An investigation by Essential Travel, who look at travel insurance and extras for holidaymakers, has revealed that some of the big brand names in the market are using their notoriety to charge customers up to 50 per cent more than their lesser known competitors. A few of those guilty firms included American Express, Barclays and you ever friendly local Post Office. Essential Travel have made a claim suggesting that these three and other major names are exploiting their name in over charging travellers for the essential products.

The director at Essential Travel, Stuart Bensusan, said he believed customers were being duped because they recognised the branded names and would opt for insurance with them, but were being exploited and overcharged by said firms. Bensusan added that the consumer is just paying far too much when they go to these types of companies.

A travel policy with the Post Office will cost around £41 for a trip to France or anywhere else in Europe. With Barclays that is reduced to just £31.59 and American Express drop even lower, down to £24.37. This is still far over some other travel insurance firms that charge around £19 for exactly the same cover to Europe.

The argument from My Bensusan is that some of these firms that are charging the extortionate rates are advertising that they are insurance specialist, when in fact this is just a small part of their business. They are using their name to over charge and take business away from true insurance specialists.