Holiday Insurance for mini cruise

[Binky]

I have been given a voucher for a mini cruise with DFDS from a travel agent.  The travel agent wants us to pay for port taxes and insurance - the two night cruise is free.  I told him that I would pay the port taxes but not the insurance as we have annual travel insurance already and I have supplied him with evidence of this.  He says that as the voucher is a 'gift', he can insist that in order to use it we have to buy insurance from him.  He says that he can do this under Abta rules.  I can't see how he can if we evidence our insurance.  Surely it's wrong to double insurance ourselves anyway.  Does anyone know?

[kempie]

Firstly let me say that I do not know how the law deals with a 'free gift' and any conditions applied to it.

If this were a straight purchase, then compulsory tie-ins between holiday discounts and travel insurance have been outlawed. Any salesman claiming otherwise is lying and breaking the law. Report these people to the Office of Fair Trading.

As to holding more than one insurance policy; this is perfectly legal as long as any particular CLAIM is made on ONE policy only. People are often doubled-up on insurance as many credit cards offer a limited travel insurance as a benefit.

I hope someone can clarify the point about the 'gift'. Good luck!

[jimmyb01]

No, no he can't force you, infact you should report him to ABTA. ABTA are really trying to stamp this practice out.

[Binky]

Thanks guys.  I have now e-mailed to ABTA for clarification re. the 'gift' element.