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I blame the OP.
When I figure out why, I will get back to you.
1 replies
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Because he's the OP on a Consumerist article. You need more?
I blame the OP.
When I figure out why, I will get back to you.
Because he's the OP on a Consumerist article. You need more?
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great article
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I remember back in the 70's and 80's - you know, when family would be allowed up to the gate to see their loved ones off - they always had these self serve kiosks for 50,000 dollars life insurance in case your PLANE CRASHES and you DIE HORRIBLY in a RAGING INFERNO of DEATH!!!! Even back then as a stupid little kid, I knew that these things were pure snake oil.
Glad to see that things never change.
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This type of coverage is like Extended Warranties. Seldom worth the expense or hassle. I would dare say United is the only pogo stick Airline he can fly from his regional airport also.
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This is why I make my insurance policies at home.
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Strongly consider buying the trip insurance coverage separately from an insurance company you trust or have researched. You're much more likely to be able to select coverage that meets your needs.
My wife and I have purchased insurance from Access America in the past and benefited from doing so on 2 occasions. I blame this incident on the purchasing failing to read a document properly. ALWAYS read the fine line.
Such as? And seriously, do you read every EULA/TOS you are presented with?
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First post on here and it doesn't contain any concrete evidence or useful information. Could this be someone from Access America astroturfing?
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Seriously; I see a lot of \"perception management\" type posts on here, even concerning the most egregious offenses committed by companies against customers, usually involving some kind of weak-assed excuse-making followed by something along the lines of \"suck it up\".
What adds insult to injury is the fact that the shill posters are doing such an obviously piss-poor job of it. They might as well hang a goddamn' sign around their necks.
You \"benefited from doing so\"? How?
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If I was the OP, I would try getting a charge-back on my credit card, pointing out he paid for \"Comprehensive Coverage\" and did not receive it. Likely to fail, but worth a shot and will cause some clownshoe at Access a headache, I am sure.
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He won't fail. For $40 bucks he will definately win.
I don't know if you are going to win this one. You have no leverage over United, , but I I think you need to make it more difficult for Access America to do the same thing to other travelers (the way the world works, somebody else will do the work to return a favor to you some day).
Go to the ND Attorney General's web site and also follow the links to the State Insurance dept. File a complaint with both. AA needs permission to sell insurance in each state. What you don't know is whether your complaint will be #1 or #101. In any event, it will be added to their permanent file when license renewal time rolls around. Further, AA will have to answer the complaints which takes time and legal talent.
File the papers (which you can do on line) and see what happens. Also, keep a complete file of everything.
Good luck.
Insurance or not, United stranded the OP at the airport; they should be the ones putting them in a hotel. That's complete BS that the weather caused the problem in this case.
Chargeback the trip insurance. It wasn't as advertised.
weather = act of God
No insurance plan covers losses due to acts of God. (Neither will airlines--that includes your time, lodging, food, etc.)
I've used my Access America policy (also bought at checkout from an airline). I was impressed at how easily I obtained a refund when I was unable to travel due to a family member's illness. I had my check within a week.
This is not misleading. Read when you buy, people!
D'ahh ha ha ha hahhh.
Shill much?
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Also astroturfing?
Depending on one's beliefs, almost anything can be reasoned to be an \"Act of God.\" It sounds like the perfect clause for insurance companies in order to get out of paying out just about anything...
\"We're so sorry that you became ill during your trip! While it says that you have sick passenger coverage, it was really an Act of God that allowed caused you to encounter whatever ailment you have, and it clearly states that Acts of God are excluded from coverage.\"
Except that \"act of god\" actually has a definition as laid out by courts. It's not really open to much interpretation past that.
\"Of course I wouldn’t have read it anyway, because to me “COMPREHENSIVE TRIP PROTECTOR” means exactly that--that we are protected comprehensively on the trip.\"
Well, there's your problem right there. What does \"comprehensive\" mean? The contract would define that. What does \"trip\" mean? The contract would define that. What does \"protector\" mean? The contract would define that.
Comprehensive means everything. Not a lot of wiggle on that if you check a dictionary.
There are principles of contract interpretation. One principle says that anybody interpreting the contract should look at the \"four corners\" of the document itself to determine the parties' intent. In this case, the intent is in the document itself.
One should only go to dictionary definitions if it is unclear from the document itself, but courts also look at common or industry usage as well as other courts' determinations of meanings in addition to dictionary definitions.
http://www.justice.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title4/civ00072.htm
\"You are technically correct - the best kind of correct.\"
I think it is shitty sales practice and the management of that company needs a kick in the cookies.
But the problem is that, someone could make a great argument that the Comprehensive Trip Protector should cover literally everything and anything that might go wrong on a vacation. That might include the shitty meal you had on the way to the airport, the flat tire that your rental car got at your destination, the guy snoring in the seat next to you on the plane ride back etc. I mean, that's all on your trip. It's certainly comprehensive. Why wouldn't they pay for it?
The only way to really know what's what is to understand the contract you're getting in to. Just like any other contract in this world.
I often buy travel insurance and it has saved my bacon a few times. The difficulty is that the various companies tend to sell a slew of policies with varying exclusions across the price spectrum and unless you take time to print out the PDF and pore over the policy, there's a good chance that you'll get a policy which doesn't cover what you need (the cheapest policies tend to not be very useful). There's a lot of fine print when buying insurance and you need to read it.
