 Poster: A snowHead
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| nbt wrote: |
On another note, can anyone recommend alternative brokers who offer good insurance should we decide to ski off piste? |
I've used Snowcard in the past - although never needed to claim, so not sure how helpful this is in light of the issues the OP is having with claims. They look to be brokers that use Allianz underneath. Costs, while not rock bottom, were competitive enough - and I don't think lowest price in these instances is useful, as others have said. They vary the premium deepening on activity - interestingly snowboarding requires a higher level of cover than skiing. Go figure. Maybe the've been watching my 15yo son... 
I'll use these guys again when I sort out my insurance for the bash.
https://www.snowcard.co.uk
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@aberdeenski, snowcard won't cover preexisting conditions though otherwise they are very good
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| nbt wrote: |
| On another note, can anyone recommend alternative brokers who offer good insurance should we decide to ski off piste? |
In recent years I've been using LV based on research (we ski off piste without a guide). Haven't had to make a claim though.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Origen wrote: |
| Did they authorize the expenditure, @Bergmeister? Have they acknowledged your claim? |
There was no requirement for the expenditure to be authorised as the claim did not exceed €1000, nor was I admitted to hospital. Either scenario would have required me to contact MPI at the time, via their emergency assistance number.
My claim was acknowledged in May and I received a letter advising me that (despite my claim being based on my Mastercard exchange rate - ie in Pounds Sterling) MPI would settle the claim using Oanda (new to me) exchange rates, unless I sent them a copy of my credit card statement. When I checked online the Oanda rates were only slightly lower than Mastercard so I decided to settle for those.
Despite a request from me for an update 4 weeks ago, I am yet to hear anything further. I tried to telephone MPI's Head Office today but was unable to speak to anyone despite half a dozen attempts to do so.
Suffice to say I am far from impressed. I am not ruling out involving the Ombudsman....
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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This sounds very bad. I shall certainly not be going back to MPI now. (They know about this thread, by the way.)
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Hurtle wrote: |
| They know about this thread, by the way |
Good, as thats the whole point if it.
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I'm currently wondering if they're still trading as no-one is answering the phones at head office or in the claims department. Will try the sales line to see if they can at least tell me either way
EDIT - nope. Head office rings out then disconnects. Other lines switch to a voice messaging service. This is not giving me much hope
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 15-08-24 15:05; edited 1 time in total
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It's a pity if they've gone under, as they'd obviously tried to offer a good service. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Hmm website invites you to click to another website, where the about says:
ClearSkies Travel Insurance is a trading name of MPI Brokers which was formed in 2002 to provide clear uncomplicated travel insurance.
and a bit further down says the following, I wonder if they are changing how claims are handled? Are any of the folk with issues trying to deal with MPI or IM Global?
When making a claim you will be working with IM Global for either ‘Insure With Ease’ or ‘Good To Go’ – these are the insurance schemes ClearSkies work with.
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@kitenski, which website? MPI website still OK for me.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Layne, If you click on 'Quote' the website takes you to ClearSkies
@nbt - Clearskies have the same address as MPI - this is Clearskies tel no = 01428 772 722
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@albob, Ah, thanks for clarifying
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@Layne, the MPI website said it was down and had a link to Clearskies when I originally posted.
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You know it makes sense.
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@albob, thanks, that number is also ringing out and going to answerphone
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Ah Consultant - Caroline Stuart-Taylor. One begins to see where the money may have gone.....
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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So an update and a request for advice. Still no payout on my claim. Have tried to phone and email. Nothing. The phone line’s call waiting spiel seems to be broken. Have used their online complaints form twice - even that doesn’t work properly as the request for a copy of the complaint does not materialise. I have been doing a bit of investigating and came across this on the FCA register. It seems to suggest some recent restriction on its services. But am not sure whether this is relevant or not? https://register.fca.org.uk/s/firm?id=001b000000MfXFLAA3#what-can-this-firm-do-restrictions
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@snowdave, Sorry had not read your post. Looks like I will have to appeal to the ombudsman…
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Dave of the Marmottes, what is it with Caroline Stuart-Taylor?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Wendyjh, I believe she had something to do with the Ski Club of Great Britain.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Former chief exec of SCGB and consultant to MPI and involved in snow camp.
