We also got an annual insurance with some obscure but cheap company (I forget who) who was underwritten by AXA. We had certain pieces of paper which we downloaded, but there was no end date mentioned. Coming up to 10 or 11 months into the contract we were going away again and decided to check it was still in date. That was when we found out about no date on it. We phoned the numbers on the paperwork but could not get any response. the missus got in touch with AXA, and gave them the policy number. They could find no record of our policy. AXA said the policy number we had given them was a standard number that ALL thier policies had! Take that as you will.
As it was nearing the end of the contract we didn't push it, we ended up buying a fresh single trip policy. No harm done, but it could have if we were in trouble in a far away place. I am not automatically saying it was AXA's fault, but I will NEVER buy a policy underwritten by AXA.