skis mixed uo, but it was all soon sorted out by the serial numbers.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:09 GMT

I'm often offered Equipment Insurance from the hire shop. I usually take this out. Even though I have Trip Insurance. I've always thought it would be easier to deal with the shop itself using theirs and I wouldn't be left with a bill to 'claim back on return home. However I was naive and assumed this was 'full cover'. I've since been warned to check this as a lot of the time there can still be a steep excess. I can't ever remember being given the T&C's of shop insurance. I shall definitely be paying more attention in future :oops:

This year I have my EHIC, annual cover, I'll be getting one of these Carte Neige that have been recommended and considering shop insurance. It seems a little excessive but after a bad accident leading to a massive claim I'm a little over careful.

The example on the first post shows how easy it is for even those who are careful to come a cropper for an equipment bill.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:05:11 GMT

Wow! Have never been offered insurance from the shop! Wouldnt take it anyway, would prob cost more than we pay for the year individually.
btw the company I use is insurefor.com, and if you go via quidco you get a hefty cashback too. You can change the excesses to suit yourself Worth a look everyone, because I can't find cheaper anywhere! If you want the quidco details give me a yell.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:08:12 GMT

A few years back, I was under the impression my annual travel insurance policy covered me for my second ski trip of the year. It didn't, luckily I had no need of it, but the thought of skiing without insurance on that trip sends shivers up my spine...

Just done my insurance for my next holiday online, a slightly tedious process with previous medical conditions and all that stuff. But to ski without insurance is madness....

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:10:08 GMT

It's only to insure the hire equipment. They tell you that if you damage or lose it you're in for a huge bill. Pay them a few Euros insurance and that will be waived.

One of our party lost her skis a couple of years ago. She was gutted she hadn't taken it out.

In 10 years it's the only time the group would ever have claimed though.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:20:04 GMT

but you may as well get the whole insurance package mekka. You have to be insured against unjury anyway! Why then pay extra at the hire office!
Lotta insurefor do 16 days skiing a year. I spose 18 would be better as it'd cover 3 weeksworth. That said, if you didnt claim on yr first trip, how would they know you'd already been??????

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:27:09 GMT

As I said above I'm always very well insured. I've paid the shop insurance for the ease of not having to go through the rigmarole of making a claim from my annual cover and to avoid the excess. The price is much less than the excess on my annual cover.

The worry is that there may be an excess the shop neglect to mention themselves. Then it becomes rather pointless.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:32:30 GMT

fair enough. You can alter the excess on yr policy tho for a few quid to remove it.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:37:13 GMT

Mine's set by the bank. It comes as part of a package with my account.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:43:36 GMT

Mekka wrote:Mine's set by the bank. It comes as part of a package with my account.

Yep, got one of those. Extends free of charge to winter sports cover.

Only claim I had to make was down to force majeure according to the tour op, but my insurance paid out for purchase of essential items which was all we needed.

I think its of paramount importance that people check their insurance to check they are covered for injury, including repatriation if necessary. Take into account the cost of being taken off in a blood wagon or helicopter, as thats what you'll end up paying.

If you hire skis, take out cover with the shop for a couple of euros a day extra.

Alternatively, take your own skis for (IMO) a much better experience all round.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:57:42 GMT

Ooh no ta! Own skis = initial outlay/expense, carriage on plane, having to get them there, then you'd need them serviced regularly!

Mekka, do you get free insurance with your bank account? If so, which bank is that? Unless you're paying any charges on it, as I wouldntwant that!
May open a separate account. I am sure tho, if you went in and paid a bit more thay'd amend the excess.
My insurance covers all that Tony H, and all for GBP12.50 each a year, covering us for unlimited european holidays and 16 days skiing. I am very happy with mine, I challenge anyone to find cheaper!

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:02:13 GMT

I pay extra for my account and get 'lots of benefits'. They assure me this is saving me tons of money. I haven't looked closely enough to figure out the saving vs cost. It covers me for phone, iPod, travel, roadside assistance. All the usual. I've yet to make a claim on any of it. It sure is handy though having it all done by them.

