And so i took out insurance cover with Hastings Direct following a phone conversation explaining my upcoming trip which will include pretty much all Balkan countries which they agreed to insure fully comprehensive for.

I have both my handbook and document here which only states "All E.U countries and Croatia, Switzerland etc". No mention of the Balkan (non eu) places. I have passed many emails regarding the misinformation and thus far am told that I am covered and that It is not their policy to issue a green card. (despite absolutely no mention of insurance on said documents)

I have now asked to be put on to someone higher as I fail to see the worth of being insured if you cant prove you actually are.

Sorry for the rant, they may come good yet! My question is... Am i missing some knowledge that would explain the reluctance to issue me with a hard copy official document that states i am insured for such places?

Or are they just being less than helpful?

Thanks

hello and welcome to Horizons Mark
1st post and already a rant! sorry about your problem- It's a little confusing :confused1: as you first state " I have both my handbook and document here which only states "All E.U countries and Croatia, Switzerland etc".
then you go on to say "that would explain the reluctance to issue me with a hard copy official document that states i am insured for such places? "
Seems to me that you have the hard copy official documents!

If you have supporting evidenceof being misled at the onset, this will help you. Salespeople are under pressure to make sales and may say things to 'push the sales process along' .... and it is up to you to ensure that you read the 'small' print when you receive the paperwork. If you received the handbook with the T&C and what you expected/were sold doesn't match, you should be able to cancel as it seems that you may have been mis-sold insurance.

Having said that, I do not know of an insurance company that will automatically include cover for the Balkans. Some may issue a third party cover note for an additional premium ( I had that for Hungary & Romania) whereas others will not accept the risk and say -no-
Insurance can most often be bought at the border or first big-ish town. Often though, whilst necessary to comply with the laws of the country, it often isn't worth the paper the police is printed on- aka ' if there is an accident, the foreigner is always in the wrong' !
If you look to the left hand side of the page, you will see the communities and you may want to ask them where/how you can buy insurance for a specifc country-
But please use the 'search function' first as there is a HUGE amount of information on the Hubb .
Enjoy!
and try not to stress! it really isn't worth it!

Hello Bertrand

Thanks for the reply. I am sorry about the Rant its not my usual thing but then again it is not usual for me to travel so far by motorcycle either.

I can do one better, I have it in emails that they tell me I am insured for these countries yet it does not state I am in any of my documents. They tell me not to worry about such details!
Here is a copy of the emails (I have of course crossed out names with XXX)

From: xxxx xxxx@hastingsdirect.com]
Sent: 16 July 2010 16:52
To: Mark Young
Subject: RE: My insurance

Dear Mr Young,
I have spoken to the Advantage Underwriters who are the underwriters of your policy and they have confirmed you do not need a green card to travel to any of these Countries. They have checked their Foreign use guides, and terms & conditions and they have confirmed they cover all the Countries under their Foreign use cover. All they advise is that you take a copy of your certificate with you. On your policy you are covered for foreign use for up to 30 days per trip.
It is not our procedure to issue green cards.
Many Thanks

XXXXXX
Policy Services
Hastings Direct
08448 003 844
________________________________________
From: Mark Young
Sent: 16 July 2010 16:22
To: XXXXXX
Subject: RE: My insurance
Hello XXXX

I need a green card for each Balkan country stating I am insured. A single document ( my certificate) will need to state I am insured in these countries, which yours does not! This would mean it is impossible for me to prove I have insurance as all of the official documentation I will carry says I do not!

The countries I may visit that require insurance are
Slovenia – Croatia - Serbia – Bosnia – Montenegro – Macedonia - Albania.
Many Thanks
Mark Young.

hmmmmmm....reading the above, personally speaking, I'd dig a bit deeper into this bit
" they have confirmed they cover all the Countries under their Foreign use cover" I am guessing this applies only to those you mentioned.

But that just doesn't sound right....:confused1: and you will need to show (and sometimes give copies) of your docs at borders so telling you not to worry is ...just plain daft.

You might want to ask them, if they really refuse to issue green cards, that they provide you with an insurance certificate that actually names the countries covered with any pertinent conditions IMHO

one clue is in their terminology... It is not our proceedure..."
You might want to try insisting that it is a specific request.

and look out for that clause..."On your policy you are covered for foreign use for up to 30 days per trip"
is that enough for you and how many trips are allowed p.a?

Hey Bertrand, Not a problem with the 30 days – Please see below. I have also taken some of your words used them as my own and sent an email requesting escalation and closure, which I will of course keep you informed about when I receive response.

From: xxxxxxx xxxx@hastingsdirect.com]

To: Mark Young
Subject: RE: My insurance
How long are you planning on going for? I can see that you are leaving on 18th September. If your trip extends over the 30 days then your cover would drop from comprehensive down to the legal requirement needed to ride in that Country. You can purchase additional cover to upgrade your policy back to comprehensive.
Many Thanks

xxx xxxx
Policy Services
Hastings Direct
08448 003 844

I'd bet your dealing with people who don't know the difference between Europe and the EU. I got this a lot trying to find a greencard. You can't buy insurance for one member state, they have to cover you in the EU that's why they say you don't need a greencard anymore - which is true, but only within the EU and those few countries like CH and CR who play ball.

Tell them you're going to non eu countries in Europe. Then tell them you need a green a4 sheet of paper listing your details and the country codes of the non eu countries you are covered in. Be specific around places like Yugoslavia that don't exist anymore, not much good having that one listed on your document.

I've done much of that region, and was frequency asked for the green card specifically.

If this company still don't understand, call Carole Nash and ask for a Groupama underwritten policy. They will gladly give out a greencard for everywhere but transdneistr, and for a trivial fee of tens of pounds.

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