I booked 2 lots of accommodation with Hoteling/lowcost holidays who have now gone bust. Basically I paid in full late March, funds never made it to Hotel and my useless travel insurance company (TID / Travel Insurance Direct) point out clause xx on page 25 states they don't cover insolvencies. Wonderful. Is there any recourse I have? I am trying to track down how I paid for it (presumably my partners debit or credit card) but given it was from months ago I guess a charge back is not possible.
Kinda one of those "you get what you paid for" moments huh?
Try consumer affairs in your state, often they can do more for you.
consumer affairs will do shit. complain against who?
Against the insurer, if there's a clause in the policy, then that's final regardless if it is fair or not, it's in the policy wording.
Sorry to the OP.
Have a look at this choice article on charge back rights (http://bit.ly/2atS8pC) but once you work out the credit card, ring the bank asap.
as you said, how did you pay?
some CC's have insurance built in
why don't people book directly through the hotel?
usually depending on the hotel/chain, it can sometimes be cheaper to book via third party
I book by third party only when it's moderately cheaper than booking direct, usually stick to the main 3rd party sites (e.g. expedia, webjet, etc)
convenience, even though it often is cheaper to book directly
That's shocking to hear TID don't cover insolvencies, I always had a lot of faith in them and it's one of the major reasons I take out travel insurance. I got caught when Canada 3000 went bust and had to claim it back because I'd paid using Visa. Took a while but I got the funds back. I'll rethink using TID again next time I travel, but if they don't cover insolvencies I wonder who else with similar costings does?
with similar costings
Good luck.
If there's more coverage, it's going to cost you. Can't get a free lunch
The government de-regulated the travel industry a few years ago and abolished the Travel Compensation Fund. Previously travel agents had to be licensed and you could have received your money back via the travel compensation fund. Now anyone can start up a travel agency, take peoples money and then go insolvent.
Unless your bank can help you there is little else that can be done anymore I am afraid.
I've just checked the Covermore most expensive policies I've come across), they don't cover it either. It might be a general exclusion for all travel insurance policies (as is mechanical failures of and airplane leading to cancellation of a flight)
insolvency is usually excluded in all policies i've read too.
If you paid via credit card (go back through your statements) contact the card & advise them you did not receive the service you paid for. They should reimburse this amount back & they chase up the retailer.
Always pays to read insurance policy documents before purchasing. Even so, would you still bought the insurance had you been aware of this clause ? Probably ?
We tracked down what card it's on and have put in a charge back request which goes to VISA. Not feeling particularly confident bit it's just about all I can do.
While you're waiting, see if you can find the booklet that came with the card or it might be online, too, at your bank's website. Read the charge back section very carefully and see if you can find loopholes on their end that will benefit you.
Similar discussion on HUKD with the company strangely blaming the BREXIT vote. This person is in the same boat as you with the travel insurance denying them.