HOLIDAYS are not without their hazards accident, illness, crime, travel firms going bust but buying travel insurance should not be one of them.

And yet tourists who buy insurance from travel agents are paying over the odds and could be left with inadequate cover, a consumer group warned today.

Which? said the cover sold by travel agents was often more expensive than that sold by banks and insurers and it was being sold without consumers being asked the right questions.

A worldwide single trip travel policy for a family of four costs £200 more if bought from a travel agent.

Which? carried out a mystery shopping exercise at four major travel agents. All failed to follow basic procedures.

None of the agents asked all three of the right questions needed to ensure the policy was suitable. They should:

  • explain what is covered;
  • make it clear what is excluded;
  • ask about pre-existing medical conditions.

Travel insurance sold by banks and insurers is regulated by the Financial Services Authority, so there is a set sales procedure that must be followed but people buying cover from travel agents do not have this form of redress.

Which? spokesman Neil Fowler said: "There's no reason why travel agents should be excluded from insurance regulation.

"People should have the same protection."

Online sales were best, with nearly all quotes given online including information on what was and was not included.

Association of British Travel Agents spokesman Sean Tipton said: "It has always been a provision of our code of conduct that members sell insurance appropriate to customers' needs."