Newsletter « The Savvy Retiree »  July, 2021

A word from the ACR spokesperson

Summer is here at last, and with it, some good news: the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents will be refunding travellers. The announcement was made on June 29 by the Minister of Justice and Minister responsible for the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), Simon Jolin-Barrette, and by OPC President Marie-Claude Champoux. We have monitored this issue throughout the year, and our reaction was published in La Presse + in June.

In addition to this, Line St-Cyr has helped participants who were dissatisfied with CanAssistance’s refusal to refund certain claims.

The work of the plan sustainability committee continues and we are still seeking solutions for participants under 65 years of age who pay high rates for their coverage.

We have already planned contract renewal meetings for the fall, and are looking forward to seeing the year’s results, especially in view of the pandemic and the fact that it was impossible to travel. We hope to give you some good news about premiums in 2022.

I would be remiss if I did not mention all the deaths caused by COVID-19 in Québec. If you lost a relative or friend, or if you know someone suffering from “long COVID”, please be assured that my colleagues and I are thinking of you.

I wish you a great summer, a second vaccine dose, good health, a return to normal life and plenty of trips!

 

Daniel Dubé, Retirees’ Spokesperson, ACR

 

Cancelled trip – Refunds for COVID-19

You can obtain a refund for a cancelled trip by contacting your travel agent or visiting the relevant section of the Air Canada and Air Transat websites.

Air Canada recently pushed back the refund application deadline to July 12, 2021, because only 40% of its eligible customers have applied so far.

The deadline for Air Transat and Sunwing customers is August 26, 2021.

A refund is usually issued to the credit card that was used to pay for the trip. 

Lastly, according to an announcement made on June 29 last, the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents will also be compensating thousands of people. 

Please visit the Frequently-Asked Questions section of your insurer’s website for answers to all your questions: https://ssq.ca/en/coronavirus/travel

 

Vacation rentals

If you plan to sign an accommodation rental contract for your vacation in Québec or abroad, please make sure it complies with CanAssistance/SSQ requirements. 

Our December 2020 newsletter announced that SSQ would be providing a model contract containing cancellation clauses, to be signed by the insured and the landlord. Moving forward, we will be considering different aspects of this issue and will keep you informed of progress.

For your information, please note that there are more than a hundred online booking platforms worldwide, and most will charge renters as well as landlords. Take the time to check the platform’s cancellation and refund clauses before booking. If in doubt, please contact your insurer to be certain that you are fully covered.

 

Auditing an online claim – A normal insurance process

Insurance fraud exists. Detection helps to target suppliers and participants with unusual behaviours leading to errors or anomalies.

At SSQ, online claims are audited rigorously. Between 3% and 6% of online claims are selected for audits, randomly or otherwise, using a variety of criteria.

It is therefore possible that one of your claims may be chosen for auditing. The procedure is straightforward. Simply follow the insurer’s instructions and provide the corroborating documentation as quickly as you can.

 

We remind you that it is important to continue to comply with health measures and follow the authorities’ recommendations.


 

Line St-Cyr

ACR Coordinator