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My speculation as to what’s happened here (based on the FCA statement) is that the FCA took exception to MPI using an underwriter based outside the UK and thus not regulated by the FCA.
I think that what now happens is that anyone with an existing policy should get a pro rata refund (unless MPI finds a new underwriter). Anyone with a claim underway is supposed to be protected by the FSCS. Which may partly explain the FCA concern, because if non U.K. regulated overseas underwriters can fall back onto the U.K. protections, it could be a cheap way of doing business in the U.K. without paying the usual regulatory costs.
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@snowdave, can you see who their underwriter is? That sister site of theirs appears to be using an American company - international medical group
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@kitenski, International Medical Group appear to be the claims handlers
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@kitenski, I can’t see who the specific underwriter for each policy type is, apart from Swan named generally in the link. @Wendyjh, Should have a policy document that names the underwriter.
The FCA announcement also says that Mpi has to write to each customer to notify them, doesn’t sound like that’s happened yet.
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| Quote: |
| International Medical Group appear to be the claims handlers |
That was the case for Mrs MA's MPI claim in spring 2023.
We had a few hiccups with them (and later with MPI regarding elements of the claim) as it involved repatriation from Japan after an off-piste injury but, ultimately, were satisfied with the service and cover provided.
Will be a shame if they've gone bust as they provide good off piste cover in particular.
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You know it makes sense.
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When MPI were not issuing new policies a few years ago, they said it was because they were looking for new underwriters. I wonder why this has been such a problem for them? They must surely be throwing in the towel this time, why else would they have shut down all communication channels? A pity, as they used to be great.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Hurtle, the mark of a respectable business and businessman is in fulfillment of obligations when there is no more money to be made. This really doesn't reflect well on Michael Pettifer at the moment. Costs almost nothing to email shot customers.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| @Hurtle, the mark of a respectable business and businessman is in fulfillment of obligations when there is no more money to be made. This really doesn't reflect well on Michael Pettifer at the moment. Costs almost nothing to email shot customers. |
Totally agreed. I wouldn't go back to them now for that reason, even if they do manage to sort themselves out.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Nothing lasts forever.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I have annual travel insurance through MPI which should cover me for a trip on the European mainland in September.
Online services seem to be suspended. https://bolt.mpibrokers.com/ states
| Quote: |
| This site is down for maintenance. It will be operational again shortly. |
Using the link from when I purchased the policy I can get to the page where I can manage my insurance policies but the history is blank with no policies shown. I have not heard anything from MPI about the policy.
Reading this thread I am now not sure whether I am covered even though I have current annual travel insurance. After all, one of the things you want from travel insurance is assistance when things go wrong.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@bolderz, whilst you might technically be covered I would be looking to have another policy in place.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Absolutely. All the signs are that MPI are going under. Or have gone....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I filled in a contact form on their website yesterday to notify them of a change of address and had an email from them today and replied to it.
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@bolderz, MPI are (or possibly were) a broker not an insurer. Provided they passed on your original premium you ought to still be covered. (Although not sure of the position if the FCA are suggesting the insurers weren't authorised to write UK business).
If you got details of a policy / contract when you took out your annual insurance you might be able to contact the issuer to check if you are still covered.
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@ecureuil, given the origin of this thread was someone highlighting how their claim is being completely ignored, even if you're technically "covered", being unable to claim makes it coverage of the chocolate teapot variety.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Can you insure against .... failure of an insurance company? The summary is here about what happens, should that occur (I'm not saying it has occurred in any case listed here, I'm just curious):
https://www.fscs.org.uk/making-a-claim/claims-process/failed-ins-co-next/
My reading of that is that if you've a policy it'll either be replaced with the like, or refunded pro-rata. And if you have an "in flight" claim, that's handled by the insolvency. I'm not sure if any of those give you better status than a standard creditor, from a quick read of that. I'd expect you would have some preferential status, else what is the "protection" for?
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@snowdave, but the problem here is that the intermediary / broker isn't responding. If you can contact the insurer directly they may still be prepared to pay out on the claim.
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FAQ
