Columbus Direct Reviews

They are good as long as you never make a claim! They are unresponsive to calls or emails when I was overseas when I was trying to get information on the documentations required to make a claim for my medical bill on my trip. When I got back to Australia, they would not approve my claim because the doctor's report did not contain the correct wording.

They make it impossible to claim. Excuses after excuses. My luggage was lost at the airport, they would not approve my claim, they kept asking for a police report when an airport property irregularity report would have been sufficient.

While taking out a policy by phone, I specifically told them I had pneumonia and was told that I will be covered. During my trip to Europe, I contracted pneumonia again and was hospitalised for 10 days. I was adviced to return to Australia and lost out on my pre-paid tours. The losses amounted to $8,000. I lodged a claim after returning to Australia, only to be told that because my pneumonia was a pre-existing medical condition, it will not be covered. I challenged and took it to independent arbiters but nobody believed me. I will definitely not recommend them to anybody.

Easy to claim. The assessor was friendly and helpful. My luggage containing very expensive medication was delayed. Although, my pre-existing condition was not covered, the assessor accepted that my costs were incurred by the delayed baggage. I travel often and always insure with columbus. I would recommend them to anybody.

I have been with Columbus for 10 years but when my partner was diagnosed with cancer in April. In May, her condition worsened and had to undergo chemotherapy. Our holiday was booked in March, a couple of days after a visit to our GP, who said that the symptoms were nothing to be worried about, but asked us to do a scan just to be sure. When we got the diagnosis 6 weeks later, it was a shock to us. Global Claims said that we should have notified them when about our visit to our GP, and they we did not have a provision to claim because we visited the doctor before we purchased the policy. They said had we told them about the situation, they would have told us that it would not be covered. So w

Terrible service. Do not use this company. I bought a policy with them, the airlines company lost my luggage and admited fault but when I lodged a claim, they refused to pay me.

My husband and I hold an annual policy with columbus. We have been using it for 3 years now and we keep renewing it on a yearly basis. We had to make a claim last year when our camera and phone were stolen in Vietnam. We received the money within 10 days, that was really unexpected. We will renew again next year.

I couldn't go on my trip because I was not well enough to travel. I lodged a claim for trip cancellation and got my money back within a week. The claims process was easy and the receptionist was very helpful.

Have never written a review before but feel I need to warn people about Columbus Direct. This company recently left me for 10 days in a rural Vietnam hospital with a worsening condition requiring blood transfusions and surgery. I notified them on being admitted to hosp and 10 days later organised my own transport to the airport, flights, and medically assitance. This company offer a policy that promises on the delivery of certain things one requires to feel safe whie travelling. My experience was that they did not deliver and were more than happy to leave me in a very dangerous medical situation while they tried to find ways to get out of paying anything. Columbus Direct put me in danger

Feel obligated to warn about insuring with Columbus Direct. Travel insurance is about feeling safe, supported and assisted. Columbus Direct, while acknowledging cover, left me in a Vietnamese rural hospital with a worsening condition that eventually required 5 blood transfusions - which given the level of staff education was a risk in itself. Despite 15 phone calls to London, and assurances of help - I was left for 10 days and eventually paid for and organised my own trip home, where I was hospitalised and had surgery 3 days later. That was Nov 2012, it is now Jan 2013 and I have received not 1 cent of renumeration from my policy. The policy offers and you pay, but they dont deliver.