Travel Decision Reference 2023-0274

• Case Outcome: Rejected
• Year: 2023
• Date: 07 December 2023
• Reference: 2023-0274
• Subject Matter: Travel
• Finantial Sector: Insurance
• Conducts Complained Of: Rejection of claim - cancellation

Decision Ref:

2023-0274

Sector:

Insurance

Product / Service:

Travel

Conduct(s) complained of:

Rejection of claim - cancellation

Outcome:

Rejected

LEGALLY BINDING DECISION OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND PENSIONS OMBUDSMAN

This complaint concerns the repudiation of a claim for holiday cancellation, made under

the Complainant’s travel insurance policy.

The Complainant’s Case

The Complainant states that a holiday to Greece was booked in January 2020, with an

intended departure date of 11 September 2020. The Complainant further submits that the

holiday was cancelled as a result of the Irish Government advising against all non-essential

travel.

The Complainant accepts that, at the time, Greece remained on the Government’s Green

List of countries but he says that “the Irish Government had not updated the list for weeks.

To qualify to be on the Green List cases had to be 50 or less. On the 11/09/2020 the day we

were due to travel the Greek figures were over 100.”

The Complainant submits that the Irish Government “knew” that the incidence rate in

Greece exceeded the threshold, and that Greece was to be “removed from the Green List”.

He further submits that the Government was advising against “all non-essential travel”.