| Taking a holiday or business trip is usually quite | | | | numbers of foreign tourists, this is seen by many |
| straightforward. Most of the time, you buy your | | | | police as a waste of their time - you might have to |
| tickets, fork out a bit extra for travel insurance | | | | slip the officer in question a few bills to get anything |
| (because it's just what people say you should do) | | | | done. (Incidentally, this won't be covered.) |
| and jump on the plane. But what happens when | | | | If you're lucky enough to have your luggage lost by |
| something goes wrong, and that safety-net insurance | | | | an airline, bus company or even hotel, try and obtain |
| policy you bought actually needs comes in to play? | | | | a report from them admitting culpability. Without this, |
| Many people's first reaction to realising they have to | | | | your company may dispute your claim. The people |
| make a travel insurance claim is slight panic - what | | | | who lost your goods may offer a private settlement |
| evidence and documentation do you need? Does | | | | themselves - get this written down as well. |
| your situation even warrant a claim? What happens if | | | | Where's the Proof? |
| it all falls through? Don't worry - there are a few | | | | Large numbers of people take out travel insurance, |
| basic things you need to remember, and if you can | | | | and, feeling slightly annoyed that they haven't been |
| do that, all should work out fine. | | | | the victim of a mugging or hostel robbery, attempt |
| Who do I Contact, and When? | | | | to claim that aging analogue camera as stolen. To |
| Depending on what it is exactly you're claiming, you | | | | claim, you must present proof of ownership. This is |
| have differing amounts of time to act. Before you | | | | often easily done by showing the receipt for the |
| leave on your trip, you should take two copies of | | | | item, but as many people simply don't keep receipts |
| your travel insurance details, packed in separate | | | | that long, other methods are accepted; bank or |
| places. This should contain the full name of the travel | | | | credit card statements, warranty cards, even |
| insurance company, the policy you chose, the dates | | | | photographic evidence can be used to show that you |
| you're covered for, full contact details, and most | | | | owned a given item. If you can't provide anything |
| importantly your unique policy number. More often | | | | whatsoever, you may not be able to claim. Check |
| than not, the company will provide you with a handy | | | | your policy. And if they think you're telling porkies, |
| wallet-sized card with all of this information. If in | | | | they might just investigate your case further - |
| doubt, take as much information as possible. | | | | you've been warned. |
| Generally, the sooner you contact your insurance | | | | In the case of purchases that had to be made |
| company the better. In cases of medical emergency | | | | (medical treatment, taxis when you missed your |
| this is important. In non-life threatening cases, and | | | | connecting bus due to a delayed flight, quick flight |
| where you don't have full details of your policy with | | | | home due to civil war unexpectedly breaking out, |
| you, it might be best to contact the company to see | | | | etc), keep the receipt, and be prepared to present |
| if you're covered before you opt for whatever | | | | credit card statements and possibly contact details of |
| insanely expensive treatment you may need. Due to | | | | the organisation in question. |
| the higher costs involved, your company needs to | | | | How Long do I Wait? |
| know ASAP. They will obviously also need to be | | | | Generally speaking, a simple claim on a stolen item |
| contacted ASAP if you need to be evacuated home, | | | | should not take very long. Companies differ, but |
| such as from an area where you may not be able to | | | | most will process a claim in around ten days if they |
| get quality care. | | | | have all the details they need, they will either say no, |
| If, on the other hand, you've lost or had something | | | | or send you a cheque. If your claim is, in their eyes, |
| stolen, you generally don't need to contact anyone | | | | dubious for any reason, it may take longer. In cases |
| from the company until you get home - and you | | | | where large amounts are to be paid out, such as |
| often have up to a month to get around to this. | | | | those which have arisen due to medical expenditure, |
| What you do need to do, however, is report all theft | | | | the gathering of all the relevant proof and information |
| to the local police, and obtain a report of the 'crime' in | | | | may itself take some time - you might just have to |
| question. Be aware, in developing countries with high | | | | be patient. |