Post #3 continued…..
The policy in question has since been changed. It now says, within the exclusions / limitations section:
— being in control of a motor vehicle, unless fully licensed for such a vehicle in the
UK (where applicable) and complying with all local laws applying to the use of the
vehicle, for example, wearing a seatbelt where this is required by law (including as
a passenger)
— using a motorcycle, scooter, moped, or quad bike without wearing a crash helmet
— being in control of an electric or motor vehicle and
– acting in a dangerous or careless manner; and/or
– exceeding the legal speed limit; and/or
– drink or drug driving
• Any claim because an insured person doesn’t feel like travelling or doesn’t enjoy
the trip
• Any claim if you travel against the advice of the FCDO
• Any claim where you do not comply with advice or measures which have been put in
place by a government in the UK or overseas, for example quarantine rules or curfews
• Any claim where you do not have the correct travel documents or do not meet the
entry requirements to a country you are travelling to or through
• Any claim as a result of an insured person having to quarantine on return to the UK
• Any claim for costs which are recoverable from your travel and/or accommodation
provider or agent, their debit/credit card company, PayPal, ABTA, ATOL or similar
organisations
• Any claim in relation to any event, incident or circumstances if, at the time you
opened this policy or the trip was booked (whichever is later), the insured person
— the event or incident had already occurred or was going to occur; or
— the circumstances existed, or were going to existand that the event, incident or
plans
•
(where it is not possible to obtain a police report we’ll need other independent proof
of loss such as a letter from the transport company, accommodation provider or
vehicle hire company)
• Any claim where the insured person hasn’t allowed enough time, or done everything
they reasonably can, to get to their departure point for the time shown on their
itinerary
That is actually quite a wide wording ie. It gives lots of cover.
It does though highlight the need to check policy wordings, as they do change. Whilst bods moan, insurers do (more often than not) flag up differences year on year. In my case, HSBC notifies customers that a new policy has been issued. Whether anyone ever reads the notifications, their policy or their motorcycle owners’ handbook, is another matter entirely. The changing of policies is particularly relevant to banks and building societies. Just because the policy said one thing when you opened the account in 1987, does not guarantee that the policy stays the same throughout the lifetime of the account. Or maybe you just relied on Bikermate Bob in 1987, when he told UKGSer that the Bank of Biker account was the dog’s nuts?
Most policies are now freely available in a PDF form. Just check that you are looking at the right one or, better still, look at the policy your insurer sent you. Then search for words:
motor
motorcycle
motorbike
scooter
moped
hire
That should find most of what is relevant.
Then, read the FULL paragraph / section.
You don’t want to make a simple error of reading what is an exclusion or limitation, thinking that it’s an inclusion. It’s not even in small print…. It’s simply that you haven’t read it. If you can’t be arsed; you’ll be reading it in very great detail AFTER the event, trust me. You’d then much rather be applying yourself to wondering who inserted that tube up your dick and, more importantly, who was going to pay for it.
