Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

MrsE_2

hethmar wrote: »

Blimey, that article is more misleading that the policies! Sainsburys who they quote several times, isnt a for life policy for a start - I swopped from them to M and S a few years back when I realised that.

Then what on earth is this woman's premium about:

Ms Styler pays £40 a year for her NFU Mutual policy. "It has turned out to be really good value," she says. "Clemmie had a rough year, and we ended up putting in another £300 claim when she developed a blood disorder and had to spend two weeks in hospital. Mind you, Clemmie is eight years old now and it's the first time we have had to make a claim."

What a load of rubbish - £40 a year???

I guess its an old article

hethmar

prudryden wrote: »

Off Subject:

My Cocker Spaniel, when he gets excited, starts to gag quite a bit. He lies down, coughs it out, and then is ok. Would this be a potential sign of fur balls? Appreciate any response.

Dogs dont really swallow fur like cats. You should go to a vet as as already said, it can be a sign of a bit of heart trouble or some sort of problem with his throat. Best to check it out

cathodetube

lowis wrote: »

hi wallofbeans

M&S are good, policy provides good cover, but last year they drastically raised their premiums and introduced an excess on the policies. many people were shocked by this and complained, they soon discovered that M&S has changed underwriter so therefore the policy changed...that is the only drawback i can think of...they use an underwriter and can change at any given time to another one, and once again the policy may change for the worse.

someone like AXA (who used to underwrite the M&S policy when it was REALLY good) are their own underwriter, they are a dedicated insurance firm, so they are unlikely to suddenly change their policies because of a change in underwriter.

Is it correct that M&S introduced an excess once at £50 and then bumped it up to £75? Thanks. I have one dog insured through them now, used to have an elderly cat, but cancelled his insurance as it went up to almost £50 per month, despite no claims.

hethmar

M and S let a lot of us down. It was a brilliant ("too good to be true?") policy when they first brought it out. Sadly they then realised that they werent making enough money and the premiums shot up and the excess was added. Those of us who have claimed or been to a vet are now stuck with them unless we are willing to have the conditions claimed for excluded by another insurer

cathodetube

hethmar wrote: »

M and S let a lot of us down. It was a brilliant ("too good to be true?") policy when they first brought it out. Sadly they then realised that they werent making enough money and the premiums shot up and the excess was added. Those of us who have claimed or been to a vet are now stuck with them unless we are willing to have the conditions claimed for excluded by another insurer

Yes, I am so disappointed in M&S. I really think there must be something in the new M&S order that goes against Unfair Contracts in consumer law. They sucked us in at the no excess rate and to then go to £75 excess is bizarre. Anyone out there know much about the Unfair Contracts side of things? I was told about this by a Trading Standards officer.

hethmar

Dont know cath - Id have thought they would have checked out their legal standing thoroughly though. Very unfair as apart from anything else, the people who could get out will have and that means M and S will have more than a fair share of dogs with ongoing probs which no doubt means higher premiums for us.

devotee

Shame was looking into changing my pet insurance from More Than and M+S was very reasonable (about £22 for my pedigree puppy). Had a look at AXA and much more expensive £37 pm with same excess as M+S. Currently paying £15 with More Than but the policy I have is not a lifetime even though I was told it was! Petplan is very expensive too. Confused now

hethmar

What sort of dog have you got, that seems high with AXA? They come out cheaper for my dogs.

prudryden

devotee wrote: »

Shame was looking into changing my pet insurance from More Than and M+S was very reasonable (about £22 for my pedigree puppy). Had a look at AXA and much more expensive £37 pm with same excess as M+S. Currently paying £15 with More Than but the policy I have is not a lifetime even though I was told it was! Petplan is very expensive too. Confused now

Doesn't seem right. Are you sure your comparing like with like? AXA - being a direct insurer - as opposed to a brokering type organization who get their insurance from AXA or another underwriter/insurer, and then mark up the premiums for their profit, should not be more expensive. Unless, of course, the store is using it as a "loss leader" to get you in and then later 'wham' as Sainsburys did to me.

devotee

hethmar wrote: »

What sort of dog have you got, that seems high with AXA? They come out cheaper for my dogs.

I own a fairly rare breed of dog, Coton de Tulear. It's insured under Bichon Frise on More than as the breed is not available on their menu, but the insurer knows that and Bichon is the closest relative. Same thing is with M+S, rang them and they told him they would insure him under Bichon only in documents they would state his breed as Coton.
Axa does have Coton on their pedigree menu (sounds like food lol) and it comes up more £££. Coton is a rare breed and expensive which I did mention when getting the quote from all insurers, but has less health issues than Bichon would have. So yes Axa costs more for me.