What is a Defaqto Rating?
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Tommy has over 15 years experience within the insurance industry, and his primary focus is helping travellers find the right cover for their medical conditions.
When it comes to buying travel insurance, it can be difficult to determine which policy, is the best fit for you and your personal needs and requirements. Thankfully, there are services out there that can help you determine which option might be the best fit for you.
Defaqto offers a streamlined service that simplifies the comparison of a wide array of financial products from various providers. This comprehensive tool encompasses everything from credit cards and mortgages to pensions and investments. Significantly, it also plays a crucial role in comparing travel insurance policies.
If your goal is to compare insurance policies, then diving into the details of Defaqto is highly recommended. In this discussion, we will delve into everything you need to know about Defaqto and how it can assist you in comparing travel insurance options across different providers with ease.
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Who are Defaqto and are they Independent?
Yes! Defaqto shines as your go-to, independent and unbiased guide in the bustling financial industry, much like Medical Travel Compared . It's your trusted sidekick, relied on by financial advisors, banks, insurance brokers, and comparison websites. With the backing of over 300 brands, Defaqto remains your impartial friend in a sea of options, ensuring no biases sneak into their advice. This unwavering commitment to fairness is what makes Defaqto stand out.
At its core, Defaqto is powered by a team of financial experts who dive deep into the latest in financial products, including essentials like travel insurance. Their top-notch research and analysis mean you get nothing but the facts – clear, accurate, and super relevant.
This goldmine of information does wonders. It helps service providers tweak their products just right, keeping them in tune with what you need. And for you, the consumer, it's like having a crystal-clear map of the market, helping you make savvy buying decisions with ease.
Defaqto aims to make you the smartest shopper out there. With its no-nonsense ratings and detailed market insights, it's all about giving you the confidence to compare and choose wisely, especially when it comes to something as important as travel insurance. Understanding the small print and finding the best fit for you becomes a breeze. In the end, Defaqto is all about guiding you through the financial maze, making sure you find the perfect pick for your needs with confidence and peace of mind.
What do the Defaqto Stars Mean?
A Defaqto rating serves as a highly respected industry standard that evaluates the quality of a financial policy through a comprehensive star rating system. This system simplifies the complex world of financial products, providing a clear, straightforward indication of a policy's quality, without delving into overly technical details.
At the core of this process, Defaqto analysts employ an unbiased methodology to gather and analyse data concerning each specific financial product meticulously. This involves a thorough examination of the terms and conditions of policies, as well as a detailed evaluation of the quality, scope, and comprehensiveness of the features and benefits offered.
The outcome of this rigorous analysis is a star rating that ranges from one to five stars, providing an immediate sense of the policy's quality. A one-star rating signifies a basic product, offering minimal features or benefits and generally catering to those with the most fundamental needs. On the other end of the spectrum, a five-star rating is awarded to financial products that exhibit the highest level of quality, offering a wide array of features and benefits designed to meet or exceed the expectations of the most discerning consumers.
The beauty of the Defaqto star rating system lies in its ability to distil complex information into something easily understandable. It's specifically crafted to allow consumers to quickly assess the quality of a financial proposition, without needing to consider the product's price or the reputation of the provider. This approach empowers consumers to make more informed decisions based on the intrinsic quality of the product, rather than being swayed by external factors such as marketing campaigns or brand prestige.
What are the Criteria for Defaqto Stars?
According to Defaqto , the method for producing their star rating involves selecting the most crucial features and benefits within each product area. This meticulous process includes an in-depth assessment that could review between 40 to 100 different elements. Each of these elements is carefully evaluated and individually scored. These scores are then aggregated to calculate the product's overall rating.
While Defaqto maintains a degree of ambiguity about its specific criteria, the underlying principle is clear. The elements considered in their evaluations are those that customers are likely to find important when making a purchasing decision. This approach ensures that the ratings are both comprehensive and relevant to consumer needs, providing valuable insights that help guide purchasing decisions in a crowded and complex marketplace. Through this detailed and nuanced evaluation process, Defaqto aims to demystify the product selection process, empowering consumers with the information they need to choose products that best meet their requirements.
Defaqto vs Trustpilot
Defaqto and Trustpilot play crucial, albeit different, roles in guiding your financial choices, especially when it comes to finding that perfect travel insurance. Defaqto shines with its team of financial whizzes who dish out unbiased ratings, making it easier to sift through the options.
On the flip side, Trustpilot brings the voice of customers to the forefront, with heaps of reviews based on real-life experiences. These insights are gold for online shoppers looking to make savvy financial decisions, sometimes tipping the scales even more than Defaqto's expert ratings.
Why settle for one when you can enjoy the best of both worlds? Once you've selected a travel insurance policy, with a satisfactory Defaqto star rating, why not enhance your research by checking the insurer on Trustpilot? Leveraging Defaqto's industry-respected ratings alongside Trustpilot's candid customer reviews provides a powerful combination to sift through the myriad of travel insurance options. It's about blending Defaqto's objective insights with Trustpilot's genuine customer experiences, offering a comprehensive view to help you choose the travel insurance that fits perfectly
Why Does Defaqto Matter to Me?
When you're diving into the world of travel insurance, Defaqto ratings are like your trusty compass, guiding you through the maze of choices and helping you compare what's out there. With their star system, picking the right insurance doesn't just boil down to price. It’s about seeing clearly what each plan offers, from cover scope to those all-important extras. This way, you're not just saving pounds; you're making a smart, informed decision on what’s best for your trip.
And here's the kicker: when Defaqto, a name you know you can trust, gives a thumbs up to a travel insurance plan, you can bet it's a choice you can feel good about. This vote of confidence means you're looking at a policy that's passed a tough test, from how much medical protection you're getting to how easy it is to make a claim. It's like having a wise friend who’s done all the homework for you, ensuring you’re getting a deal that’s not just about peace of mind but ready to back you up when it counts.
So, with Defaqto’s deep dive into the nitty-gritty of travel insurance, you're all set to pick a plan that lets you focus on the fun part: your adventure. Safe in the knowledge you're well-covered, you can jet off, worry-free.
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Is a Low Defaqto Rating a Bad Thing?
