Kemwel car insurance quote - I am confused

Buckeyeknitter · Member

Kemwel car insurance quote - I am confused

hammsb · Veteran Member

I find that to be unbelievable. Please respond if that rate holds true. I just confirmed 13 days Dublin - Dublin with the standard insurance and it was $484. If your rate is good, I will ask for a price guarantee.
Thanks!

Shawn · Senior Member

Wow. That is a great rate. I was fortunate to have this happen to me on our trip a couple of years ago. I booked thru irishcarrentals.com at an unbelievable rate that was less than 1/2 of other companies. It seemed too good to be true, but it worked out great.

My advice...double check everything and then BOOK IT before it disappears. They are a reputable company, so I wouldn't expect a problem.

Buckeyeknitter · Member

Try the link that Michele provides elsewhere on this site - even with cdw it was less than $400 I was less than clear on my original post - I am declining all insurances

-- Edited by Buckeyeknitter on Thursday 19th of March 2009 02:16:06 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Pam,

Certain World MasterCards cover CDW in Ireland. Not all. Be careful, check with MasterCard from the number on my Car Rental page. They will be able to tell you if your particular card covers Ireland or not.

Assuming your card does cover Ireland, you will have to decline CDW in order for your Master Rental insurance to work. See the terms on your credit card agreement for complete details. Certain things are not covered like tires, windshields and undercarriage.

Read the fine print. With Kemwel you will have to add on a "location surcharge" and "road fees". Location surcharge is usually around $45-50 per rental. Road fees are about $2.50 per day. If you require an extra driver on the contract that is extra also. Last year Kemwel dropped the additional fee for driving into Northern Ireland. However, if you are going there you need to check in advance. Things do change from year to year.

Depending on the car rental company Kemwel books you with, you may have to pay for a tank of petrol and return the car empty. Other companies will refund that amount if you return the car full. Find out at the rental desk which one applies.

If I am understanding everything correctly:

$168.00
+ 45.00
+ 32.50
------------
$245.50 TOTAL

I am not a whiz with numbers so be sure to add it up yourself. It seems like a good deal but shop around.

Michele

Fotobug · Veteran Member

Certain World MasterCards cover CDW in Ireland. Not all. Be careful, check with MasterCard from the number on my Car Rental page. They will be able to tell you if your particular card covers Ireland or not.

Arg! My experience is that even a call to MC may not clear this up. cry

I called the MC-ASSIST folks about 3 weeks ago and was told that yes, I had Ireland coverage and they would be happy to send me the required letter of confirmation that would take about 2 weeks. Yesterday I called again since I had not received the letter yet and this time I was told that no, I had a platinum card, not a World card. I said "I'm looking at the card in my hand and it says Master Card World." She said that the first four account numbers were correct but the next 2 weren't and that I should call my issuing bank.

The person at the bank 800 number said it was indeed a World Card and that I had Ireland coverage. When I told her about the contradictory information she put me on hold to check with a supervisor who confirmed that yes, I have the "right" kind of card and should have this coverage. She said they would send me the required letter that should arrive in 2 weeks.

I'll post back in 2 weeks and let you know! I'm glad I started this process months ahead of time.

Barb

WCOMALLEY · Veteran Member

I had a very similar experience with Mastercard. First, they gave me the runaround that I needed to call this other phone#, then that number told me to call a third#. Then I was disconnected. When I dialled again, I explained what I wanted and asked to talk to a supervisor; when the "supervisor" arrived he explained I didn't have the correct card--- when I insisted I did and read the numbers again he decided I did. I then requested the letter of proof, which of course he assured me would arrive soon, and of course it never did. I decided not to put a necessary part of my trip in the hands of such callous idiots, and payed for the CDW myself. I then called up Mastercard and cancelled my account with them. I never needed the insurance but I had the peace of mind. WC

Fotobug · Veteran Member

I decided not to put a necessary part of my trip in the hands of such callous idiots, and payed for the CDW myself.

