E & L claims problem

jaywilder007

Dear all,

I am currently in a fight with E & L over a claim I made for my pet.

The claim has been refused twice now, and a exclusion has been input for future claims.

I found a lump on jaspers leg some months ago, which was checked by the vet, eventually i was told it needs to be removed to check for cancer. Some £900.00 later I claimed with E&L.

Never claimed for anything in my life, All previous treatment has been less than excess.

Never had renewal letters just paid me £22.88 per month for last 6 years expecting help when a serious condition happened.

Been told my claim has been disallowed as i omitted to tell them of a condition Jasper previously had.

I checked the vets 3 year medical history supplied to E & L an remembered back on 27/10/2009 my Vets found a fatty lump in his stomach, vets told me nothing to worry about, no claim made etc.

E & l are saying that they have exlcuded any claims from 28/10/99 for growths, cysts and tumours and as I did not tell them on renewal my claim is disallowed.

I rang and was told them totally diffrent lump, ailment, condition so how can they be linked. Plus lump is in totally diffrent place on his body. They re-iterated that if they were told in 2009, they would have excluded all lumps, growths, cysts. So say there vets think a fatty lump could lead to cancerous lumps in the future.

How can they exclude claim for all lumps now, how many diffrent types of lumps can a dog have. I asked if he broke his leg 2 years ago, would they exclude future broken legs. No answer.

Wish I had never taken out the policy with them. I have now read loads of people saying how bad they are.
Any hints of how to dispute this.

Whats makes matter worse is that I have just had a letter from Phil Bove saying jasper is excluded cover for growths, cysts and tumours from 24/11/11. Rang up as beleived they changed there minds and was told the letter was sent incorrectly it should off read excluded from 28/10/2009. Seems like they can omit our fail in there responsibilities but I cant.

rising_from_the_ashes

Really sorry to hear this Jay.

It's the same as when you hear about people going on their hols, something happening & the insurance co refusing to pay as they had a totally unrelated condition years & years ago.

My wee girl cat hurt her leg when she was 3 months old - injury was excluded (which I expected) however I've been told by my vet that if something happens and she, say, breaks that leg, they'd be unlikely to pay out - even though that has nothing to do with the previous injury.

Unfortunately, even if you've not claimed it will be on their medical history - my boy cat was poisoned when he was less than a year old - I didn't claim (only around £30 over the excess so didn't think it was worth it in case future problems would be excluded) and it still shows up as an exclusion.

Sorry I can't be of more help - if a previous lump is showing in the medical history, then it's pretty much certain this will be excluded from future claims.

horse76

Apparently E&L are known for this sort of thing. I didn't google them before taking out a joint policy with them for my dogs - wish I had.

I'd only had the policy 3 months when my dog got a really bad infection in his right ear. His treatment came to just over £100, so I put in a claim. My vet's face said it all when I told him who I'd insured my dogs with and said their dealings with them in the past weren't good i.e they'll find something to get out of paying out on a claim.

In the end the claim was rejected because our dog had Otitis before - except this was the left ear. I immediately cancelled and returned to my old insurer, whom we only cancelled because the premiums had increased by 50%.

Just wish I'd checked out the reviews of this company first. Wish you luck in your fight with them .

tankgirl1

They are notorious for this!

hethmar

I reckon an insurance ombudsman is needed. These people will fight all the way before paying out. Vets normally ask for payment upfront if you have an E and L company as insurer.

geri1965_2

hethmar wrote: »

I reckon an insurance ombudsman is needed. These people will fight all the way before paying out. Vets normally ask for payment upfront if you have an E and L company as insurer.

There is an insurance ombusdman.

OP, it might be better to ask about this in the insurance forum as there are some very helpful and knowledgeable people there.

hethmar

geri1965 wrote: »

There is an insurance ombusdman.

.

Sorry, I meant, "needed" in this case, not generally!:rotfl: