Written on: 19/01/2013 by Sharon.54
If you are reading this review ,like me you have probably had problems with this company -now -Aria.I am now into my 8 th month of endless letters/emails/calls to try to get a fair settlement following a theft while travelling abroad.Be advised do not deal with this company over the phone-get everything inn writing.they try every trick in the book to delay,customer service is non existent,am just about to go to the OmbudsmanI Keep away.. (read more)
Written on: 08/01/2013 by NikkiJenkins (1 review written)
This company are an absolute disgrace. I wouldn't recommend them to an enemy let alone a friend or relative. They should be banned by the FSA and Insurance Ombudsman from ever being allowed to operate again. In 2011 Europ Assistance changed their name to Aria Assistance. But, they are one and the same company. On May 24th 2006 I suffered a grade 3 subarachnoid brain haemorrhage (left sided bleed) whilst on holiday in Turkey. I had a valid insurance policy with this company including... (read more)
Written on: 07/01/2013 by NY212
DO NOT USE!!! WHEN YOU CALL AND ASK WHAT THEY COVER THEY SAY ONE THING, THEN IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT COVERED AND THEY SAID IT's WRITTEN IN THE 100 PAGES TINY WRITING CONTRACT THEY GAVE YOU BEFORE SIGNING! DO NOT USE THIS TRAVEL INSURANCE!!!! (read more)
Written on: 15/06/2012 by npinchuk
In my case they I got seriously sick and called them up asking if I'd be insured, they reassured me that I will be. However when the time came to pay up, they said I was not qualified. They just take your money, never giving any protection in return. (read more)
Written on: 26/04/2012
I am always very careful about reading policy conditions, and do everything by the book. My husband had been quite ill before our trip to the Far East to see our little 1 year old grandson for the first time. We were meticulous in declaring his complete medical history, and paid a hefty additional premium to have everything covered. Unfortunately he caught a nasty stomach bug that was doing the rounds where we were staying. Given his history, the local doctor admitted him to hospital for... (read more)
Written on: 13/02/2012
I took out insurance with Europ Assist in 2009 and did not receive any notification, they entered my details incorrectly and then failed to change them. They then failed to cancel my insurance when requested in May 2009 and continued to take money, admittedly my fault for not cancelled the direct debit, but didn't notice £5 a month... they are now failing to respond to emails so passed onto my bank and Watchdog to look into and try and resolve. They have lost me as a customer for life now... (read more)
Written on: 08/02/2012 by clivecoles (2 reviews written)
After fighting settlement of the 2010 Volcanic Ash Cloud claims for the last 20 months all the way to the High Court, Europ Assistance have finally conceded that payments to customers should be made. It is now clear in law that an ash cloud, just like any other cloud, contributes to weather conditions. My policy was issued by Insure and Go, Europe Assistance were the underwriters. Back in the spring last year the Financial Ombudsman reported there were 700 disputed claims on their... (read more)
Written on: 18/07/2011
Once you have paid Europ Assistance you don't exist NO MORE. They don't reply emails and of course don't pay any money back for hospital or treatments. If you look for an assurance, my advice is not to waste your money with this company. So many other companies you may have a better service... Wish you luck. (read more)
Written on: 15/02/2011
Refused to pay for the delay due to volcanic ash. Even though we had the highest level of cover, would not pay the twenty pounds per twelve hours that was promised.
However, the courts have ruled that they should pay, so maybe there is hope (though Europ Assistance will doubtless be appealing against paying traveller's claims).
(read more)
Written on: 04/02/2011
Avoid EA at all costs. After 3 weeks of chasing for a broken camera claim, they gave me £70.00 for the camera which is worth £600.00 absolutely ridiculous.
I wish i could give them negative stars.
(read more)
Written on: 18/12/2010
Stranded abroad with 2 childen by volcanic ash cloud.They refused to help, told me it was an act of god. On my return discovered there is no such thing in English law. They then tried to say it was travel delay. Our flight was cancelled. I got home by 2 trains, taxi, ferry then 2 coaches and did not even get all the way back to my home town.They lie and change the rules to suit. You might as well put your money in the bin as imagine you are getting covered for anything.