A low Defaqto rating doesn't automatically indicate a problem. It's important to note that Defaqto ratings focus solely on the features and benefits of a policy, completely disregarding cost, and value for money. This means if you're working within a tight budget and are willing to accept fewer benefits, a low rating might not significantly impact your decision during comparison shopping.
What truly matters is finding the level of cover that meets your specific needs. Policies that offer less comprehensive protection and come with fewer features usually receive a lower Defaqto rating. However, these policies tend to be more affordable, making them a suitable choice for budget-conscious shoppers. On the other hand, policies that provide extensive cover and boast a plethora of features are awarded higher Defaqto ratings and can come with a higher price tag.
Especially when it comes to travel insurance, we always advise prioritising the cover over the cost. This becomes even more critical if you require specialised protection for pre-existing medical conditions . A policy that adequately covers your specific health needs can be invaluable, providing peace of mind during your travels.
In conclusion, navigating the world of travel insurance can feel like an overwhelming task, with countless options and complex terms to sift through. That's where Defaqto steps in, shining a light on the path to making informed decisions. Defaqto's analytical approach to rating financial products offers the clarity and insight needed to choose insurance that best fits your travel needs.
Whether prioritising protection or operating within a budget, understanding these ratings and reviews ensures that you can select a policy with confidence, armed with this knowledge, you're better equipped to invest in travel insurance that provides both value and peace of mind, letting you focus on the excitement of your adventure secure in the assurance of your protection.
At Medical Travel Compared , we utilise Defaqto ratings as a tool to help you navigate and compare options from over 30 specialist travel insurance providers. Our goal is to empower you with all the information you need to make an informed decision that best suits your travel insurance needs. Whether you're looking for a basic or a comprehensive policy, we're here to assist you in exploring your options. If you're interested in seeing what's available, simply click the button below to start your search!
A pre-existing is any medical condition for which medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received before applying for a travel insurance policy. For some conditions, we'll need to know if they have ever been present, whilst for others if they occurred within a certain period.
Single Trip insurance is for one-off, individual trips and will cover your specified travel dates. This is usually up to 45 days; however, some insurance providers can cover up to 94 days. If you’re not a frequent traveller, single trip cover is a great option and will likely be cheaper than an annual multi-trip cover .
If you travel 2 or more times a year, annual trip cover may very well save you money. The maximum duration of any trip will always be specified and will vary by provider. But don't worry, when you get a quote, we'll ask you what your maximum trip length is and only show you quotes that match!
No. We can search for travel insurance quotes for all ages. However, the number of annual multi-trip quotes for older travellers may be limited due to age restrictions imposed by the providers that we search. If you are unable to get an annual trip quote, try a single trip quote instead.
Provided you have the right cover, you can claim against any expenses, including medical bills, you incur following a medical emergency in a country whilst on holiday.
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Can you trust Defaqto star ratings? What 5-stars actually means
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If you’re looking for insurance it’s tempting to opt for a five-star rated product, but you could still be left out of pocket.
Searching for insurance isn’t just stressful; it’s plain difficult.
In fact, the average insurance policy’s small print is harder to read than Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment or Stephen Hawking’s a Brief History of Time, researchers from Which? found.
Miss a single line and you could find your travel insurer leaves you stranded in another country, or your home insurer refuses to pay out.
Defaqto’s Star Ratings system is one of the few ways to cut through the jargon.
Even if you’ve not heard of the company, you may be familiar with the stars and logo (pictured above), which are used extensively by comparison sites and insurers in their advertising.
We talked to the creator of the Star Ratings and head of insight at Defaqto, Brian Brown, to find out how they can help you make a decision.
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How the ratings work
Brown designed the Star Ratings 19 years ago, starting with insurance. “We wanted to try and simplify things on the public side,” he says.
Defaqto is first-and-foremost a business-to-business company – not a comparison site – and doesn’t make money from consumers as such. Instead, it licenses the use of the Star Ratings for companies in their advertising.
Nevertheless, the ratings have become big business. Defaqto’s website boasts that “60 experts spend 400 hours a day collecting and examining information from over 41,000 products”.
According to Brown, every known product on the market gets a rating from one to five stars, no matter how obscure (step forward, Sheffield Wednesday Owls Mastercard, pictured below).
Each February, the company publishes updated Star Ratings.
But what do they actually mean? Is a five-star rating a guarantee the product can't be beaten? Not necessarily, as you'll soon see.
Not about price or service
Defaqto’s ratings are about the product, not the provider and – perhaps surprisingly – not about the level of customer service.
“If you’ve never made an insurance claim, you wouldn’t know what the service was like”, explains Brown “it’d be great if I could get service metric data, but we don’t have it.”
Nor are the Star Ratings about price, or a measure of value for money. That’s a decision the consumer needs to make themselves, Brown believes, comparing it to the decision to buy a BMW over a cheaper model of car.
Defaqto’s team score various features of the product from one to five, the combination of which largely determines what the product’s final rating will be.
However, there are also ‘core criteria’ and the lack of any of these will prevent a product getting a four or five-star rating.
“These are things that a reasonable person would expect to have”, says Brown, giving as examples a courtesy car as part of a car insurance policy, personal belongings cover outside the home for home insurance and cancellation cover for travel insurance.
24 ways to cut your car insurance premiums
What is a five-star product?
Defaqto hasn’t published their core criteria, although last year Defaqto defined the terms that financial services providers must use when describing their Star Ratings.
Five-star products, for instance, must have ‘comprehensive’ levels of cover or features. Such a rating, Brown explains, “is a very good level of features and benefits, much more than a lower rating product”.
However, Brown cautions that a five-star rating “doesn’t guarantee that every [insurance] claim will be paid” and consumers should still check that the policy suits their individual requirements.
Also, bear in mind that Defaqto’s Star Ratings aren’t officially recognised by regulators.
The Guardian reported that , in 2009, the Financial Ombudsman struck down a consumer’s complaint that their five-star-rated travel insurance policy hadn’t covered their airline going bust.
The Ombudsman reportedly dismissed the rating system as ‘puff’.
Furthermore, Brown insists that Defaqto ratings are not all about pushing consumers to go for five-star products.
A low-rated car insurance product could, for example, have a low price whilst satisfying a driver’s legal obligation to be insured.