I check the cover every time a point gets raised on here. Eg the alcohol thing last season. Up to now it's not been lacking.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:38:53 GMT

Out of interest, does anyone here 'directly' know anyone who has had to make one of these GBP10k+ claims?

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:46:33 GMT

My husband had a multi-thousand claim. Double leg break, mountain clinic costs, hospital fees, extended stay for me, ambulance to the airport, re-booking of flights, ambulance from the airport home.

It certainly focuses the mind re: what you're covered for.

All in Andorra, so he wasn't ambulanced from the clinic to the hospital until those fees had been paid. No operation in the hospital until they had authorisation. Makes you see the NHS in a whole new light. Though I think the ease of NHS treatment makes people expect similar abroad. Encouraging a laxness where insurance is concerned.

I had always taken out insurance before but just what the tour op offered. Luckily they were absolutely wonderful, everything was covered and they arranged everything.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:53:43 GMT

Mekka

Bloody'ell! Did he make a full recovery?

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:57:31 GMT

He did thanks. The 'best bit' was asking the surgeon if he would be able to walk down the aisle at our wedding 12 weeks later. The surgeon gave us a gallic shrug and a snigger. Luckily he did walk down the aisle and the crutches were used very little :D

He had to have the metal plate removed here 12 months later as it irritated his leg. He was back skiing after 24 months. He's very athletic though.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:08:56 GMT

Smokey Barr wrote:Out of interest, does anyone here 'directly' know anyone who has had to make one of these GBP10k+ claims?

Yes I have SB.
In two ways - firstly son of an aquaintance who sustained a back injury boarding in USA. No idea what the total insurance costs were but the "extras" claimed back by parents exceeded $10000.
The repatriation was a private jet across the Atlantic.
I was also involved with a medical repatriation company in a small way (those people who you phone when away for help and authorisation) and the costs of some medical claims were amazing. The most I recall was from USA (non-skiing) somwhere in the order of $500,000.

I agree with Mekka that the NHS means that we are all thankfully unaware of the real cost of health care in the UK. A quick internet search says that cruciate ligament repair costs GBP3700 to GBP6400 in the UK.

I will never go abroad without good quality insurance.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:13:34 GMT

I'm in La Tania at the moment. One of our group had some skis taken probably by accident) outside a restaurant.. and another pair left in their place! The local hire shop have been LESS than helpful. It is so frustrating. We've had to go the police in Meribel (they were taken in Les Menuiires) to report the loss and now she has had to hire another pair. She is insured but it has made us all check our policies!

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:45:03 GMT

Most folks don't lock their skis where I usually go. Last week outside a restaurant I stood and watched a guy walking between the ski racks, picking pairs up...putting them back, moving along the line (rinse/repeat). He'd forgotten where he'd put his AND what they looked like.

He was unable to pick mine up, I use a lock )

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:59:20 GMT

Just looked up the Insurefor policy on their website. For off piste skiing they state "Off piste skiing or snow-boarding
(within local ski patrol guidelines)"

I wonder what that actually means :?:

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:10:15 GMT

The case of Sarah burke's medical bill show's the cost.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2012/01/sarah-burkes-family-trying-to-raise-money-to-cover-medical-costs.html

If you are conscious when you are brought into the ER, the first thing they want is to see your insurance card.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:25:04 GMT

Or in my case, they took my passport off me so I could not leave!!

Will write more later, my total claim was GBP13k...

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:40:40 GMT

bandit wrote:Most folks don't lock their skis where I usually go. Last week outside a restaurant I stood and watched a guy walking between the ski racks, picking pairs up...putting them back, moving along the line (rinse/repeat). He'd forgotten where he'd put his AND what they looked like.

He was unable to pick mine up, I use a lock )

Locks might be a deterrent, but just because they're locked don't assume that they are then covered by the insurance; this is one policy wording for EXCLUSIONS:
"5. Claims arising from ski equipment left unattended in a place to which the general public has access (e.g. on the slopes/outside a restaurant"

I would assume that to mean they would refuse to payout locked or not.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:39:37 GMT

bandit wrote:Just looked up the Insurefor policy on their website. For off piste skiing they state "Off piste skiing or snow-boarding
(within local ski patrol guidelines)"

I wonder what that actually means :?:

I haven't taken much notice of that tbh cos I never ski off piste and nor do my family. I think they're a good company though. very cheap and eveything I need included. Plus don't forget to go through quidco to make extra cash!!
If you want to check that with them, give them a ring. They even have a freefone number! 0800 091 2830 I emailed them to ask if we were covered if for instance one of the kids had to stay in the country, for me to stay with them. I said I wasnt ringing an 0871 number and they gave me that one!!

