Q. My spouse and I prepared to journey to Bonaire for scuba diving late very last year. Prior to our departure, I went to the hospital with irregular bleeding. My urologist advised me not to travel, in particular out of the place.
I canceled my aircraft tickets on Delta Air Strains and my reservations at Belmar Bonaire Oceanfront Residences. Delta gave me credit for long term use, which I have utilized, so no difficulty there.
I contacted TripMate, my vacation insurance coverage firm, to commence my declare for the relaxation of the trip. I have been waiting for months for my refund. I have contacted TripMate quite a few periods and continue to keep receiving the identical message that my case is below evaluate. Can you remember to enable me with the refund?
STANLEY WALES, Perry Hall, Md.
A. TripMate really should have paid out you by now. I reviewed your claim. You had a journey insurance coverage coverage that protected cancellations for clinical motives. You also experienced a observe from your urologist, on letterhead, outlining that you couldn’t travel.
Now that’s a slam dunk if I have ever viewed one.
So what went wrong? I suspect your declare came in at a chaotic time for TripMate. Very simple insurance plan statements take only a handful of times to system under most conditions. But larger-price statements (commonly just about anything in excess of $1,000) have to be reviewed a lot more thoroughly, and you may possibly have to hold out weeks or even months to get your verify.
I know that mainly because I have also had to wait around months for my very own vacation insurance plan declare to be paid out. It can test your persistence, even if you entirely comprehend what is heading on behind the scenes.
TripMate asks for 30 days to course of action its statements. By the time you contacted me, you had waited considerably lengthier than that. You can achieve out to the firm immediately to inquire about a delayed assert. If you never obtain a reaction, you can contact anyone at a greater degree. I checklist the names, numbers, and e-mails of the TripMate shopper services executives on my buyer advocacy web site at www.elliott.org/company-contacts/vacation-mate/.
I contacted TripMate on your behalf. A few days later, you gained a verify for the comprehensive amount of your assert.
Christopher Elliott is the main advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit group that allows shoppers resolve their issues. Elliott’s newest guide is “How to Be the World’s Smartest Traveler” (National Geographic). Get hold of him at elliott.org/help or chris@elliott.org.
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