AXA travel policy that doesn’t add up

E.J. writes: I am a member of the National Association of Retired Police Officers, through which I have been paying premiums for travel policies with Axa for more than 20 years. The main reason for renewing cover every year has been Axa’s promise that its cover would continue, whatever age I reached. However, Axa reneged on its promise and would not renew the policy after June 30 this year.

YOU have told me that you are 88, and your wife is 80, and you cannot travel any longer because of the cost of insurance. Your Axa policy cost about £800 a year, but you are now receiving quotes of up to £10,500 a year.

The wording of the Axa policy is interesting. It says: ‘You can join the travel policy up to your 85th birthday and can remain on the travel policy as long as you continue to pay your premium and there is no break in cover.’ But it does not say that Axa has to provide a policy for you join.

In effect, Axa induced you to pay premiums for more than 20 years by implying that the policy would still be there, but it was never legally obliged to keep the policy on the market. A spokeswoman told me that she understood how disappointed you feel, but she added that the policy was ‘a one-year travel plan’, with no obligation for you or Axa to continue it indefinitely. As a consolation prize, Axa has sent you £100 in Marks & Spencer shopping vouchers.