Car Insurance that doesn't work
We had taken out car insurance for Mexico online through Bajabound. Not just liability, but extended (partial comprehensive). This was supposed to cover further damage and was accordingly expensive.
Basically, Bajabound makes a good impression - a Bajabound employee also tried to help us a lot.
Bajabound is, however, only a kind of intermediary. The actual insurance company with which you then have the contract is Chubb. And that resulted in fatal problems for us.
We had a broken windshield due to stone chips. And then fate took its course:
Reporting the damage to Chubb. Only possible by phone. As an overlander from the road, this is a challenge with and without a connection.
We managed to get hold of someone from Chubb, but communication in English was difficult. I wanted to open a claim. That didn't work by phone. I asked if it was possible to do that online or by email. And yes, I got a claim email address. Great, I thought, then email and report the damage straight away, asking for confirmation of receipt.
Hmm, after three days no response or confirmation. So I called Bajabound to say that nothing had happened since I reported the damage. OK, they wanted to call them. Then I got the answer that Chubb had not received a damage report from me. Errr, I sent the email I had sent to Bajabound. Chubb obviously doesn't know Bajabound's contract number. After a few days I got a reply from Chubb saying that I could only report the claim by phone, email doesn't work and doesn't count. What???
I explained how it happened and that I was told to do it that way. Then I was asked to prove that I had called and then emailed. Wow, what shady people.
I copied my phone history with the call number and sent it to Chubb. Then the question came up, I was no longer in Mexico. But the claim had to be submitted in Mexico. Yes, of course not in Mexico anymore, but only because no one from Chubb responded to my calls and emails reporting the damage. That was all reported from Mexico. It felt like 100 emails went back and forth until I could convince the Chubb people and prove things.
In the end, Chubb awarded me $170 to repair the windshield.
If you think that's the end of it - haha, you're wrong. Now comes the best part.
I was then given about 5 forms to print out, fill out, sign and email back. A real challenge on the road. But personal details, car details again, agreement that the €170 is covered, and finally my bank details.
So, nothing should go wrong now...
Then an email came. No, it's not possible, they couldn't transfer the money to my account in Germany. They can't transfer money to Germany and Canada....What???
I should open a separate account, an EUA account, for that. What??? I explained that this account can be used internationally from anywhere. All institutions from all over the world make transfers here. No, it wouldn't work. Errr...
There followed a lot of email exchanges with suggestions, tips, opening your own account in the USA, using a relative's US account, who would then have to fill out all the Chubb paperwork again in her name plus provide her ID proof and send it to Chubb. All of this is not feasible, especially if you are still in Central America. Opening a US account without a permanent residence in the USA is practically impossible from, for example, El Salvador.
The conclusion is: This insurance is not suitable for overlanders. Hands off! (except for US citizens with US accounts).
Bajabound also shares responsibility, because they sell an insurance that basically doesn't work. A legal review of the process would be interesting to see to what extent and who has to pay compensation.