Declining car insurance with Travel City Direct?

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Does anybody ave any experience of declining the inclusive car policy offered by Travel City Direct? I booked flydrive tickets with TCD this weekend, for travel in August 2004, and told them I did not wish to take the inclusive car insurance policy offered for their car hire (with Dollar). The TCD agent said that was OK, but that I would have to send them details of my own insurance policy which Dollar needed to see. I explained that I was simply declining their policy and was happy to pay a deposit to Dollar (as I've done on several occasions previously) but the agent apologised and said that Dollar required this information. Does anybody esle have any experience of declining TCD's car hire insurance policy?

I don't have any problems sending TCD or Dollar details of my insurance policy (I've faxed them the relevant pages from the policy handbook of my Amex insurance), but I did ask that I be contacted by a supervisor at TCD to explain why this info was required. It is an entirely unnecessary step, and to my mind only serves to dissuade people from taking out other insurance arrangements for car hire.

Regards

Rob

 

[squitty]

Hi Rob,

Everytime we have tried to declined the car insurance, they have put the price of the flights up, therefore we have always ended up with the full package.

 

[Hilary]

Everytime we have tried to declined the car insurance, they have put the price of the flights up, therefore we have always ended up with the full package.

That sounds 'odd' to say the least!

It'll be very interesting to hear what feedback you get on this, Rob.

 

[UKMel]

Yep, we had the same experience. I tried to cancel the insurance, and the price of the flights went up by far more than I would have saved. I then tried to cancel the "drive" aspect of the fly-drive and the price of the flights went up even more

They make their money on selling the insurance I imagine, and this is why they make it so difficult. Will be interested to know how you get on Rob.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

That's very odd indeed. The price I was quoted certainly didn't increase after I told the agent I didn't want their inclusive insurance (I had previously rung for a quote without mentioning that I would didn't want insurance). If they had tried to do that to me I would have reported them to a Trading Standards office as I'm sure they are not allowed to do that. I also was given a quote for flight only: the difference in price between flight only and flydrive was about £33 per person (there are four of us travelling) for seats in Sunshine First, staying for 14 days with an Intermediate grade car.

Mel, I'm sure that you're right about TCD making their money on selling insurance at inflated prices. The cost of their flights and flydrives seems very competitive with other operators, so I suppose the insurance part contributes a lot to their profit margin. Which is all the more reason why I'm not prepared to pay over the odds for the insurance.

I'll let you know what feedback I get from TCD.

Regards

Rob

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Well, that was not a positive experience with TCD. I've cancelled my booking and I won't travel with them in the future. They'be been obstructive, and have refused to honour the quote they provided me with just two days ago, and I think it's because I declined their rip-off insurance premiums. More details in this thread.

I see increasing number of posts about poor service from TCD. I wonder if they have cut their operating costs too low to provide an acceptable level of service for some people?

Regards

Rob

 

[UKDEB]

Sounds like sharp practice to me. Have you thought about contacting Watchdog?

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I'm copying my letter to the Trading Standards office in Swansea. I doubt anything will come of it as I don't think they have broken any consumer legislation, just provided incredibly shoddy customer service.

I've just checked through their brochure and nowhere does it say that Sunshine First is reserved for clients who also book accomodation with TCD. I think sharp practice is a good description of the way they dealt with me...

Regards

Rob

 

[pegasusEH]

We didn't just try and decline their car insurance but we also declined the "free" car. This put £200 a week on the cost of the holiday they quoted - don't ask me what for, they weren't providing transport to the hotel!

 

[codge90]

I had the same experience.

The cost of my holiday would go up by over £100 per person if I didn't take out their car insurance.

I ended up pay £340 for a bottom of the range motor for two weeks (1 driver)

Codge