Only the imagination sets limits to what kind of damage reports an insurance company receives after summer vacations. Some travelers refuse to wear a face mask during corona virus times and others have booked their tickets the wrong way. Here is a selection of stories of funny damage claims from a Norwegian insurance company.
Norwegians have perhaps the world’s best travel insurance and thereby expectations for what is covered. Especially during summertime, many travel-related injuries are reported to the insurance industry. Most of these are covered under ordinary conditions, but some of them are slightly more curious.
Anything can happen
“Even though most people this year are on holiday in Norway, anything can happen,” chuckles Arne Voll. He has a long career as communications manager at the Norwegian insurance company Gjensidige and can tell stories of creative injury reports and explanations of why things went wrong.
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“One customer wanted to cancel his holiday because he had heard on the news that the place demanded that everyone should wear face masks,” tells Voll. The customer’s claim was rejected.
Too many noisy children by the pool
“Every summer there are also some who try to get beauty surgery covered after ‘performing a faceplant’ and injuring themselves. Often a dream of a prettier nose or larger breasts entices,” he adds.
The insurance company also receives several claims where customers seek compensation due to the hotel being too far away from the beach, don’t offer sea views or lacking a pool. Others think it was too hot or too cold. One customer wanted a compensation since there were too many noisy children by the pool and part of the holiday was ruined.
A classic mistake many people make is booking a trip with wrong departure or return dates.
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Funny claims and stories
One customer had invested in a mega large inflatable flamingo; great fun for children of all ages, but suddenly it was gone. The owner believed someone has played with the rope that attached it to the pier. Such inflatable figures weigh little and are an easy prey for wind and current. The flamingo was searched for throughout the area without success, and the owner reckoned it had left the nest – for good.
A young woman wrote that the dog had eaten her Gucci glasses. The injury report said, “the dog survived but had, after all, had a treat”.
Bad fishing luck
A salmon fisherman demanded to be reimbursed for what he had paid for renting a cabin with fishing rights, because there was too much water in the river to go fishing.
“We also have those that require the same due to low water,” says Arne Voll.
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Suitcase stories
One customer reported damage to a trolley bag. The handle was broken and therefore he “had to go crooked to the hotel,” according to the injury report.
A family had booked a terraced house, but it turned out that there were lots of stray dogs making noise at all hours as well as many cats coming into the house. This was so uncomfortable that they had to rent a new holiday home somewhere else. They applied for compensation for double booking, but were rejected since this is a claim that must be directed to the booking agency.
“We also have several customers who report the loss of a suitcase while traveling. Once we tried to reconstruct one of these claims and had to use several large suitcases to pack the content. The customer’s suitcase, however, was of the more moderate size.”
Stories of funny damage claims from a Norwegian insurance company – conclusion
“In addition to passports, tickets and a good mood, it is important that the travel insurance is in order before departure. It is perhaps the best guarantee for a safe and happy vacation,” concludes Voll.
The cases above are from this summer as well as previous years.
Gjensidige
Gjensidige is a leading Nordic insurance company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with about 3700 employees. The company offers non-life insurance in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and the Baltics. In Norway, it also offers retirement and savings. Operating revenues were NOK 26 billion in 2019, while total assets were NOK 112 billion.
Stories Of Funny Damage Claims From a Norwegian Insurance Company, based on a press release from Gjensidige.