Where Defaqto goes wrong
Whilst Defaqto’s ratings may be impartial, that doesn’t mean their always correct.
This has become particularly apparent as the company has expanded from insurance to products such as credit cards, where its methodology has lead to some surprising conclusions.
For example, Sainsbury’s 0% interest Purchase Credit Card – which offers the longest interest-free period in the market – scored just 3 stars.
In some cases, discrepancies in ratings were difficult to explain. No cashback card scored higher than three stars, but Natwest’s cashback-like Rewards Card, which has a fee and offers a far lower rate than the market leader, scored five stars.
Some of these issues derive from Defaqto’s methodology: cards are marked down for high interest rates or fees, despite consumers being able to avoid both expenses by using the card properly.
Brown admitted that an overall rating of credit cards was problematic, given different cards are used in very different ways.
The features that define a good balance transfer card, for instance, are almost completely different from the perks of a good rewards card.
Dreading renewing? How to cut your home insurance costs
Don’t use in isolation
As the credit card debate shows, defining quality can quickly become maddeningly complex.
Yet we depend on Defaqto to avoid terrible products in a world of fake customer reviews, ‘sponsored editorial’ in the media and misleading advertising.
As Brown himself explains, the best way to use Star Ratings is alongside other sources of information.
You can gauge a company’s overall quality of customer service from websites such as Revoo and Trustpilot, providing that company has been reviewed enough times.
Some industries have designations that ensure a level of quality, such as ATOL protection for travel providers, but other designations, such as ‘FCA-authorised’ , should be seen as a bare minimum.
And, of course, price should always play a role: with so many firms out there, you shouldn’t have to pay over the odds to get a product that works.
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Their policies are designed to offer appropriate cover for people with pre-existing health conditions, from asthma to heart disease and cancer.
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Frequently asked questions.
goodtogoinsurance.com offers four different types of policies; single trip, annual, ski and cruise.
goodtoginsurance.com does not cover travel to a country, specific area or event which the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all travel or all but essential travel. For more information, visit the FCO website .
Yes. Their policies are designed to offer appropriate cover for people travelling with all types of pre existing medical conditions, from asthma to heart disease and cancer.
goodtogoinsurance.com does not provide a specific time limit for dealing with travel insurance claims, however, if your claim has been approved for settlement, you can expect to receive payment within 10 working days.
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Read this guide for information on Good To Go travel insurance and the levels of cover available or Click the Quote Now button when you’re ready to start a quote.
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Page contents
Good to go cover overview, silver cover , classic cover , defaqto 5 star rated platinum cover, optional add-ons, what do customer reviews say, 5 star rating for policies provided by allclear.
Good To Go cover specialises in providing travel insurance to holidaymakers with pre-existing medical conditions.
The insurer offers cover for a wide range of medical conditions including, heart conditions , cancer , diabetes and stroke and provides UK-based 24-hour emergency medical support .
There are also no upper age limits on single or multi-trip policies and cruise cover is included on all policies as standard.
Single-trip (up to 94 days) and multi-trip policies (unlimited trips up to 31 days at a time) are available across 3 levels of cover – Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Since 2010 goodtogoinsurance.com has insured over 360,000 travellers who may have had difficulty finding cover from a standard travel insurer due to their medical history or age.
Silver is the most economical travel insurance policy offered by Good To Go. It provides cover under for medical treatment and repatriation, lost medication and mobility aids only.
This may the most appropriate policy for holidaymaker who want to be assured that medical expenses are covered if they fall ill while travelling, but are not worried about having cover for cancellation or possessions.
Benefits include
- Emergency medical treatment -up to £10m
- Confined to a public hospital – £25 per day up to £1,000
- Lost medication – up to £300
- Mobility aids, lost damaged or delayed – up to £2,500
- Worldwide cover available
- Annual and single-trip policies available
Gold cover provides the same level of medical cover as Silver policies as well as insurance for cancellation and curtailment , personal possessions, travel delays and much more.
- Cancellation – up to £2,000
- Curtailment – up to £2,000
- Abandonment as a result of delays – up to £2,000
- Missed departure – up to £500
- Delayed departure (12 hours or more) – up to £100
- Cancellation after a delay of over 24 hours – up to £2,000
- Death or injury following an accident – up to £15,000
- Emergency medical treatment – up to £10m
- Lost medication – up to £300
- Possessions lost, stolen or damaged – up to £2,000
- Lost or stolen cash – up to £200
- Mobility aids, lost damaged or delayed – up to £2,500
- Lost or stolen passport – up to £300
- Held legally liable for injury or damage – up to £2m
- Legal advice – up to £25,000
- Additional travel or accommodation as a result of a catastrophe while travelling – up to £1,000
A Classic policy provides the same cover as a Gold policy with increased insurance for cancellation, curtailment and abandonment as a result of travel delays.
- Cancellation – up to £5,000
- Curtailment – up to £5,000
- Abandonment as a result of delays – up to £5,000
- Possessions lost, stolen or damaged – up to £2,000
Platinum provide is highest level of travel insurance provided by Good To Go cover. It gives the same level of cover for medical expenses, cancellation and curtailment as the insurer’s Classic policy, with increased insurance for personal possessions and no excess pay in the event of a claim.
- Cancellation after a delay of over 24 hours – up to £5,000
- Possessions lost, stolen or damaged – up to £3,000
Both annual and single-trip policies available
Ski insurance
Good To Go policies can cover ski trips for people up to the age of 75 on both single-trip and annual (up to 24 days skiing per year) policies.
Cover includes:
- Medical expenses – up to £10m including mountain recovery (air ambulance if necessary)
- Ski equipment – up to £500
- Ski hire – up to £250
- Piste closure – up to £250
Sport and hazardous pursuits extension
Hazardous and sporting activities are split into the three categories. The first (A) is included as standard however an additional premium is required for categories B and C. Holidaymakers can check which category their planned activities fall under and buy the appropriate policy add-on.