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:43:04 GMT

smartski wrote:

Locks might be a deterrent, but just because they're locked don't assume that they are then covered by the insurance; this is one policy wording for EXCLUSIONS:
"5. Claims arising from ski equipment left unattended in a place to which the general public has access (e.g. on the slopes/outside a restaurant"

I would assume that to mean they would refuse to payout locked or not.

Having jumped the "lock" hurdle, policyholders are then presented with a % reduction for each year a ski is owned, if they should dare to make a claim.

A decent cable lock will deter the drunk/dork which are the source of most incidents. I use one like this, which fits in a pocket.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/safeman-compact-pocket-cable-lock-prod4738/

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:44:27 GMT

Mekka wrote:I pay extra for my account and get 'lots of benefits'. They assure me this is saving me tons of money. I haven't looked closely enough to figure out the saving vs cost. It covers me for phone, iPod, travel, roadside assistance. All the usual. I've yet to make a claim on any of it. It sure is handy though having it all done by them.

I check the cover every time a point gets raised on here. Eg the alcohol thing last season. Up to now it's not been lacking.

I think my bank offered me that but it worked out dearer. Don't use a mobile or an ipod and we only do 2.5k miles in our family car so dont see the need for breakdown insurance and my travel insurance is dirt cheap anyway. The bank's house insurance is extortionate. Think mine quoted me about GBP300 for both and I get it online for GBP150 for contents and buildings, AND about GBP45 cashback from quidco! I avoid bank stuff like the plague.

Glad to hear your hubby fully recovered. :) It is always a worry while away.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:47:09 GMT

Bandit, I have to laugh at "dork" lol. A word we often use.
Mind, my hubby had the wrong skis, as someone had left theirs with all our four's skis, and they were the exact same ones. But luckily it was sorted at the ski office, after they didn't feel right. They knew who's skis they were and he had my hubby's, so they swapped back. In future we will make a note of numbers. I doubt anyone'd knick em, as they can't be slipped in your case lol

Re:Be sure to insure!

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 09:37:00 GMT

Well all this made me find out for myself...I use the RBS cover that comes with my extra payment to my account...really good value as I do use the car breakdown and the mobile phone cover is useful too..I find that I have to take my policy document with me when I travel so I have ordered one and will read the cover details with interest,,It also made me look at my 'European Health Card' ...and i found that it had expired last year..didn't know they had a sell by date..you can renew on line ...I will read the conditions thoroughly and let you know

Re:Be sure to insure!

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 22:22:57 GMT

Discodee wrote:but you may as well get the whole insurance package mekka. You have to be insured against unjury anyway! Why then pay extra at the hire office!
Lotta insurefor do 16 days skiing a year. I spose 18 would be better as it'd cover 3 weeksworth. That said, if you didnt claim on yr first trip, how would they know you'd already been??????

Had my skis nicked yesterday while at lunch. Glad I had the shop insurance.
The bigger problem is how to get down the mountain without skis. I was lucky as I was at a gondala that I rode down. Not sure what I would have done otherwise.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 09:00:07 GMT

Do you take out equipment insurance with the shop when you are there,(can't remember them offering to us before), or when you book online ? - Think I will do it this year, had a narrow escape the other year with skis taken.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 10:39:38 GMT

I do it with my ski insurance. Run the risk of having to claim in back and pay upfront.

Re:Be sure to insure!

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 17:41:00 GMT

Lizzie-B wrote:Do you take out equipment insurance with the shop when you are there,(can't remember them offering to us before), or when you book online ? - Think I will do it this year, had a narrow escape the other year with skis taken.

I hired with Skiset. Sorting ski insurance had an excess of 150 Euro. Had we don this while booking, there would have been no excess. However, I can't remember the online price to compare.