Essential Travel Insurance

Just a few booked travel insurance, saw I made a slight mistake & tried to do a live chat. Got through within a minute only to have the chat ended before it began. Decided to call, line doesn't ring just gets cut straight off. Sent an email but not much hope, now asking to cancel as if its this hard getting through to make a change then I dread to think what it would be like if I had an accident!

Try call for a quote - free line and answered in seconds. Then try call to claim - premium call rates, at least 20 minute hold time, didn't know any of my details and can only call btwn 9-5!!!

I insured myself with the most premium package to ensure I had no complications if anything happened, an accident did happen resulting in stitches and several hospital visits and I was then unable to finish a course and was unable to get a refund. Apparently as I didn't give exact details of the course when I took out insurance (which was the whole point of my visit) it is not covered.

Absolute joke of a company. LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR COVER

trying to claim whilst abroad for emergency dental treatment - although told by e mail to go ahead and have treatment, they refuse to pay, as I am still travelling and do not have my flight booked yet into UK.( even though I have a flight to spain where my family lives) this apparently was on page 37 of a 51 page policy - which was sent only after I had paid. as i had no flight booked at the time of booking my insurance , my policy was only valid for 3 days of the 6 months that I had paid for - and this was NEVER mentioned.

I am glad that other people have bad experiences - i run a travel company and I will never recommend this service or company to my customers.

disgusting that they are allowed to operate

I have had nothing but bad experiences with Essential Travel / White Horse Administration for my travel insurance. I have tried to claim twice, once for a stolen bag and another time for damage to clothing and loss of a bag by tour operator. Both times they either refused to pay out, citing small print that I swear wasnt there before, or made so many deductions for wear and tear and excess that I was left with nothing - loss and damage to items totalling £600 I received £39 for... I think I have spent more on calling their premium rate numbers!! Dont be fooled by a cheap price, its not worth it. This is NOT a new for old policy, and there are excess amounts payable on each ITEM not claim.

I wish I'd never bought the policy

I completed the form for my daughter for when she is travelling alone with other family. I ticked the box to say that she had a pre existing condition (asthma) and then went to the next screen that asks you to choose from a list of conditions, so ticked the respiratory one. At no time after did another box come up ask you to detail treatment etc, I was quite willing to pay the extra to make sure she was covered as you can imagine. Today just to check, I called the helpline to find out that she is not covered, very misleading!!

Be very wary when completing the form, it needs a default box to make sure that the proposal picks up all relevant information. Despite the fact that she has not had an attack for many years, we are now worried that she is not covered

I missed my holiday because when I got up early to go to the airport I found water pouring through my kitchen ceiling. Obviously I could not leave the house. I called a plumber immediately but missed my flight. I tried to raise a claim for having to cancel my holiday and was told that I could not claim as I did not call the police and only if they advised me not to go could I raise a claim.. Calling the police never entered my head and am sure they would not have been interesed if I had. This seems ludicrous to exclude my claim on this basis.

My advise would be to steer clear of this company unless you are sure you will not need to claim!!

Based on good reviews, I ended up paying £80 for 3 months of coverage.

Towards the end of my policy I wrote asking for a 4 day extension to the policy as my homebound flight had changed... I expected that I would be charged a pro rata rate for the extra days.

Alas no, I was quoted £31 for the extra for days. As it turns out they were unable to simply extend my policy, they needed to issue me a new one for the extra days for which there was a minimum policy cost.

Via customer services I asked for an explanation to this ridiculous policy or for someone to contact me to discuss. Unfortunately the person i spoke to was either unable or unwilling and I've been left with the generic customer complains number instead.

So beware.

I'm so frustrated.

They misleaded me about definition of the EXCESS. I contacted them by phone and they told me that excess is a minimum insurance case amount. They didn't tell me that excess will be withdrawn from any case, though I clearly asked about it.

I got my payment, but it was not full. They took £125. Will never use the company again.

After using Essential Travel as my only insurance for travel on a yearly basis for 4 years i had to make a claim.My jacket was stolen in Switzerland,i took it off and put it on the back of my chair in a pub,the pub was packed and some clever little thief stole it.I went to the police within 24 hrs and gave the details,they investigated and sent me the report once i got home.No problem i thought i am insured with ESSENTIAL TRAVEL! -- YEAH RIGHT!!!! They refused my claim on the basis that the jacket was not in full view. Then why bother to pay for insurance?

I also discovered that i was not covered for putting my luggage on a flight as its not in full view!!!!!!

THEN WHAT AM I COVERED FOR.I have been robbed twice.

Beware the "auto-renewal" Essential Travel have introduced without warning on existing policies. I had not signed up to any auto-renewal, yet they took money from my card without my permission and did not respond to my email objecting to this. When I tried to cancel online, I was unable to do so. So I had to telephone to complain and ask for my money back. When I asked where they got my credit card details from, I was told that they were "just on the system".

They have refunded the money but I do not trust this company any more. Would not recommend.