No star deserved
(read more)
Written on: 20/07/2011
Get your claim submitted to the Financial Ombudsman Service. It costs you nothing. FOS have now ruled in favour of settlements being made for Volcanic Ash delays. It's unfortunately still to be contested in the High Court.
But if FSO gets a ruling confirming their decision you may get some money back if you lodge your claim with them. Don't however expect a quick decision.
Written on: 13/10/2010
We had this insurance put on us by Bookable Holidays when the holiday was booked. When we were unable to travel, due to me being hospitalised I put in a claim. It has taken me until today 13/10/10 to get the claim settled minus £280 which they claim is for admin fees and they also claim that a hospilisation is not good enough for a fee of £120 to be included in this and that the insurance is only good enough for a hospilisation abroad. (read more)
Written on: 19/08/2010
I've just beaten this bunch of cowboys at the Financial Ombudsman. It was a long process and a difficult one for the layman to fight but I've got a reasonably sizeable cheque in my pocket at long last. If anyone's planning on taking these people to the Ombudsman, make sure you specify exactly what you want to claim for BEFORE you get to far into things. Don't rely on the Ombudsman to come up with a settlement for you, it's up to you to say what you want. Also remember that they will only pay... (read more)
Written on: 25/05/2011
You seem to have spelt their name wrong when referring they can't even spell their name. Makes you look a bit of an idiot. Also you may want to look at why Europe doesn't have an e on the end. Is due to copyright. Do your homework.
Written on: 29/07/2010
swindled their way out to only paying half of the cost back, not including the flight. injured before the holiday and was told i couldn't travel, so i tried to claim, what a nightmare!
avoid at all costs,going back to post office i think!
(read more)
Written on: 17/06/2010
These guys are not worth getting travel insurance from. I had two reasonable claims turned down after carefully considering and reading their T&Cs. They do not cover for lost or stolen passports or money. In fact they hardly cover for anything! (read more)
Written on: 13/06/2010 by mwlcx (1 review written)
Took my elderly mother to Alaska. She was taken ill and hospitalised for 10 days. I then had to nurse her in a 12x12 cold hotel room until I could get a flight back to the UK. Europ Assist flatly refused to honour the policy. I was left with huge expenses including a £25,000 medical bill because I was in the US. I also had to get her home whereupon she died five days later. It took me nearly three years to appeal which I did and was successful and they have to now meet the costs. ... (read more)
Written on: 08/06/2010 by ruperth (1 review written)
If I could give zero stars to Europ Assistance, I would.
Like many others I tried to claim for flight delays due to the volcanic ash cloud and was pointed to the exclusions in my policy as the reason why they weren't going to pay. Our insurance was for a family of 5 and was not that cheap as we were going to South Africa and I wanted to be certain we were covered for most eventualities.
My point is simply that insurers like my bank (First Direct) who are keen to offer a good service and...
(read more)
Written on: 15/06/2010
As an addendum, I see today that Europ Assistance trumpeted a 44% increase in profit for 2009. It seems that their refusal to pay claims is paying dividends for them at least...
<br/>http://www.europ-assistance.co.uk/Application.aspx?ID=24&NID=166
Written on: 07/06/2010
Europ Assistance's policy did not cover the inconvenience of my flights being cancelled because of the ash cloud so I quickly decided not to renew my policy. I received £50 for a previous claim where my flights were cancelled due to the heavy snow but this was after they tried their very hardest to get out of paying. Hoping AA will cover me fully this year without the extra stress. (read more)
Written on: 31/05/2010 by h2so4 (1 review written)
We got stranded in Egypt by the ash cloud.
Europ Assist glibly dismissed our claim because a regulatory body grounded the aircraft. Buried in the 12 A4 T &C pages of micro small print is the exclusion to that effect. The public buy insurance for peace of mind in case of a genuine emergency, not to be tricked into rejection by complex exclusions.Every oppourtunity is taken by Europ Assist to introduce exclusions and on the phone they were so delighted to reject my claim that they asked...
