Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

pinklover

Does any know how much increase will it be if I'm considering taking out a new dog insurance policy with Petplan if my dog had make a 3rd party claim before? Basically we're moving to Germany with the Forces and Argos (existing company) will not cover my dog. He had a minor incident with another dog before and had made a claim to cover the Vet cost for the other dog. I know Petplan does cover for BFPO addresses and had an online quote from them which is very reasonable and actually cheaper than Argos (though less amount covered), however, when I declared that he had a 3rd party claim before, the online quote won't let me proceed and ask to call for a quote.

My worry is that it will increase the price a lot?! Actually are there ways for the new company to find out about that claim if I don't declare that he had insurance before? I know it's wrong, but just want to see if there's another option.

Thanks for any advice.

cathodetube

Pinklover, if you don't declare the claim then that is fraud if you proceed with the cover and if found out you could be prosecuted. Insurance companies compare information. I am sure there are some people out there who would do it but I am also sure it would depend on what the claim was for. It's impossible to anticipate what kind of increase could be in the offing.

hethmar

cathodetube wrote: »

So that would be £5k per 12 month period. Still, if their premiums are low which i think they are they might be worth a punt. £7k per 12 month period per condition is the most isn't it. And for that you would have to pay close to £50 a month in my case for a 6 year old dog with no illnesses. I am in London which definitely would make a difference.

NO, its £5k in total for a condition.(NOT per year) If your dog had kidney problems for instance, after the meds./ops reached £5k you would have no more cover for that conditon in his lifetime.



"up to £5,000 vet's fees cover for each condition

Essential and Premier. Our Essential policy provides veterinary fee cover for a maximum of 12 months treatment and up to £5,000, per condition. With our Premier policy there is no time limit on reaching the £5,000 limit per condition.

• Essential pet insurance - up to 12 months treatment for each condition - this means your cover would cease after 12 months claims or sooner if you reached their essential fees limit.
• Premier pet insurance - no time limit for treatment for each condition" this means your cover would cease after £5k worth of claims for a condition

See how easy it is to get confused by these polciies

faith3455

kawoh wrote: »

has anyone tried this company?



they have the lowest quotes ive seen 116gbp for my dog who is over 8... does anyone have any experience with them? are they reputable?

we must be related as we have the same surname, Kawoh, if we are you can send me a mail at my name Les surname at dhl dot com

thesim

pinklover wrote: »

Does any know how much increase will it be if I'm considering taking out a new dog insurance policy with Petplan if my dog had make a 3rd party claim before? Basically we're moving to Germany with the Forces and Argos (existing company) will not cover my dog. He had a minor incident with another dog before and had made a claim to cover the Vet cost for the other dog. I know Petplan does cover for BFPO addresses and had an online quote from them which is very reasonable and actually cheaper than Argos (though less amount covered), however, when I declared that he had a 3rd party claim before, the online quote won't let me proceed and ask to call for a quote.

My worry is that it will increase the price a lot?! Actually are there ways for the new company to find out about that claim if I don't declare that he had insurance before? I know it's wrong, but just want to see if there's another option.

Thanks for any advice.

It wont affect the premium, but there may be an exclusion on the policy.

Sunnylooloo

I've posted this on the insurance board but my friend Angie said she had problems with M & S pet insurance and posted here and got lots of support so here goes.................


Hi all and apologies for the long ramble…… but I am so irritated! :mad::mad::mad:

I have had my pets insured via Sainsburys for a number of years after them giving me a very competitive quote (I was with PetPlan before).

I have never had a problem with them and they settled the claims with a relatively small amount of fuss.

Over the years I have noticed a steady incline in the amount of premium (o and the excess has gone up over the years from £50 - £75) I pay, which I could understand for some years as I did make a couple of claims. However over the past, I would say 3 years I have not had any claims for my cats (I have 3 cats and 1 dog insured with them – the dog was treated for an ongoing condition so it is very unlikely that I will be able to change her insurance provided as this condition is quite a serious one and I need to make sure she is covered).

