Travel Guard (AIG) insurance

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Complaint

0
Bohica
Country: United States
Travel Guard insurance was included with a travel package I purchased. My flight was delayed causing me to miss a foreign connection until the next day. I filed for compensation with Travel Guard on return from my trip.

Three months later I got a call saying my claim was invalid because the airline was at fault. They said that I could write a letter and include receipts and I may still have a claim. I already had to get documentation from several places including the airline and didn't feel that I needed to jump through more hoops. I think that this is their plan to wear you down and give up. I will never do business with this company again.

Comments

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  • 0
    Johnny Cool
    I had pretty much the same experience following a botched return from Brazil in March of 2008.  Once you read the fine print on these policies, you will see that they have an out for almost every common situation.  That includes weather and mechanical delays, and even in those cases, don't forget to bring home a nice note from the pilot explaining exactly why they were late, or else your claim will be denied like mine was.
  • 0
    Freya
    | 2 replies
    I purchased AIG insurance with a flight to Mexico.  I have autoimmune diseases and take immuno suppressants so I am more susceptible to infection.  When the outbreak of the swine flu occurred in April I had to cancel my June-July trip.  I submitted a claim with AIG including a letter from my doctor (which was what they told me I needed).  A week before my scheduled departure, they emailed me telling me that they needed documentation from my doctor stating that I was not treated for "this condition" two months before I bought the tickets.  I have been "treated for this condition" for years.... that is why I bought travel insurance.  Did they need proof that the swine flu was not a threat 6 months before when I purchased my ticket?  Did they need prof that there was a travel advisory in effect?  After trying for several minutes to understand what they wanted, I finally gave up.  I think they are running a scam.... deny the claims at the last minute so the traveler doesn't have time to take more action.
    • 0
      madinsurer replies to Freya
      | 1 reply
      Same thing happened to me. I bought trip insurance for my Cancun trip and had to cancel as I needed to take care of my mother for her cancer surgery, which was not planned at all. She is fighting with cancer for the past 2 yrs and the travel guard rep is saying our claim is invalid because she shouldn't have received any chemo treatments during that 90-day period before my scheduled trip to Cancun. What a stupidity!! I surely agree they are running a scam!! Tired of sending emails back and forth.Such a SHAME!! I would never recommend anybody this company!!!
      • +1
        Maria replies to madinsurer
        You should contact the media or take them to small claims court
  • 0
    angry in Canada
    We purchased AIG travel guard protection in Mexico, for a trip to Canada. My husband was admitted to hospital after suffering severe chest pains. After agreeing to pay the hospital directly and having been informed that the diagnosis was pneumonia, pleurisy and suspected lung embolism, their representatives contacted me and stated that they would not accept any charges relating to infections. This was not mentioned anywhere on their policy.
    I could not agree more with Johnny Cool, that they have an out for almost every situation and really have little or no intention of paying out a dime in compensation.
    There are innumerable complaints against AIG in Mexico from failure to honor a policy to outright fraud.
    A truly vile  company if there ever was one. Scam supreme!
  • -1
    mikey-d
    | 1 reply
    Did any of you actually read about the coverage you were purchasing before you bought it? Law requires that they allow you to review the coverage before purchase, and I'm sure that these things were outlined in the coverage. Even if you don't read before you buy, a lot of their policies give you 15 days after purchase to cancel it. So, next time, you should probably read about it.
    • 0
      Pat replies to mikey-d
      Do you work for them? Sounds like you are an advocate. I have been a year trying to get my refund and yes, I did read the fine print and follow the rules...
  • 0
    Becky
    I disagree. I read everything. My airline lost my luggage and then wanted reciepts for the iteams I had to purchase. But heres the catch, the airline wanted to keep the original reciepts (then later lost them). Travel Guard wanted the orginals as well and will not continue with my claim, they also say that they never recieved any of my faxes! My luggage was lost the entire trip and then didn't get it back till a week after I got home. Travel Guard knows that the airlines will keep the orginal reciepts as well. Keep that in mind when buying this! I am still in the process to get the 100$ that is promised for delayed luggage.
  • 0
    BarbatIncline
    Re your lost baggage, you should be covered under your homeowner's policy.  I had a suitcase stolen in Lausanne.  I claimed $1800 (with some copies of receipts) from State Farm and received a check the same week.
  • +1
    Sweden
    I purchased Travel Guard for a trip in July 2007.  It cost nearly $2,000 for the policy - I am still waiting for claims to pay me.  SUCH A SCAM!  I have sent them copies of everything 2 -3 times, they still say that they don't have most of the items.  I think they must be trained to DENY, DENY AND DENY.  They are in the business of annoying "customers" to the point where they give up.  This claim could be a full time job for me if I had the time.  I have now moved on to my state's insurance commission to file a complaint.
  • 0
    Sweden
    You are fortunate.  I had a bag damaged and was not returned to me, by Southwest.  In that bag were all brand new clothes that I did not wear on vacation, a $250 hairdryer and diamond earrings.  Southwest would not cover it because I could not prove that earrings were in there and they thought it was "crazy" to spend $250 on a hairdryer.  They ended up sending me $100.  My loss was about $10,000!  You are fortunate that homeowner's covered it.
  • 0
    Very Disappointed
    Travel Guard has requested additional information that they did not ask for when I first started a claim.  I have sunce sent 3 faxes and one email with documents attached and they say that they have not received any of them.  Like others, I also have the impression that they will continue to ignore me until I give up.  This claim has been going on since August 2009.
  • 0
    Been There
    Mail everything certified mail, with signed receipt to be returned to you.  Include in the letter that you have contacted the attorney general, and the BBB.  You will probably get a response. Also, if you paid with a credit card, dispute the charge and get them involved.
  • 0
    PAUL M
    I, too  had this travel POLICY...
    AND i was injured on the trip... and my flight was cancelled from overseas.
    i  qualified for the coverage... NEWS... they issued me a claim number and, now 3 months later say to re submit, the previously submitted claim.

