MasterCard NOT covering insurance

Michele Erdvig · Host

RE: MasterCard NOT covering insurance

55spencer · Member

Can you tell me how you did an on-line chat with an agent? And, also, how you found a package for $35? Can you tell me what package it was? I haven't found anything that inexpensive and, when I contacted the site via email, they directed me to the quote page....Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Michele Erdvig · Host

55spencer,

I had a look at the website and it has an 800 number to call. I didn't see a button to click for an online chat. Perhaps the low price was just for the car coverage? Call them to see what is best for your trip.

Michele

JW2 · Member

On my voucher from kemwel it says "CDW from any source other thean Kemwel, our supplier locally or Mastercard Credit card (with written proof of coverage) is not accepted." So the travel insurance might not help too much either.

wojazz3 · Guru

I spoke with the woman who works for irishcarrentals.com. She is out of Colorado Springs. Here understanding is that all MC coverage is going away on Sept 1 though in some cases it may be grandfathered if you made the rental before the notice came out. She also said that Diners Club was purchased by MC and she doesn't belive that they will be covering Ireland anymore. She stated that there were rumores that Visa might pick it up, but she was unsure on that.

Insurance coverage costs are expensive in Ireland and they may all be bowing to that pressure. The cost of reducing insurance to 0 deductible is not a trivial amount and can more than doubble the rental cost depending on the type of vehicle you insure. You can look at it as a percentage, but E400 is still a lot of money.

Bill

wojazz3 · Guru

The woman at irish car rentals also suggested that World MC may continue to cover in Ireland. I just talked to a fellow on Fodors that checked into it and it appears they do. There's the next step. He found a no annual fee card.

Bill

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bill,

Just as I suspected, some cards will cover it and others won't. It is very confusing to everyone at the moment.

JW2,

I suggest you phone Kemwel and speak to them. Sometimes talking with a real person can straighten things out.

Michele

maureencol · Member

To do the online chat with the trip insurer, I just went on the insuremytrip.com website, found a policy that said it covered the CDW and clicked on that site. Then click on Products on the left. Then under Package Policies, click on compare. They have three or four that have Collision Damage Waiver coverage. I clicked on Quote under TravelEx and then when that page came up, there's a box up in the right top corner that says "Questions? Click here to chat with us live."

Good Luck

baxtemp · Member

I rec'd an e-mail 2 days ago from Irishcarrentals stating that indeed as of 9/1, the MC CDW is not covered. There is no grandfather clause, even though I booked this rental in April.The date the contract is signed is the binding date...& we won't arrive until 9/4This is the rates from irishcarrental from my e-mail:
".We can change your rate to an inclusive rate (CDW and Theft Protection) for an
additional 7 Euro per day if you choose it before you pick up the vehicle.
CDW on the day of pick up is Euro 9.95 + Vat @13.5%. Theft on the day of pick up
is Euro 7.50 + Vat @13.5%."

So, I'm thinking that arranging the above coverage now is probably the best I can do at this late date.
Maureen

Michele Erdvig · Host

Maureen,

Check to see what the deductible is with this rate. It may be anything from 500 euro and up. Check to see what it covers. Are tires windshields and everything covered? If there is a hefty deductible, ask them how much Super CDW is. Then ask for the same details for that.

Michele

Michele Erdvig · Host

Hi Everyone,

I am just off the phone with the credit card companies.

MasterCard: Starting in September they will no longer cover CDW insurance in Ireland on personal cards. If you have a business card the MasterRental Insurance plan is still in effect and you will be covered up to 31 days.

Diner's Club: All their cards cover CDW in Ireland for 30 days. Fees per year for a card range from $95 to $300. This is primary insurance, not secondary. http://tinyurl.com/lzhah

I hope that clarifies things.

Michele

wojazz3 · Guru

Thanks Michele. Since I usually use my business card when I go there because of the 31 day rule, this is very good news.

Bill

Michele Erdvig · Host

Bill,

I'm happy I don't have to get another CC too. But always call in advance just to be sure. You never know when they might pull the plug.

Michele

maureencol · Member

Michelle,

Now that I think of it, maybe there was no deductible on my Mastercard insurance, however, I had to pay the difference of $700 between what they would pay for the repair and what was billed. They wanted proof that there were no other cars available for the loss of use so did not cover that, and also did not cover a tow charge or transportation charge to the repair shop in Roscommon. Since it was a tiny little dent on the side, there should have been no towing, I agree. I didn't bother hasseling with the rental place on that one.

On a subsequent trip, I took out the CDW at the rental agency not including the coverage for the deductible. There was a small 4" scrape on the front bumper and I had to pay the $1,000 deductible for replacement of the whole bumper. Questionable!

I was thinking of checking out purchasing a car since I go once or twice a year and this renting is getting expensive! My cousin would keep it for me. I have to check on the insurance ramifications when I go this October. I could have bought a nice little used car for all the rentals I have paid for over the past years.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Maureen,

The car rental companies will try to get every last penny out of you when there is an accident. You have to be prepared to question everything. You could have disputed everything that they could not prove. Request all paperwork including towing charges for that specific car, loss of use report, bills for damages. If they cannot provide those things you should not have to pay. If people let things like that slide because it is too much work then the car companies will take advantage of them. Also take photos, videos, etc.

If you are considering buying a car you should also find out if you can drive it with your current driver's license or if you need to get one in Ireland. Having a cousin in Ireland and a place to keep a car is great. Let us know what you find out.

Michele