(read more)
Written on: 27/05/2010
My husband and I booked to go to the Middle East in April, two years in the planning. Three days before our departure my mum suddenly died of an Embolism. My mum lived alone and was in here early 80s. She had a blister pack of medicine each week for several years for some elderly related problems. At the hospital the GP was phoned and advised that while she had some problems he did not consider any of them life threatening. A post-mortem was then performed and Embolism was found. We are all... (read more)
Written on: 26/05/2010 by Desmond5000 (1 review written)
I made a claim through Europ Assistance who underwrite the policy I purchased through holiday extras, without going into the ins and outs of the claim my claim was successful and dealt with a very difficult situation in a professional and understanding way. I have read other reviews on here and do feel that like anything you need to READ what you buy, its easy enough to blame the company if they don't cover you but like anything there are always conditions within a policy. As a slight... (read more)
Written on: 01/06/2010
I found this review not helpful because...WHAT WAS THE CLAIM FOR?
Written on: 24/05/2010
I bought single travel insurance through Monarch Airlines at the time of booking back in February. I was totally unaware where this travel insurance was underwritten.
Along came the ash cloud and my flight was cancelled on April 16th. As a consequence I found my self out of pocket owing to non refundable accomodation and parking costs. Monarch have assured that they will refund my flight tickets although now six weeks later I have received nothing.
Europ Assistance are the underwriters...
(read more)
Written on: 19/05/2010
Reviewer below must work for Europ Assist, that is the typical attitude of these charlatans. Insurers like EA are merely extortionists operating within the law but not within the spirit of good customer service. I will be selecting my travel insurance more carefully in the future, hopefully this will cost EA more in the long run. (read more)
Written on: 13/05/2010
To be honest, all these people complaining are complaining because they did not read their policy documents. if they had of read them, like they are told when they purchase a policy then they would know what they are covered for and what they are not. its all down to people being too lazy to read policy wording. (read more)
Written on: 31/05/2010
I found this review not helpful because...you buy insurance for peace of mind not to trawl through 12 pages of A4 in micro print
Written on: 12/05/2010
Volcanic ash victim, stranded in Bangkok during political unrest for seven days, unable to contact europ assistance for advice.On arrival back home was informed that i was;nt entitled to anything and contact flight operator (read more)
Written on: 28/04/2010
You pay for what you get. Couldn't get hold o them when I needed them. It's cheap and well marketed, but the most important is when the claim is made. (read more)
Written on: 29/03/2010
Avoid at all costs. Broke my wrist while on winter sports holiday and was first told that they wouldn't cover the medical costs. A day later a supervisor rang up, apologised for her colleague and said they would be paying. Since then I've received two chaser letters for medical expenses from the hospital abroad and despite repeatedly phoning the company who were unable to explain why the payment hasn't gone in when it's all been approved, they still haven't got round to signing the check two... (read more)
Written on: 05/03/2010
I can't believe the number of exclusions this company has. I was hit by an avalanche and broke my neck. Unsurprisingly I didn't report a lost glove and goggles at that time and in that condition, but that means I can't claim for them. Likewise, my brother's taxi ride from the hospital to the resort is excluded. (read more)
Written on: 04/12/2009
Learn from my mistake and just avoid them. It is very easy to choose the cheapest insurance but you need to realise it's cheap for a reason! Wait till you have a problem or are making a claim and you will understand why they have been so poorly reviewed on here and why they are cheap. Avoid Avoid Avoid! (read more)
Written on: 06/11/2009
DO NOT USE. We were burgled while in holiday in Spain. A man had broken into our appartment when we were out and was still there on our return. We went for a shower, there were 2 bathrooms in the apartment, and that was when he tried to make his get away. My sister heard something and came out and saw him take our money, which was on the side as we were going out for dinner. As she was just about to go into the shower she had undress but grabbed him anyway but was thrown to the ground. Even... (read more)
Written on: 06/11/2009
Would advise people to stay far away from this company - we booked through Key Camp and following a break in to our car, had to complete lenthgy process for claim, following which we had to chase progress several times. Finally told us we were ineligible....ie although we had taken out insurance for a fly drive holiday, we werent covered for items in car when not on camp site - dreadful company; rude, unhelpful...never again (read more)
Written on: 17/09/2009
absolutely shocking company.