For golfers, goodtoginsurance.com offers an additional level of cover which includes:
- Loss of golf equipment – up to £1,500 (£50 excess and single article limit of £300)
- Golf equipment hire – up to £375 (£50 excess)
- Loss of green fees – up to £500
- Hole in one – up to £100
Goodtogoinsurance.com offers cover up to £1000 for the value or cost of repair of gadgets (maximum £500 per gadget and £50 for CDs, games, tapes, cassettes or cartridges), which are lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed while travelling.
Unauthorised calls from stolen mobile phones are also covered up to £75.
The following gadgets can be covered:
Mobile phones, iPad and tablet computers, e-readers, sat nav, iPod and MP3 players, cassette players/CD players, computer games machines and any equipment used with them such as CDs, games, tapes, cassettes or cartridges.
Proof of ownerships will be required; reasonable care must be taken and gadgets must not be left unattended in a public place.
Extended travel delay
Goodtogoinsurance.com offers policy holders the ability to increase the Travel Delay Section of their cover to provide £200 for each 12-hour delay, up to a maximum of £1,000.
Missed connection extension
The policy provides cover up to £500 for additional transportation and/or accommodation expenses incurred to enable travellers to join their connecting aircraft, watercraft, train or motor vehicle to get to their pre-booked final destination.
Natural catastrophe extension
Goodtogoinsurance.com can provide additional cover for cancellation and additional expenses as a result of a catastrophic natural events such as: fire, flood, earthquake, storm, lightening, explosion, hurricane, volcanic eruption or infectious disease.
The add-on includes:
- Cover for any part of an outward, onward or return journey or whole trip which is cancelled due to a natural catastrophe up to £1,500 per person
- Cover for additional expenses that enable y travellers to return home up to £150 per day (£1,500 in total) per person
The catastrophe must be unknown and unforeseen at the time the insurance was purchased the or the policy holder booked their holiday, whichever is the latter.
Terrorism cover
All policies from goodtogoinsurance.com include cover for emergency medical expenses and repatriation as a result of a terrorist act. The insurers have partnered with Safe Journey Terrorism Travel Insurance to offer additional cover in the event of an act of terrorism.
Should holidaymakers not wish to travel, or have to curtail their trip due to terrorism, the add-on provides cover for a portion of prepaid, irrecoverable transport, accommodation, foreign car hire costs and prepaid excursions up to a maximum of £2,000 with an excursion limited to £250.
For cancellations, the terrorist event must have occurred within 42 days of the date on which a holidaymaker is due to start their trip and for both cancellation and curtailment claims, pre-booked holiday accommodation must be within 40 miles of the act.
Virtual UK Doctor Access
Goodtogoinsurance.com can provide unlimited access to a private UK General Practitioner (GP) helpline, allowing holidaymakers to speak with a doctor at a time and place that suits them while travelling.
Good To Go provides three levels of cover with its Platinum product receiving a 5-star rating from Defaqto for the quality of its features and benefits and cruise cover is included as standard on all levels of cover.
There is no age limit on policies and the insurer can cover range of medical conditions including more serious and even terminal diagnoses in some circumstances. This makes it an excellent choice for people with pre-existing medical conditions looking for travel insurance.
A comprehensive range of policy add-ons (including golf, terrorism & natural catastrophe, gadgets) and cover extensions are available, all offering good levels of additional cover.
Good To Go cover has an excellent reputation among its customers for the quality of its service.
Simple 3 step quote process
1. call us or click a quote button on our site, 2. complete our simple medical screening process, 3. get your quotes.
Written by: Russell Wallace | Travel Insurance Expert Last Updated: 6 August 2024
† Based on Trustpilot reviews of all companies in the Travel Insurance Company category that have over 70,000 reviews as of January 2024. AllClear Gold Plus achieved a Which? Best Buy.
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Defaqto star ratings for our travel insurance
We’re chuffed to say that Defaqto have given a 5 Star Rating to some of our travel insurance policies. But why is that even important? And what is Defaqto?
Well, there are many travel insurance products and providers in the market. Knowing which one to choose can be bewildering, as quality and service can vary considerably from company to company. Whilst there are some sites that allow you to compare prices, there are very few that make comparisons on quality – which is an important consideration when deciding which product to buy.
Defaqto lets you find out more about the quality of a financial product, such as insurance. They’re an independent organisation, unaffiliated with any financial company – and their services help you to decide when purchasing financial products online. They have been rating financial companies since 2000 (rather them than us), and they now cover over 60 different financial services.
First, here are the star ratings for our policies
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Our mid-level insurance range. Up to £5,000 for cancellation, £2,000 for baggage and £10 million for medical expenses.
Visit Defaqto to check the Defaqto Star Rating for this policy.
For the price-conscious. Up to £1,000 for cancellation, £1,000 for baggage and £5 million for medical expenses.
How Defaqto works
Defaqto use a Star Rating system – which indicates the level of features and benefits on offer to you. Policies with just one or two stars are unlikely to offer the range of benefits that a 5 Star rated policy can provide, and a 5 Star Rating indicates that the policy in question is one of the best products in the market.
The system is deliberately simple, enabling you to view results at a glance; and the unbiased rating is designed to help you to make wiser choices when purchasing financial products online.
How are the stars awarded?
Star Ratings are generated using a scoring system, which Defaqto calls “DNA” – or data numerical analysis. It’s an in-depth form of assessment, which reviews between 40 to 100 features and benefits for each policy – with each one generating a score from one to five.
Once the individual scores are ascertained, they’re added up, which produces an overall score. It’s this score that decides what Star Rating the policy in question will be awarded. Additionally, scores are constantly reviewed and updated, ensuring that results remain as relevant as possible for the consumer.
What are the criteria?
Defaqto don’t disclose their criteria (just think of it as their secret recipe) but they’re based on “which features are likely to be important” in helping you make a decision. Every member of the Defaqto team has extensive experience in the financial services sector, which provides them with the necessary knowledge to determine suitable ratings.
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Independent ratings
Defaqto emphasise that they operate completely impartially, with no bias to any particular product or company. They aren’t affiliated with any financial companies or related third parties, and their ratings are completely independent.
This ensures that their star rating system can be trusted when you’re making a decision about what financial product to choose.
Why does it matter?
Having impartial guidance when buying insurance is important. Generally speaking, when you buy insurance, you’re investing in a policy for up to 12 months, which is a long-standing commitment – and it’s a decision you want to get right.