And kudos to all of you who blame the OP, just as you always do. (not tech speak)
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I subscribe to Chris Rock's idea of insurance: if I give you $50 in case shit happens, and shit doesn't happen... shouldn't I get that $50 back?
I don't want to blame the OP but I really don't think he didn't get a chance to review the policy before buying it. Yes, it is a shady way to sell this kind of crappy insurance, but why people just don't read the fu*king document before buying things?
I'm on the OP's side here pretty squarely. This wasn't jsut hidden in the fine print on the main page, it was on a separate document they never even showed him.
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Let's see.. two commenters specifically had very positive experiences with Access America, and both had never previously posted here.
Interesting...
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I've always cynically wondered how many public relations companies and the like have already set up shell accounts on Consumerist on the off chance that one of their clients gets featured....
But I will also say that with any given company, even if they treat half of their customers poorly, the other half will still be able to say they've had positive experiences.
Stop wondering. It's virtually guaranteed. It's been all over the news lately; do a Web search for \"perception management\" or perhaps \"public opinion management\".
Hold them to it. \"Comprehensive\" does not mean non-comprehensive. Judges are often more likely to judge on the actual product you buy rather than the fine print (depending on the judge of course). Take them to small-claims, and then make sure it gets on the news that the \"comprehensive\" part is a lie. They'll start offering shutup money in a best-case scenario, worst case you spent the day in small-claims.
If it's insurance, check to see whether or not Access America is a licensed insurer, and in what State. Then file a complaint with the Department of Insurance or Insurance Commissioner or whatever of that State. File a complaint with the Attorney General of your State, and the State where this occurred. File a complaint with the Federal Transportation Authority. And finally, file a chargeback for the amount of the insurance with your credit card company - \"misrepresented, not as advertised\" - include a copy of the advertisement they provided. If there were no links to an in-depth PDF, no *'s, etc. then you saw what you saw, believed what they told you, and purchased based on that belief.
You know I agree that this is crap, but I actually did have a good experience dealing with Access America personally. I had bought the same or similar protection on my Honeymoon, and before our wedding my now wife became ill and her doctor advised her not to travel abroad. Would have been out several thousand had it not been for that. Never bought it before or bought it sense, but it was pretty handy in that case.
You have to read those travel insurance policies carefully. They're not all created equal and some of them put so many restrictions on when they'll pay that they're essentially worthless. I have yet to find a \"comprehensive\" coverage policy in the true form. Instead, they've all been named peril type policy's, much like the fire policy's of old before we had homeowners coverage as we know it today. If the exact peril, including circumstances, is not named in the travel policy, chances are you're not covered.
\"Comprehensive\" means covering completely or broadly. If UAL / Access wanted to exclude everything under the sun in their bogus insurance policy, they should be required to list all the exclusions up front, and call it \"limited.\" Idiots.
Mark Smith should file a claim for all of losses (overnight hotel, meals, travel in Denver, phone calls, lost wages, etc.) against United Airlines in the small claims court in Bismarck, South Dakota. In fact, he should be \"comprehensive\" in listing every single expenditure he paid, and anything he lost, such as vacation time.
Most SCC don't allow lawyers to defend their client in court, and the chances are very good that either UAL won't show, or the judge will side with Mr Smith.
The national news will love this story - a classic David vs Goliath.
Keep us posted.
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Sorry but purchasing this insurance is akin to purchasing the 'extended warranty' on a 10 dollar toaster.
I made the mistake of not reading the reviews for access america on line. I had a claim for lost jewelry. I supplied them with all the required documents, and they continued to ask me for more. It was supposed to cover up to $500 and I lost jewelry that I was wearing. I had to show proof from NCL that I lost it on the ship as well as the original sales receipt and proof of my cruise. All of this was provided to them as well as the replacement documentation. I was denied because I \"didn't take reasonable care of it\". I guess you can't wear jewelry and it must sit inside your safe on the cruise ship. The company is a fraud and you are better off not wasting your money to buy the insurance. After reading the reviews, I understand everyone's complaints. Other people have even shown proof of death for cancelled trips and were denied refunds. Read the reviews first. From what I understand, they deny almost every claim.
If you area cancer survivor, forget this insurance company.
I got left overnight in the Mexico City airport thanks to Alaska airlines, but I had
this trip insurance. I was not late, my connecting flight was not late; it's just that Alaska had
closed their ticket desk at 4 PM while my flight (to LAX) left at 5:15 PM. (I got there at
4 15). So I could NOT get a printed ticket, and I had to watch my flight board without me.
You cannot get through security without a printed ticket and boarding pass.
The next flight was 5 15PM the next day. I didn't have money for a hotel.
Access America says Alaska was wrong, but they are getting off the hook, because there is fine print about \"any pre-existing conditions\".
I am a cancer survivor, so that is obviously a pre-existing condition.
(I suppose you could be diabetic or bi-polar, also).
No coverage, no hotel or taxi reimbursment. Nothing. They are a despicable company.
The world cheers you on when you beat cancer, but the insurance company just swindles you out of your money.
stephen roche
flight Leon, MX to Mexico City, then on to LAX
June 16th 2010
I’d venture to guess even their “Delayed Trip” option doesn’t cover weather-related – only mechanical issues or something. A lot of insurance policies like to pull the force majeure clause out of the woodwork – more reason to read what you’re buying before you press “purchase”.