Pet Insurance Cost Cutting System/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

BrightonBoy_2

golly99 wrote: »

Hi

Think you'll find when you visit the vets they will recommend Petplan as well.

Many vets will "recommend" Petplan - usually because they are on an introducer fee or some other inducement. Doesn't mean Petplan aren't a good choice, they certainly are, but always worth asking the "what's in it for them" question!

muchus

Someone has mentioned that the premiums may go up quite a bit on PetPlan after the first year. I've been quoted £31 a month on the supreme plan.

mackem1

I have 2 dogs and pay £22 per month combined for them with More Than, I had to claim when one dog needed 3 operations and recieved my cheques within 5 days. I wouldn't change and despite the fact ive claimed the premium don't go up every year.

aytch

I have today opened up my renewal notice from M&S - I nearly fell over! I do not care who they are being underwritten by, there is absolutely no justification for a 50% premium increase. :mad: My premium has gone from £122 per yr to £195, £10 per month to £16. :mad: :mad:
My problem is they have me over a barrel, my 2yr old irish wolfhound has a pancreatic enzyme disorder and therefore I have claimed several times and will need to keep doing so, and any new company i go to will exclude the condition.

I have never been so disgusted and am writing, on real paper, to tell them so... and there was me thought they were one of the few genuine, customer first companies left, how wrong was I!

There feel better now!

tfdodo

renewal for 2-year-old dog from petplan 242 for 4k lifetime cover with 80xs.
M&S 7k lifetime cover with 50xs : 172.62, with no cost to pay monthly by DD.

Asked Petplan what they could do (using saynoto0870 of course ), and the answer was "we can cut 25% off your premium by adding a 25% excess" ! So at least they have a sense of humour... (or a "We are the biggest insurer, we don't care" attitude more like).

And M&S would have cut the excess to 0 for an extra 9.50 a year (but dog's healthy & I'm an optimist Although on balance the odds of dog staying Completely healthy for FIVE YEARS are pretty low...). Can't be bad.

tfdodo

pboae wrote: »

They [E&L] have a terrible reputation for not paying out, and will go to great lengths to avoid it. Many vets and small animal hospitals refuse to deal direct with them because they reject so many claims.

Our vets said "Insure with anyone you like ... except one". Why ? Because they are a nightmare for stringing out payment, rejecting claims for any technical or administrative reason. They were reluctant to name them. So now their Great Cheapness becomes more explicable...

paule_3

My cat was insured with MoreThan, and although I never had any problem with claims, I was shocked to find that when he died part way into the year, they deducted monthly payments for the rest of the year from my final claim. Talk about kicking a man when he's down.

So beware, read the small print.

Tobster_2

We're about to get a new pup and I'm wondering if anyone has any useful tips for the best insurer. M&S gets good reviews in this forum but seems to have got quite expensive. The RSPCA is even more pricy but I'm not sure if supermarket policies are very good value. Does anyone have a recommendations for who to quote? Or, indeed, who not to quote!

cherrink

I wondered whether anyone knew anyone other than pet plan who offered the above as a benefit on their policies. I have a giant breed dog so have always felt that this level of cover is necessary and it seems at the moment that I am tied into pet plan who unfortunately are expensive - can anyone help?

evmoloney

Hi all,

I have my dog insured through M&S (have done for the past two years) but I had to make a few claims this past year, due to various illnesses and they have now told me I have an excess of £50 for each treatment cost!! My monthly payments have also gone up by over £2. Then again, I suppose in all fairness, I have had all my money back this year and more, as my vets bills averaged around £140 this year and I only paid out around £120. But I do think it is a bit harsh giving a £50 excess!! In essence, that means I have now to pay all my vets bills as each bill seems to average £40!! and I have to pay M&S £12.76 per month for this privelege!! Pet insurance is obviously not worth it unless your dog has a serious illness(God forbid). Does anyone out there have any recommendations for alternative insurers?