It’s easy to find the cheapest priced product, but harder to establish which product is best for your needs. Whilst price is inevitably a factor when deciding – it certainly shouldn’t be the only consideration!
The unbiased Defaqto Star Rating enables you to easily identify which products are superior in the market. When buying a policy with a high Defaqto Star Rating, you know you’re buying a high-quality product.
Just remember that all Defaqto 5 Star Ratings are an assessment of the product as a whole. This includes all optional “add-on” benefits. If you choose to buy a more basic version of the product in question, this would offer different benefits.
Is a low star rating a bad thing?
The ratings don’t consider value for money, so if you’re price conscious and only want to buy a barebones budget policy then you’re going to get less cover and fewer features; this kind of policy will have a lower star rating, and there’s nothing inherently bad with that. However, if you’re buying a premium product at a higher cost than others, but this product has a low rating then there’s clearly something wrong.
InsureandGo’s star rating
We’re proud to say we have 5 Star Ratings from Defaqto for some of our policies. These ratings establish us firmly as a provider of high-quality, reliable travel insurance services – a reputation we work hard to keep.
All our travel insurance policies have been carefully designed to offer maximum benefit to you, and are continually reviewed, to ensure we continue to offer the best products possible.
*Discount excludes any premium generated to cover medical conditions or optional extras & is automatically applied. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Discount tiers of 5% for premiums between £0-49, 10% for £50-249, & 20% for £250+ apply. Offer ends at 23:59 on 02/09/24. T&Cs apply.
- Unlimited emergency medical expenses available on Black level policies.
- InsureandGo’s Gold achieved a Which? Best Buy.
- Get a policy in as little as five minutes - online or by phone
- Cover for existing medical conditions
- 24/7 access to emergency medical care and GP advice
- Friendly UK customer service
- Fast and easy online claims
- Over 50 years of insurance expertise
It's official: our Gold policy is among the highest quality offerings on the market
When you are paying for insurance, it goes without saying that you want a policy that you can count on to keep you and your finances protected from the unexpected. That's why we are delighted to tell you that our Gold level of cover has received the maximum 5 Star rating from Defaqto. That means it's officially one of the most comprehensive travel insurance policies on the market. Explore the world with more peace of mind.
What is a Defaqto rating? (And why does it matter?)
There's a lot of insurance products out there - and comparing them isn't always straightforward. That's where Defaqto comes in. They are an independent analyst that rates insurance products from 1 to 5 based on their quality and breadth of cover. The aim is to make it easier for consumers like you to make smarter choices on insurance policies - and find the cover that's right for you.
When it comes to doing their homework, Defaqto doesn't cut corners. Each year their 60 analysts gather in-depth information on over 43,000 UK financial products. In the case of insurance, Defaqto carefully scrutinises the protection that a policy provides and compares it against the rest of the market. Then every policy is given a Star Rating, which gives you an easy way of identifying how comprehensive a certain policy is. So you can have confidence in your purchasing decisions.
You can find out more at www.defaqto.com .
Suggested companies
Admiral insurance, hastings direct.
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Defaqto Reviews
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Defacto is related to my £3500 cost for…
Defacto is related to my £3500 cost for repairs due to a breakdown in my Ford which took the Breakdown company CoverMydotcodotuk 4 hours to get to when car was backing a major highway causing 6 mile tailbacks for 4 hours. 7Hour experience with 10 hours to get home. All breakdown companies are worthless.. Defacto is also at fault.
Date of experience : 20 January 2024
Paid for ratings?
I didn't ask for the 'Defaqto' ratings when comparing car insurance or breakdown cover but they always seem to be there like some qualified endorsement of a provider. The 'sales@...' email address on their website might have been a clue. Their high rating of Rescumycar.com was far from my own experience - nothing more than decoration, as it turns out.
Date of experience : 27 October 2023
Very poor service with O2
Very poor service with O2. I phoned up to look at an upgrade and someone promised to call me back at 2pm. No call. I also needed to change my name to my married name, took 2 phone calls and passed to 6 people, still not sorted or received the link to upload my documents. Looking at moving networks now, shocking service
Date of experience : 21 February 2024
MISLEADING INDEED
MISLEADING? IN NO WAY DOES IT SAY IT MEASURES THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE BUSINESS. The defaqto star rating only measures the promised content of whoevers policy you are reading about. BUYER BEWARE!
Date of experience : 28 November 2023
Don’t trust defacto, do your research
Admiral given defacto 5 star. Thought I could rely on this. Cracked windscreen not covered which is hardly class as excellent overall cover. Defacto won’t state what makes up different levels of cover meaning it’s a general assessment and you still need to check in detail.
Date of experience : 14 December 2022
Do not trust Defaqto as a mark of quality for insurance companies
Please do not accept this companys ratings as assurance an insurance company is good, they are clearly not reliable. I am with Esure and Defaqto give them a 5 star rating even though on all other sites they have a low rating and hundreds of disgruntled customers. We have tried to sort out a non fault claim with Esure since March and we are regularly on the phone for two hours and then they just cut it off. If you look on their social media this happens with most people and there are countless problems which are clearly genuine complaints. There is no way this company is excellent and Defaqto has given it 5 stars
Date of experience : 20 August 2023
I have recently had dealings with two…
I have recently had dealings with two large companies who had high Defaqto ratings and I was totally amazed by their exceptionally poor service. So much so that I wouldn’t trust this rating system at all. Both companies have admitted that their service was not up to standard and offered us apologies and compensation. The companies were Flow Insurance and Purely Pets.
Date of experience : 21 June 2023
Do not base purchases on Defaqto alone
I choose insurance taking these ratings in to consideration as how good a product is but if the company behind the product is useless then you suffer. As with the post from Claire I bought Homeprotect( Avanti) house insurance who appointed Graham High group as loss adjusters. They screw every penny out of you and don't sort things properly. Avoid if possible
Date of experience : 22 June 2021
Defaqto, Mini & BMW are are a joke!
Defaqto rate Mapfre who provide Cosmetic Insurance cover for MINI and BMW as good but they are an absolute joke. They ignore all emails, they do not answer the phone and as you’ve paid upfront they are just hoping you give up with the claim. Complained to MINI and BMW who sold the insurance and they say it’s nothing to do with them - REALLY????