Yep, I hear that. Actually, I have the CDW coverage through our trip insurance as well, but it seemed like information I should have for the future. It will be interesting to see how it plays out - but like you, I wouldn't be able to just "trust them" after this!

Michele Erdvig · Host

It can be frustrating dealing with the MasterCard call center. I always ask for the MasterRental department. The people that first answer the phone have general knowledge but not specialized.

The leaflet you get when you first get your credit card has all the terms spelled out. If they change at all, the cc company is required to send you notice. Most people throw them away. Ask for another to be sent to you.

Another option is http://www.insurance4carhire.com/

The worst part of planning a trip to Ireland is the car rental!!!

Michele

Roy · Guru

I had my World MC company email me the letter. I received it within one day and printed it out.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Roy,

Good idea. Especially if pressed for time.

Michele

Fotobug · Veteran Member

Just following up on this MC saga as I said I would, in case it saves anybody else these headaches. What I received from my issuing bank was just the basic "World Card Guide to Benefits" - again. So, because I am a little masochistic, I called MC-ASSIST one more time (call #4) - this time following advice from Michele I asked to speak with a MasterRental specialist.

This guy saw the problem - apparently my account came up listed as both Platinum and World - and he put me on hold; when he came back he said he had fixed it and would see that I got the letter. Per Roy's advice (you guys are great!) I asked if they could email it and I actually received it this morning.

However, their "Letter of coverage" says basically the same thing as the guide to benefits - that I *may* be eligible for benefits. It DOES say "world wide" and does not add any exclusions. Does anyone know if that's enough?

I have already requested one that specifically says "Ireland" but don't know if I will get it. Shaking my head here... I'm with WC - sure wouldn't want to be relying on this coverage!

Barb

Michele Erdvig · Host

Barb,

The language on the benefits guide says "may" because in certain countries you are not allowed to use MasterRental coverage. Your car rental company must be one that will let you use it. So really, you must find out from the car company if they will accept it. If they do, then when using the proper MasterCard you are covered.

If you prefer, just purchase the extra insurance for peace of mind. You can always get CDW and then purchase a policy through insurrance4carhire.com It might cost less that way.

Michele

Fotobug · Veteran Member

Michele Erdvig wrote:
So really, you must find out from the car company if they will accept it. If they do, then when using the proper MasterCard you are covered.

---------------------------
Michele,
The car company said they accept it *if* we have a letter from the credit card issuer stating that we are covered in Ireland. Which is what I was trying to get from them! I never did get that specific statement - "may" be covered and "worldwide" was as close as I got in the 2 different letters I received. It all began to sound like a Catch 22 - MC covers it if the car rental does and the car rental will if MC will.
However, I do have the CDW coverage through our trip insurance package anyway. I was just pushing out of curiosity to see how tedious it really was to get a straight answer from MC. My conclusion: very tedious!
5 weeks and counting!

-- Edited by Fotobug on Friday 3rd of April 2009 06:13:54 PM

Michele Erdvig · Host

Barb,

They all say you need a letter. In over 36 years of travel to Ireland not one car company as actually asked me for that letter. They never even want to see the Benefits Guide. If they are in doubt they will call MasterCard in Ireland, tell them your card number and get an answer from them. It is usually pretty quick unless you get some extra dumb employees who you must educate yourself.

Michele

Fotobug · Veteran Member

That's pretty funny, Michele! They make it sound like such a big deal then don't even ask for it. Ah well, we live and learn, right? I hope that all of our lessons are the kind where we don't really need something we brought rather than vice versa!

I have run into some of those "we have to do their jobs for them" employees, but car rental is messy enough already - sure hope we don't have to do it there!

Thanks bunches -

Barb

Michele Erdvig · Host

Barb,

You have a good attitude. Those car companies try to mess with your head. I find renting in Shannon far superior to Dublin. The employees in Dublin have "attitude"...and little else.

Michele