    solution, take em to small claims... sue for the contract and then... add on bad faith insurance... should get back at least 5k, maybe 10k if filed seperately on both causes of action//// medical and trip interuption.
     i agree they re a SHAM COMPANY... dont rely on any STATE enforcement, they re all corrupt.
  • -1
    Marc
    | 5 replies
    Is amazing how people complain about how an insurance didn't provide them with a service they never agreed to provided with to begin with. That is why every insurance has an agreement, you pay them this money, they give you this coverage, they pay for this and this, and this other things they don't pay.

    Some, not all, complains are akin to you buying a Honda Accord, and later complaining why it does not run as fast as a Lamborghini, or why since it has wheels, it does not fly!. If you see some of the arguments, that is how far they can be taken.

    If in fact an insurance lied to you,or did not provide a service  they say they will. Go to google, type free insurance lawyer, and you will get tons of lawyers who will be more than happy to sue the offending company. And get lots of money for them and for you, at no cost to you...... catch??

    yes you have to have a case! and if in fact the insurance did something wrong, you would, if not, then whose fault it is?

    read the fine print, if you dont agree, dont buy it.

    now before I am accused to being "in the insurance industry", I am not, I actually believe that Travel insurance is a waste of money. Almost everyone that can afford to travel for luxury, has medical insurance already, which almost 90% of the time covers for issues abroad. Baggage delay, miss trips are an inconvenience, no matters that I would pay insurance for. Save your money, travel and enjoy the travel experience with its up and down.

    Now if we could have universal health care :)... now we talking :)
    • +1
      William Murphy replies to Marc
      You fool AIG is a scam PERIOD. The US should have let them fail-fuckem. But for Goldman  &  their former sleazy chairman Paulson they would have.  Just more corporate welfare-transfer of wealth from the middle class to the 1%. Amerika looks more and more like 1930's Germany-corporate police state.
    • 0
      Kiltlady replies to Marc
      | 1 reply
      Just saw this post after searching online and after the fact sadly about Travel Guard and their lousy insurance.....your post doesnot even make sense. People purchase travel insurance in case of an unforeseen emergency and they do happen! Most health insurances WILL NOT cover your flight cancellation due to unseen illness arising....no home insurance either that I know of ....people are not complaining about something that is not legitimate....we paid a premium for a service that was not received.  Nothing to do with national healthcare either
      • 0
        Kevin replies to Kiltlady
        Hint:  The Marc guy is affiliated with Travel Guard in some way.
    • 0
      Terry replies to Marc
      I have not purchased a plan yet from travel guard.  I am here to find out about what consumers think about them before  i make that move.  I have been all cross the internet looking for reveiws and complaints by consumers.  I was directly connected to Travel Guard by Travelocity after booking a flight to Saint Thomas just a couple of days ago.  i read nightmare after nightmare situations. almost everyone was denied in the cases i read.  I discovered as well that this travel Guard is not a BBB company when i went on to their site. Everything that I know that i was promised by Travel Guard to include reading & evaluating word by word decriptions of  offered plan seems to be just a well planned con or scam as one conciders the astonomical claim denials pouring out of their festering holes. The Fine prints are  designed to decieve  and confuse the average consumer layperson.  I will not be using Travel Guard or Travelocity again.  By the way out of 527 companies offering travel assistance in planning trips Travelocity is ranked #488.   If i had done my homework prior to paying over $3000.00 for my trip i would be better off.   as for the Mr. Marc  you are right you do actually sound more like an insurance agent than a well informed Consumer. So i am acusing...  Loop holes, cons and Scams by insurance agents of all kinds have been well documented everywhere.  Common knowledge.  Everyone who complains can't be wrong.   AS for Myself  I am from the old school... Get a lawyer and sue...distribute hundreds of warning flyers etc.. perfect venting technique.....Oh and one more thing.. I  Aways read the find print.. i don't trust anyone with my money anymore.   Have a wonderful Day....
    • +1
      justguessin replies to Marc
      One of the most ignorant and poorly written comments on this site. Perhaps the worst written. In addition, the comment at the end about Universal Health Insurance.... You do realize this "universe" is restricted to the USA???

      I worked for a Health Care provider processing Medi-Cal claims. Medi-Cal is the worst offender in regard to responding to every initial claim with a denial hoping the covered patient or their doctor will give up and write off the cost. They lead the way for SCAM coverage. The coverage exists and they have the funds to pay for losses but they deny or delay so long that those covered just give up in frustration or lack of resources to fight back.

      Just because you travel abroad does not mean you can afford other types of insurance coverage. Many missionaries or other humanitarian workers have very little personal wealth and are working with what they have to serve others.
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