Date of experience : 13 October 2020
Defaqto meaningless rating. Currently my wife trying to resolve a…
Currently my wife trying to resolve a no fault claim. Our insurers LV 5 star defaqto rated, reality, they palm out all claims to a third party claim handler. This experience is one of the worst experiences in over 40 years of driving, still ongoing and not even my wife’s fault (she was T boned) Defaqto meaningless, LV not worth one star. Starting to understand why over 2 million drivers are uninsured, the premiums are a waste of money, I pay LV for a service and have an incompetent third party giving me the runaround. If you reply do not ask me to phone you, I am not going to sit listening to musak for 30 minutes waiting to be fobbed off!
Date of experience : 15 September 2022
Defaqto does not rate on company's ethics!
Defaqto rating system is very limited. They do not rate ... Regulatory - Ethical - Legal aspects when assessing a company. They do not research the company to ensure that it is adhering to FCA guidelines, or consider how the company treats its customers. They rate only on policy features! A company can also BUY a 5 star rating! When i pointed out the problem for consumers when choosing a company based on the features of a policy alone (Vitality health insurance) i was informed by Tom Whelan; "we are not planning to expand our product reviews." Defaqto needs to update and revise its archaic rating system...and stop selling 5 star ratings!
Date of experience : 21 July 2020
This is the biggest con ever
This is the biggest con ever ! Do not take any notice of these ratings. I have been selecting insurance providers on these ratings and often paying more due to the higher rating. I selected Home Protect (avoid like the plaque/COVID) for buildings insurance on a second home. I experienced a burst pipe in October and it is now January and I am still nowhere near having it sorted. I don't even know the process/status and they keep getting things wrong (like not assessing the correct room). I called DEFAQTO as I wanted to feedback on this experience only to find out it is nothing to do with customer - they have criteria and look at what the companies offer/do nothing to do with how they actually execute it.
Date of experience : 05 January 2021
Their rating’s are worthless!
Over the years I’ve trusted the experience and opinions of others, including slick looking reviewers like Defaqto. On more than one occasion I’ve had very poor experiences with companies rated highly by them. On one such occasion I contacted them to share my experience and was told that their criteria for judging things are not, I think, what a normal person values. So, be careful and don’t place much trust in their ratings!
Date of experience : 18 April 2023
Beware - not a consumer rating
Beware, this isnt a consumer rating, most consumer dont get to contribute to the score. It's nothing like TrustPilot where consumers contribute to the rating. I have asked several time for a link to add my feedback but have never been given one.
Date of experience : 20 February 2023
Reply from Defaqto
Thank you for posting this review. Our Star Ratings provide an at-a-glance expert assessment of the quality and comprehensiveness of financial products and policies. We rate the product or policy, not the provider. We consider several factors, including product changes and market developments, examine any compliance or regulatory impact and hold open discussions with the industry. We then use our research to select the most important criteria to assess, score and give a financial product or proposition a Star Rating of 1 to 5, depending on the features it offers. As we rate the product and not the provider, we do not consider customer service or satisfaction in our scoring criteria.
What's the point of defaqto
What's the point of defaqto? The car insurance comparison tools give you their rating but then to expand on the reasons why that rating the defaqto website doesn't show any information about it! Useless
Date of experience : 28 August 2023
They don’t deserve even a 1 star rating…
Defaqto.com don’t deserve even a 1 star rating however it is required to make a review. The reason for this is that, Defaqto is backing GoGirl insurance company to support their scam tactics! They need to look into all these negative feedback from angry customers and understand their frustration with GoGirl insurance! GoGirl is a scam and a fraudulent company operating online only to lure people into buying insurance policies by using big companies as a back up to cover their scam side! Customers be warned don’t be fooled with the star rating from this particular company! Do your research and cover your backs prior to buying any insurance policy. Do not trust star ratings from this company at all!!
Date of experience : 13 June 2021
What is Defacto?
What is Defacto? What it is not is a rating on price or service. There are plenty of websites that say what it is not but no one is saying what it is. So question what to do measure? they measure "core" something. They update on 1st Feb every year. They do everything EXCEPT tell you what they actually measure . What an absolute con. This is just in industry marketing.
Date of experience : 25 April 2023
Poor ratings system
I recently was looking for pet insurance through various comparison sites and found one company that had a 5 star Defaqto review which I thought was good, however when I got a quotation I found it to be more than double that of any other company. I contacted Defaqto and they said they did not base their rating on cost at all, only service. I would therefore not trust ratings from Defaqto as their ratings seem to be somewhat poor as they don't look at a very important feature cost!
Date of experience : 09 September 2019
First Central insurance limited took…
First Central insurance limited took out money from my account without my consent and carried on a policy which was never renewed with them. I noticed their debits and got back in contact with them. They never refunded me my payments which have been taken out of my account and charged me £100 for cancellation fee for me to be able to cancel the policy despite the car insured by another insurer. First Central is one of the worse companies which I have to deal with. They are dishonest, very uncooperative and have a terrible portal which does not even let you log into the account. I will never recommend them to anyone. DISHONEST AND LEAST COOPERATIVE CAR INSURANCE COMPANY!!
Date of experience : 13 June 2022
is this simply a stitch up
you know you see Defaqto 5* and think "oh that should be good" well think again here is a little story. Aviva insured our vehicles 4/5 for last 12 years and proudly charged us healthy sums but then ofc we have Defaqto 5* rated cover. My wife had a no fault collision on the motorway and escaped within a whisker of death with a lot of luck, divine intervention and character. this was 10 days ago. We do not yet know if car is a write off [hit by 40 foot arctic and push along the carriageway] here is the rub NO ONE IS TALKING TO US FROM AVIVA and there is a massive conflict of interest because they insured the driver who is at fault. We have legal cover but only if we use their appointed solicitors who will be the same for the guilty party. My wife now has no car to continue doing her job as a key worker during this pandemic Aviva know this but do not do anything they have called once and that was to ask me to get my wife out of bed to speak to them about giving me authority to discuss the claim [yes i am on the policy as a named driver] DEFAQTO YOU NEED TO REDUCE THE AVIVA STARS AND GET REAL THIS CAR INSURANCE BUSINESS IS BECOMING LEGALISED THEFT
Date of experience : 04 November 2020
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9 things you need to know about travel insurance
Don't just look at the price - make sure the policy covers everything you need.