cancelled holiday due to my nephew getting chicken pox and being unable to fly. they assessed my claim 8 times and came up with 8 different amounts and they put the excesses up 3 times. no-body would deal with the claim, it got passed to a different person for a re-assessment every time i phoned up. after 2 and half months they finally paid the correct amount, minus 3 large excesses. put in a compliant about the appalling service and then they say i have been...
(read more)
Written on: 25/08/2009
Europ Assistance European Breakdown Cover - Absolutely dire when relied upon following a breakdown and subsequent person and vehicle repatriation to the UK from Italy. A catalogue of poor service, mis communications or no communications, rudeness of staff making leading to an unnecessary stay of 5 nights in a hotel in the middle of nowhere, paid for by me as policy only pays out for one night. Never buy this breakdown cover. (read more)
Written on: 19/08/2009 by scalrag (7 reviews written)
We had to canx a hol to Sri anka due to pregnancy complications on advice from my GP.Even with a form completed by my Gp Europ Assistance Travel Insurance initially refused to pay out. I had to get a further letter from the GP and appeal the decision threatening a law suit before they eventually paid out.My Gp states in all his years of practice he has not had that problem with an insurance company.
As i had gestational hypertension the stress of this did not help matters.
(read more)
Written on: 08/07/2009
Europ Assistance are happy to take your money but when it comes to claim, its only empty promises. (read more)
Written on: 03/07/2009 by Bob Jackson (1 review written)
I booked a holiday for my wife and myself in January. My wife's mother was admitted to hospital in March where she contracted MRSA and C Difficle and other hospital infections. As an elderley lady she did not recover and she died 5 days before the commencement of our holiday. Obviously we cancelled the holiday as soon as possible to arrange a funeral and clear her flat. Europ Assistance have refused to compensate us because my wife's mother had a pre-existing health condition. This get out... (read more)
Written on: 15/07/2009
I found this review very helpful because...I am faced with a similar situation and find it extraordinary that this company has what amounts to a get-out clause for every type of cancellation due to illness or death of a relative.I also will not be leaving this case until it is settled in my favour.
Written on: 01/07/2009
My hand bag was stolen in Germany in October 2008. At first they refused claim even though I have provided all the evidences and documents. I have appealed to Financial Ombudsman. And then, they hired other company to inspect my case. Europ Assistance is still reviewing my case. I can see from this website that I am not only one off case. DO NOT take this this trave insurance!. They will do everything not to give compensation.
(read more)
Written on: 13/03/2009
Holiday cancelled due to pregnancy some 9 months after booking. Europ Assistance Travel Insurance refused to refund anything at all. (read more)
Written on: 15/02/2009 by dwilliam
My family and I were left stranded in France after an accident when Europ Assistance Travel Insurance refused to cover us for my sons leg injury on either our breakdown insurance or our accident insurance with them. They were perfectly happy to take the money when we took out the policies, but when we made a claim we were met by confusion, misinformation, broken promises, missed phone calls and a host of communication problems that made our holiday in France a nightmare. The delays and... (read more)
Written on: 01/08/2009
I found this review very helpful because...it went into some detail about the company's service and response.
Written on: 03/12/2008 by grumpy2000 (1 review written)
I had a small claim for a lost mobile, which was little more than I paid for the policy. I had to send in important documents to support my claim. This took a ridiculous 4 months of correspondence to get them to accept my claim. After eventually paying, I have been requesting the return of my important ORIGINAL documents for the past 3 months, I have yet to receive them! (read more)
Written on: 26/11/2008 by abadr (1 review written)
Took out an insurance policy via moneysupermarket.com with flexicover, which is underwritten by Europ Assistance.
