Anyone else having trouble with ANIMAL FRIENDS Insurance?

sheramber

Vegastare wrote: »

It is per year - treatment has not commenced only investigation, bloods and next is biospy, it is not a good outcome and they don't have the severity yet and my darling boys age is against surgery.

looking at AF website a claim should be submitted within 90 days of the start of treatment- that would include any investigations. In other words within 90 days of first consulting your vet about it, even if treatment is ongoing over the 90 days.

If u are unsure , then phone AF and ask them. They are a company who are quite inflexible when it comes to accepting claims.

Vegastare

Sheramber


Thank you for your info....at the moment I am struggling just with the knowledge of his sudden illness and the thought of a tussle with AF is something I can't contemplate right now - when the picture is clearer after the next tests - I will contact them later in the week..


It is a disgrace the way they seem to be - when they are eager to plug just how much they give to animal charities each year, one of the reasons I went with them.

sheramber

To be fair many people have no problem with them paying out but, of course, you don't hear about them.

Most complaints are where the policy holder assumed or misread the cover provided.

That is why it is so important to rad the policy document fully and carefully to ensure you know exactly what you are and are not covered for and how to claim.

They do seem to dispute claims more than other companies.

The two cases given I read about were one where a dog being put in the car that was parked on the drive when it ran out into the road and got hit by a car.

AF rejected the claim because their policy states that a dog must be on a collar and lead when near a road- that included in the front garden.

The other was a dog that the vet admitted for out of hours care at a weekend as the dog displayed symptoms that could have been a potentially fatal illness.
Fortunately, it turned out the dog did not have that illness. AF rejected the out of hours charge as the dog's illness did not warrant out of hours treatment- despite a vet considering it did at the time, and the position not being known until after the weekend.

Both these scenarios are covered in policy document but they do interpret things very tightly.

I hope things turn out well for your dog and you have no hassle with any claim.

Brickwoman

I have just come to claim for my 14 year old basset for the first time in his life and see they have added the 35% co payment. I'm so annoyed with myself as I've been auto-renewing for years as no one else came close on price but I stupidly presumed that auto-renew gives you the same cover that you originally signed up for! I basically may as well not have the cover as I'm claiming around £300 with the excess and the 35% I will get a paltry £50 back. I'm just going to cancel my policy and take it as a hard learned lesson.

sheramber

Most companies add an extra copay when the pet reaches a certain age. That age varies from one company to another.

This is detailed in the policy document which you should read carefully so that you know exactly what you are covered for.

As said above, many complaints arise from people assuming cover they do not have.

Vegastare

To be honest I did know about the 35% and have never claimed either - so if I get some payment will take it....I am conscious that the claim and the reason could have been so much worse.


When I took out AF they seemed to be one of the few then who gave lifetime cover years ago....I think that there are a few better ones around....but am sure the older the dog the higher percentage they take out whoever

sheramber

Vegastare wrote: »

To be honest I did know about the 35% and have never claimed either - so if I get some payment will take it....I am conscious that the claim and the reason could have been so much worse.


When I took out AF they seemed to be one of the few then who gave lifetime cover years ago....I think that there are a few better ones around....but am sure the older the dog the higher percentage they take out whoever

Tesco have a fixed excess - you have a choice of three- with no increase for older dogs.

Remember, any pre existing condition will not be covered.

Vegastare

Like Brickwoman my boy is older and while I did look into changing a couple of years ago the premiums from AF have stayed ok with a healthy dog.


I wonder how the premium will go up with this claim.


It is good to read about Tesco as I have a friend who was looking to John Lewis, so will tell her

Vegastare

Well as of yet no idea on how claim is going....frankly am baffled how a company who have had over 10 years of premiums and no claims can drag there heels. No claims during that time yet several vets have approached me for my approval to send details on my boys past health since I have made this claim.
As Brickwoman said it will be a low amount if I do receive a payout as the excess and then the 35% will be deducted.
Being a responsible and caring dog owner you want the best but clearly Animal Friends have lost my trade and recommendation.
The several thousands of £'s I have paid will clearly never benefit my boy at his age.
Would I take out pet insurance again - well I would think long and hard.

Cm64

I changed to Animal friends a couple of years ago, very friendly when taking your money but avoid paying out on claims as I have now found out, had to have my 14 year old dog put to sleep this May up till last few weeks of his life he had been healthy, on meds for arthritis and canine massage therapy the last year of his life which I did not claim for. Last few weeks I was taking him for treatment at my vets, started having problems with his kidneys ( age related ) My vet put claim forms in for me as they are known to my vet for losing claim forms, saying they have not received them and trying to find reasons not to pay out, which is what they are doing with my claim. They are saying they do not have all the medical history, my vet has given it to them.
They are saying there are gaps in the medical history, these are times when my dog did not need to see a vet which I have told them, which they have totally ignored and continue to ask for, and has nothing to do with the age related illness and having to have him put to sleep. They just drag it out to avoid paying out.
They do not give a damn about adding to the utter devastation of losing a much loved member of family or the stress they add to it.
This lot are not your animals friend, you only have to see the reviews on Trust pilot, worst mistake I made changing to them, better off keeping your money as this is all they do, Need putting out of business .