Last year I was quite shocked about how much the premiums has increased especially due to the no claims for the cats, and I was told as the underwriters are AXA it is what they decide and there was not much they could do, however they would get someone to call me back to discuss my case. I was called I think within the same day or next day by someone from customer services who totally sympathised with my case and said although there was nothing they could do for the actual premium they were willing to give me Sainsburys Shopping vouchers as an incentive to stay (as at this time – and it is the same for this year they are offering new customers 12 months for the price of 9 months). I ended up getting just under £100 worth of vouchers once I had renewed (I got them two months after the policies had been renewed) so I was completely satisfied with this outcome.

This year once again all the policies had gone up. I called the renewal line and asked why, seeing as none of the animals had had a claim over the past year. I was told well that is what AXA had deemed my premiums to be and that was that. So I said well last year you seemed to want to keep my business and offered me some vouchers to stay, I was told that that was no longer their policy. I said but you are offering new customers get 12 months for the price of 9 and increased nectar points on shopping for two years but there is no such incentive for existing customers. I asked to speak to a manager or supervisor and was told I couldn’t – but someone would call me back in 12-36 hours – which by the end of the call had changed to 72 hours! I said this was completely unacceptable and said I would be happy to hold while they got someone to speak to me about my case. He said fine but you will be on hold for ages and then the call will drop out!!!!!!!!! Outrageous! He then told me the only way I could get the deals would be if I cancelled the policies and took out new policies for all the pets via the website (and of course the dog’s pre-existing condition would not be covered! Useless!)

I wrote to their customer services (the email address goes to jltgroup.com) and received a letter back basically saying “tough!”. It stated that yes double points for 2 years was available for new customers but not for existing customers – so it is accept the premiums or go elsewhere.

Well I did what any normal person would do – shop around and got all 3 cats insured for £15 a month cheaper with another provider. The dog has to stay put with Sainsburys.

So if you are insured with Sainsburys or are thinking about taking out a new policy with them for your pet, please be aware that in years to come they are not so friendly to pre-existing customers!

O and apparently they tell me in the renewal letter that “Your Money” awarded them the Best on Line Pet Insurance Provider 2008 – obviously not so for 2009 and 2010!


LL

Angiepange

Im angry for you Loo, customer loyalty is not rewarded is it, so wrong.

Here's the link here to my issue with M & S, for me it was the doubling of premiums that hit hard the most. I have to say, they do pay out quickly but, have you 'over a barrel' when you have a pre-existing condition and cant move insurers !!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2201381

warehouse

Medical insurance for us humans raises as we get older, surely the same applies for animals??

brians_daughter

although i can see why you are annoyed you need to put cover and service before cost (IMO)

I have been with Sainsburys a while now and 1 of my cats has had 4 claims in 2 years for various unavoidable illnesses. Sainsburys have made the whole process easy from a claims POV.

I have another cat that is covered elsewhere (we actually inherited her and never changed her policy over) her cover is almost 1/3 less than that of our other cats but when we had to claim for her the process was appauling. TBH if you have pets that dont have existing conditions i would cancel sainsburys go via quidco get your £40 cash back per policy and also take the new customer offers they are currently offering.

IMO unless i could get cover at much less than 1/2 the price i am paying i would never change from sainsburys, infact even then i dont think i would move!

Sunnylooloo

Thanks for your comments, I do really appreciate them.

I think the fact that they have upped premiums with no claims is hard to take. As I have said they have paid out very well in the past and I don't have a complaint about that. My main point is that they offer new customers all these deals and nothing for existing.

(eek i have renewed elsewhere beforei say your quidco thing brians daughter! next year!)

As I have said I can't move the dog because of her prexisting condition and in the past I have not had any compliants I just think now their policy for existing customers stink. Also the excess has gone up but £25 over the past 2 years.

I guess you are correct Warehouse - but if I went on their website as a new customer the premiums dropped regardless of age.

Anyway it was just to get it off my chest as I was quite irritated by it all


LL