Not getting travel insurance at all, or getting the wrong travel insurance, can be incredibly costly if something goes wrong with your holiday, but too many people don't bother and risk facing huge bills and disruption.
Is it worth the risk?
According to data from Forbes Travel , more than a fifth of holidaymakers never take out any travel insurance, which could leave them with medical expenses to pay and the cost of replacing luggage or rebooking flights and hotels if things don't go to plan.
Over the past five years, the most common reasons for travel insurance claims among Brits have been trip cancellation and lost belongings, which have accounted for 35% and 31% of claims respectively, while 27% of claims were related to emergency medical treatment for sickness or injury, and 25% were the result of flight delays.
It isn't just cancellations and medical emergencies which are covered by travel insurance, though. Other reasons for travel insurance claims since 2018 included trip interruption or curtailment, which represented 20% of claims, stolen belongings (18%) emergency evacuation (13%) and claims resulting from natural disasters (13%). And if your journey is impacted by poor weather or disruption which is the fault of the travel operator, travel insurance can help cover the costs for any cancellations or delays.
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Don't forget that if you are heading abroad to hit the ski slopes, you will need travel insurance which covers winter sports. And, in these turbulent times, if you plan to travel to somewhere which the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is advising not to travel to, then your travel insurance could be invalid.
Here are nine things to consider when buying insurance cover for your holiday break.
Why buy travel insurance?
Travel insurance provides financial protection against the unexpected happening – things like missed or cancelled flights, medical issues, hotel problems and thefts (such as replacement passports) while travelling.
If an accident happens and you're uninsured, you'll have to cover the costs yourself, which can be eye-wateringly expensive. It's just as crucial to make sure you have the correct insurance as well, as a couple from West Sussex recently found. They had to cover the entire £100,000 cost of medical treatment when their daughter fell ill on holiday, as they were found to have filled out the insurance form incorrectly.
The average insurance claim in 2022 was the highest on record – £973, up 33% on the previous year to the highest since the Association of British Insurer s (ABI) started collecting data in 2004. The average emergency medical treatment claim was £1,750, another record high, with the most extreme case being a traveller suffered a serious blood infection in Thailand while on holiday and needed intensive treatment plus an air ambulance back to the UK, at a cost of £250,000. Thankfully the costs were met by their insurers, but it could have been a costly trip otherwise.
What if the airline goes bust? This depends if your booking has ATOL protection or not. If it does, you are guaranteed a refund and, if necessary, an alternative flight home. But not all companies offer ATOL protection and only some travel insurance policies do. So make sure yours does before you buy.
According to Defaqto , should the airline you are travelling with go bust, 40% of policies on the market provide no cover for this and a further 17% offer less than £1,000 of protection, which may not be enough to buy you a replacement flights at short notice.
Buy travel insurance when you book, not when you travel
It is important to take out insurance as soon as you book your trip, so you are covered immediately for unforeseen events that could impact your trip.
"Some people leave taking out insurance until the last minute, meaning that risks such as an advance resort closure or cancelled flights could go uninsured," says Anna McEntee, insurance expert at Compare the Market .
While there are protections that come with credit and debit cards , travel insurance covers you for cancelled flights, accommodation and other pre-booked essentials.
Most, but not all policies include cover for cancellation, no matter what the reason is. Of those that do, one in five (18%) offer less than £1,000, according to Defaqto , which may not be enough to cover the costs you have paid for your holiday or to take another one at a later date. Make sure you check what your policy offers, as cancellation is the second biggest reason for claiming on a travel insurance policy.
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Remember, the chances of you falling ill or having to cancel your trip are statistically higher the older you are — in which case it's especially important to buy insurance as soon as you book your holiday.
Package holiday? Don't forget that if you can book your holiday as a package, either via a tour operator or travel agent, you will have additional consumer protection, including the right to a replacement holiday or refund if your holiday is significantly altered by a change in the situation at your destination. For more information on package holiday regulations, visit ABTA .
Am I covered for strike action?
With strike action a regular feature in today's world, check that your policy covers delay and missed departure. One in twenty policies offer no cover if you miss your departure and a further 12% offer less than £500, according to research.
In some circumstances, you may be forced to abandon your holiday due to delay. For example, if you were flying to join a cruise or a safari, and they have had to leave without you, you may not be able to join the trip on a later flight. In these cases, check that you are covered under ‘travel abandonment’. Some policies offer £1,000 or less, which may not be enough to cover the cost of re-booking.
Find the best value travel insurance
It could be cheaper to get family or couples insurance than individual. You just need to live at the same address for it to apply.
Watch out if you're thinking of buying travel insurance as a group. The cost of group travel insurance may be based on the age of the oldest traveller or the person deemed to be the highest risk, and insurers hike up premiums accordingly. A good idea would be to get a separate policy for the higher-risk person, although keep in mind that if that person falls ill, the rest of the group won’t be covered for the cost of extending their stay while their friend receives treatment.
Don't double up on baggage cover and gadget cover – check whether you have worldwide possessions cover in your home insurance.
If you are planning to make more than one trip in the next 12 months, it may be cheaper to get a multi-trip policy. Check too, whether you are already covered for this under any packaged bank account you already have.
Do your research at comparison sites such at Moneysupermarket or Comparethemarket before buying travel insurance offered by your travel agent, as it’s unlikely to be the best policy for you, and you could find a cheaper deal online to suit your needs.
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Think before increasing excess to keep the price down
It's quite common with insurance to increase the excess to keep down the cost of premiums – especially for car insurance . But think carefully before you do this with travel insurance, as it may be a false economy.
Cover such as cancellation, medical, baggage and money are usually in different ‘sections’ of a policy. If you make a claim, travel insurers usually charge one excess for each section of the policy being claimed under. For instance, if you fell over and injured yourself, then when you arrived at hospital you discovered your handbag and purse were missing, you would claim for personal injury, lost baggage, and lost money. Insurers would charge one excess for each of those three parts of the claim.