Without going into too much detail, my partner and I made a claim for around £4,000 following return home due to my father being taken critically ill. We sent in our claim form & exhaustive supporting documentation, 3 requests for information later (letters all written poorly, sometimes referring to the ill party incorrectly as my girlfriend's father etc.), and we were nowhere...
(read more)
Written on: 09/10/2008
I recently went to Florida on Holiday wth my Partner and two Children. We were staying in a Villa, which was great, however one day my Partner was coming in to the Villa from the garage, and fell over, slicing open her finger. The shock and loss off blood caused her to pass out and, not being able to rouse her, and not knowing if she had banged her head, I panicked and phoned 911. An ambulance came, and took my partner to hospital where she was treated and given stitches to her wound. I... (read more)
Written on: 06/09/2008 by mamficat (1 review written)
My partner collapsed on our flight to America an was admitted to hospital for 2 days (huge Bill). The europ assist staff were really helpful and kept in contact with us both during our holiday and when we returned. Due to the way insurance works we had to get a refund on the money we paid to the hospital and this was dealt with by europ assist who did all the chasing and eventually got the hospital to pay up. (read more)
Written on: 24/07/2008
Can't fault Europ Assistance Travel insurance really. My husband broke his ankle two weeks before we were due to fly and we had to cancell our holiday. We filled in the forms, sent everything they wanted and they gave us the money back within the month. I was really worried after reading some of these reviews but I think if you send what they reqire you wil be ok! we will use them again. (read more)
Written on: 23/07/2008 by Mary Williamson (1 review written)
My mum was diagnosed with cancer after we booked the holiday. Before going on holiday I went to the hospital with her and they said that she could live up to another five years. The doctor even wrote a letter to the insurance company saying that my mum's death was a complete shock. I even wrote to them in a letter I took over an hour to write crying throughout stating that I would never have gone on holiday, if I had known my mum was going to die. I do not think anyone would. But they gave... (read more)
Written on: 18/07/2008
Efficent, friendly sevice. Had to cancel my holiday as I broke my leg. Claim was handled quickly and the claims team very helpful. (read more)
Written on: 12/01/2008
Waiting seven months for settlement of claim, one delaying tactic after another, they agree on the phone its a genuine case but still require more and more information , the biggest sticking, I had a prolapse while in malaysia, travelling on one of their buses, very cramped position for about 4 hours with twisted sitting position, they said my doctor must confirm this, How can he ?, he was"nt their. he told me, it can happen anytime, just twisting on a chair can give you the problem ,where... (read more)
Written on: 24/11/2007 by Lyn46 (1 review written)
If you require travel insurance look elsewhere. (read more)
Written on: 03/09/2007 by Iain Macrae (17 reviews written)
I bought this cover for a holiday in August 2007. My cover was bought through First choice and seemed comprehensive.
Added on I had to have an additional policy for my wife heart condition (not life threatening and successfully treated over 8 years ago with no-recurrence), and then further cover for my daughter. Overall the policy proved expensive for 2 weeks away, I could have got a years multi-trip cover for less.
However, that's not the real complaint - I had a choice, but it was...
(read more)
Written on: 23/05/2007 by mconieeeee (1 review written)
Myself, my partner and our 8 month old child booked an holiday to Fuerteventura. We had been saving up for a year and we were very excited to go. We booked our travel insurance with Europ assistance through Co-op travel. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the claim when my partners, the main policy holder, brother died. We were very upset and distressed. His brother was only 16 years of age and it was a completely unexpected death. He died 4 days before we were supposed to depart. He did not... (read more)
Written on: 25/05/2007
Perhaps you could try contacting the Financial Ombudsman Service.
<br/>www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
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Clivecoles's Response to clivecoles's Review
Written on: 12/04/2012
The Europ Assistance settlement cheque in respect of my April 2010 trip arrived this morning ~ 12 April.2012. I hope the other 300 claimants receive their cheques soon.
It's taken 2 years but they have at last conceded that an ash cloud was an adverse weather condition and it was a risk covered by their policy wording at that time.
it's been a long battle but , thanks to the Financial Ombudsman Service, the matter is now being settled.