How Hard Can It Be To Tell Us Where You Live?

by Steve Dasseos on October 15, 2010

Here’s another one of my “vent my spleen” blog posts. The last one I did was on May 16, 2010 (too long ago) called “The Skinny on the Iceland Volcano and Travel Insurance“.

Thankfully, nearly everyone we work with is honest, but there are the occasional people who are evasive with their answers. I understand that some personal details are sensitive, particularly the ones that have to do with serious medical conditions of you or a family member.

What I am talking about about the people who are trying to get a trip cancellation travel insurance plan or a rental car insurance plan by hook or by crook.

For example, all our plans require the people who are buying a plan to have physically lived in the USA or Canada for the past 6 months.

“We are French residents and American citizens”

I got this answer when I asked, “Where do you live?” Here’s my conversation with Bill:

Bill: I need to buy a rental car insurance plan for my 25 day long trip.
Steve: Where do you live?
Bill: We are French residents and American citizens
Steve: Ok, but where do you live?
Bill: We’re American citizens
Steve: I mean, where are you physically living right now as I am talking to you?
Bill: We have property in Los Angeles and US Driver Licenses
Steve: Is it dark where you are?
Bill: It’s evening
Steve: So, do you tend to have a late suppers in France?
Bill: Yes, later than in the US
Steve: If you have physically lived outside the USA or Canada for all or part of the past 6 months, you cannot get any of our plans.
Bill: I called one of your competitors and they said I could buy a plan from them. However, you seem more trustworthy and I’d really like to give you my business.
Steve: Thank you. But I cannot ethically sell you a rental car insurance plan since you don’t qualify for it. You’re just wasting your money if you buy it because any claim will be denied.

And here’s the part that always happens:

Bill: Thank you for your honesty, Steve. I like you and I promise you that my family and everyone I know will always buy all your travel insurance plans from us if you let me buy the rental car insurance plan that I am prepared to spend $228 on today.

Needless to say, that “promise” didn’t result in a sale, either.

If you are reading this and I’m talking about you, don’t beg me to sell you a plan that will cover you because you are promising me that “you & everyone you know will always buy all your travel insurance plans from us”. If I had a dollar for every time …

I hope this makes sense. If you want the right travel insurance advice, call us at 1-888-407-3854 and we'll help you figure it all out.

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