Always declare medical conditions on insurance
“It’s important you declare any pre-existing medical conditions to ensure you are covered should you need treatment or need to travel home unexpectedly,’’ says Anna. If you don’t, this could invalidate the policy – and leave you with a steep medical bill if you need to claim. If in doubt, mention it!
Companies are required to signpost those with pre-existing medical conditions to a suitable directory of specialist providers, under financial rules.
Make sure you get all your details correct
While travel insurance can be a life-saver if everything goes smoothly, insurance companies are going to investigate every situation before they agree to pay out, which means that skimming over some of the details when you fill out the application could result in a claim being turned down . Make sure you give complete and honest answers to all parts of your insurance application, including when your holiday started, where it started from and how long you are travelling for.
While on holiday, you also have to make sure you are not invalidating your cover, for example by drug-taking or excessive drinking or leaving valuables unattended. If you are going to take part in extreme sports or activities such as rock-climbing or bungee jumping, then make sure your insurance covers this.
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Don't forget your GHIC
A Global Health Insurance Card ( GHIC ), or a still-valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), gives you access to basic healthcare when visiting the EU. If you have the old EHIC card, you can carry on using it until it expires, at which point you will need to apply for a GHIC . These are also valid for five years.
Both cards entitle you to receive the same healthcare in Europe as a local would. However, the GHIC doesn't cover everything – you can only use your card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland . It's not a replacement for travel insurance.
Insurance for older travellers
Use a specialist insurance provider. This is your best bet if you’re over 65 (and especially if you're over 80) or if you have a pre-existing medical condition. All Clear Travel , for example, doesn't have upper age limits for policy holders, while Staysure and World-First offer specialist cover for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions. It's still worth taking a look at comparison websites to find the cheapest deal, and if you’re still being hit with ridiculously pricey quotes, contact the British Insurance Brokers' Association . It can help you find an affordable policy matched to your needs. If you're older and have an ongoing illness, look for insurance that covers the health condition, as insurers will usually view that as more of a risk than your age.
When you compare policies, check that the claim limit is adequate if you become permanently disabled , as this figure tends to be lower as you get older.
If you are renewing with the same policy provider, make sure you have re-declared any pre-existing medical conditions again.
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Our independent ratings are the quick way to understand the quality of your insurance policy. Our experts choose between 30 and 100 features and benefits, against which every policy/product in the market is scored. Then apply a simple rating of 1 to 5, so you can see, at a glance, how they stack up. Our Star Ratings give you the confidence to ...
Defaqto rates the quality of travel insurance using a star system ranging from one to five. This'll help you choose a policy with good features and benefits.
Defaqto ratings are a great way to compare travel insurance policies so you can get the best quality of cover possible.
What is Defaqto? Find out everything you need to know right here - including how to use Defaqto star ratings when comparing travel insurance.
Defaqto Star Ratings give consumers and financial professionals the confidence to choose the right financial products for themselves and their clients, by providing an unbiased assessment of quality they can trust.
Defaqto hasn't published their core criteria, although last year Defaqto defined the terms that financial services providers must use when describing their Star Ratings. Five-star products, for instance, must have 'comprehensive' levels of cover or features. Such a rating, Brown explains, "is a very good level of features and benefits ...
The unbiased Defaqto Star Rating means you can easily identify which products are superior in the market. When buying a policy with a high Defaqto Star Rating, you know you're buying a high-quality product. When comparing travel insurance, the Defaqto Star rating for an insurance provider will be shown on the quote results page, so you can see which providers have the highest rating.
1. #10 of 27 travel insurers. 6318 reviews found on websites such as TrustPilot. Their Cruise Specific Plus and Platinum levels of cover are rated 5 Star by Defaqto. Travel insurance for pre-existing conditions. Cover is available to travellers on a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Cover mental health conditions.
When you buy travel insurance over the phone or online you get 14 days to review the full terms and conditions of the policy. If the travel insurance doesn't meet your needs you can claim a full refund provided you have not travelled or made a claim.
Good To Go provides three levels of cover with its Platinum product receiving a 5-star rating from Defaqto for the quality of its features and benefits and cruise cover is included as standard on all levels of cover.
Defaqto star ratings for our travel insurance We're chuffed to say that Defaqto have given a 5 Star Rating to some of our travel insurance policies. But why is that even important? And what is Defaqto? Well, there are many travel insurance products and providers in the market.
A Defaqto 5-Star home insurance policy might be based on the fact that it includes extra features like lock replacement and legal protection cover, while Defaqto travel insurance could be given a 5-star rating for its extensive cancellation cover or protection against a missed pre-booked flight.
Great news! Our Gold travel insurance policy has received the maximum 5 Star Rating from Defaqto. Find out why that means you can travel in confidence.
What are Defaqto Star Ratings? Defaqto's team of experts select the most important features and benefits for an insurance product, and then use them to score all the products in the market. By totalling the scores, each product is assigned a Star Rating on a scale from 1 to 5.
How do you find the best travel insurance? The best travel insurance can't stop things going wrong on holiday, but it can prevent problems - medical issues, cancellations, delays or losses - from having a huge impact on your finances. Our experts compared more than 40 travel insurance companies ...
Resources. Five pitfalls to avoid when choosing your next travel insurance policy. 94% of annual travel insurance products include cover for cancellation as standard, so take out your insurance as soon as you book your holiday. Check your policy - 65% of annual products do not cover scheduled airline failure and 62% don't cover financial failure.
Do not trust Defaqto as a mark of quality for insurance companies Please do not accept this companys ratings as assurance an insurance company is good, they are clearly not reliable. I am with Esure and Defaqto give them a 5 star rating even though on all other sites they have a low rating and hundreds of disgruntled customers.
Annual multi trip travel insurance cover for travellers with or without pre existing medical conditions. Get a quote in minutes and buy online.
Our Star Ratings give you the confidence to choose the right financial products, thanks to an unbiased, at a glance assessment of quality you can trust.
Things you need to know before buying travel insurance; don't just look at the price, make sure your policy covers everything you need.
Hi All Can anyone recommend a good travel insurance company that doesn't charge extortionate amounts for travel insurance preferably one that you have claimed with before.