When you book an expedition, you pay part of the price months before departure. At Element X that is 50% when you sign up and 50% two months before departure. You want to be sure that money is safe, even if the organiser were to go bankrupt unexpectedly. That is what the Garantiefonds Reizen is for.
In this article you read what the Garantiefonds Reizen is, what it covers and what it does not, and what to look for when you choose an expedition organiser.
What is the Garantiefonds Reizen?
The Garantiefonds Reizen (GFG) is a recognised Belgian insurer that covers organisers against insolvency. It was set up by the sector itself and works on a non profit basis, solely in the interest of the customer. Under the Belgian Act of 21 November 2017, an organiser must be insured against insolvency.
Element X is insured with the Garantiefonds Reizen. Every expedition you book with us is covered by that protection.
What if the organiser goes bankrupt before departure?
Then the Garantiefonds Reizen refunds what you already paid to the organiser for the services that will no longer be provided. The fund can also offer to let the expedition go ahead after all, or to choose an equivalent alternative. The choice is then yours.
And if it happens during the expedition?
Then the Garantiefonds Reizen makes sure the expedition can continue, or that you can get home if the flight was part of your booking. Services that are no longer provided are refunded by the fund. So you are not suddenly left on your own on the other side of the world.
What the Garantiefonds Reizen does not cover
The fund only steps in when the organiser becomes insolvent. So it does not cover:
- costs you made yourself before departure, such as a visa, vaccinations or the premium of your own insurance;
- cancelling because you fall ill, have an accident or can no longer go;
- medical costs or lost luggage;
- complaints about the content of your expedition.
That is why we advise every participant to take out cancellation insurance as well. You receive that advice when you sign up.
The fund also looks ahead
The Garantiefonds Reizen does not only pay out when things go wrong. It also screens its members continuously, so that financial problems are spotted early. Being insured with the fund means being checked regularly.
It proved itself in 2019
When Thomas Cook Belgium went bankrupt in September 2019, the Garantiefonds Reizen first gave priority to the people who were already at their destination. Then came the refunds. By May 2020, 50,000 customers had been helped, and by June 2020 the total stood at almost 24 million euros, paid by the sector itself and not by the taxpayer.
What to look for when choosing an expedition organiser
With small clubs, informal initiatives or an organiser abroad, it is not always clear straight away how your money is protected. You can always ask these questions:
- Is the organiser insured against insolvency, and with whom?
- Do you pay the organiser directly, with an invoice from a company with a company number?
- How much do you pay up front, and when?
- Do the general terms clearly state what happens if you cancel?
- Who leads you on site, and who follows the expedition from Belgium?
How it works at Element X
- Insured with the Garantiefonds Reizen. What you pay us for your expedition is protected against our own insolvency.
- Paying in two parts. 50% when you sign up and 50% two months before departure, never everything at once months in advance.
- Clear terms. Our general terms and conditions are on the website, as a PDF in Dutch and English.
- A fixed address. Element X BV has its office at Kasteel Borgwal in Gavere. That is also where the kick off and the group sessions of the preparation programme take place.
- Follow up from Belgium. During every expedition our basecamp follows the group, reachable by satellite communication wherever the connection allows.
Frequently asked questions
Is my money protected when I book an expedition with Element X?
Yes. Element X is insured with the Garantiefonds Reizen. If Element X goes bankrupt before departure, you get back what you already paid for services that will no longer be provided.
Does the Garantiefonds Reizen also cover cancelling due to illness?
No. The fund only steps in when the organiser becomes insolvent. For cancelling due to illness or an accident you need cancellation insurance.
How do I request a refund from the Garantiefonds Reizen?
In case of a bankruptcy before departure, you send your request by registered mail to the Garantiefonds Reizen, within 30 days after the planned departure date, with your confirmation or invoice and your proofs of payment.
Learn more
Current information about the fund is available at gfg.be. Our own arrangements are in the general terms and conditions and the legal notice. How we approach safety along the way is explained on the safetypage.
