Could I get any help from anywhere to help with my vet costs :(?

zaksmum

I've always had insurance for my dogs but the vet I had before the one I go to now insisted on payment immediately. Direct Line were my insurers then and would take forever to pay my claim, so I used to just have to max out my credit card and hope my claim would be sorted soon as possible.

Once my dog broke his canine tooth chewing on a rock (!!) and had to have root canal treatment as well as extraction. The bill was over £750 so it was credit card to the rescue till Direct Line coughed up three months later.

OP, could you not apply for a credit card for future such emergencies? Meanwhile, maybe the vet might take a post dated cheque?

gettingready

All the vets I have been using are happy to claim directly from my insurance - and I had M&S and Argos, vets were happy with both.
As I said, all depends on the vet...

rising_from_the_ashes

gettingready wrote: »

It could have, depends on the vet. Some are happy (with a large bill like that) for the pet owner to pay just the excess and then the vet claims directly from insurance. My vets do this with bills over £250.00, I pay my £65 excess and they claim the rest directly from my insurance

Mine are the same - if the bill's more than £300 they will make a claim direct to some insurers (Petplan etc) but under that then you have to pay and claim back yourself.

Sorry no other useful advice to offer except for putting it on a credit card / asking for an installment plan - but for future events, please either get some insurance in place or set up a proper fund to cover treatment (if you're going to "self insure".

Hope your dog's on the road to recovery very soon

Padstow

gettingready wrote: »

It could have, depends on the vet. Some are happy (with a large bill like that) for the pet owner to pay just the excess and then the vet claims directly from insurance. My vets do this with bills over £250.00, I pay my £65 excess and they claim the rest directly from my insurance

Thanks for that GR, that arrangement would be a Godsend for me, having crashed from a very comfortable life, to being cash strapped by an ex husband.
Who are you with?
I'm with AXA. My only claim was a seed in ear, about £106 with I think £75 excess. Took eight weeks to repay, but someone here said they took twelve weeks with AXA.

Had that been £3,000 or even £300 to be paid up front, with a wait of twelve weeks, I couldn't have done it.
I've even toyed with the idea of no insurance, due to paying upfront. Stalled because he has social problems with other dogs, and his propensity to escape. Escape being nosing around the village, but still at risk of an accident.

So, should I speak to my Vet of 25 years or the insurers?

rising_from_the_ashes

Padstow wrote: »

So, should I speak to my Vet of 25 years or the insurers?

Hope you don't mind me butting in I'd def check with your vet on who they will accept direct claims to and at what amount.

There are many companies who offer to pay the vet directly - but if they've taken ages to pay up in the past, many vets still want you to pay them and claim back. HTH

dandelionclock30

Could your Mum,Dad or Grandparents help out out a bit and you pay them back over a few months?

dawnie1972

Welcome to my world! my dog got ill and in the last month i've paid out over £1400 so far - i too did not have insurance and i don't bring home as much as i've paid out, its not easy but you always find a way - I gave them a home and promised to look after them for life.

gettingready

Padstow - all my lot are with Argos.

Speak to your vet, they may be happy to accept direct claims too.

All the best

nikki702

I remember once my dog needed treatment and I had to take him to the Goddard hospital the cost was £350 and they said I needed to pay as it was under £500.. but I explained that my regular goddard vet lets me pay my £75 excess and claims direct from petplan and they were ok with that ... thankfully as I didn't have the money ... oh I should add this was for a GRASS SEED IN HIS EAR! .. the things these animals put us through!

gettingready

Exactly. all depends on a particular vet.

One I used before I moved was happy with the excess only even if the bill was a 100.00 - he would still claim the rest directly from insurance

Now the minimum has to be 250 but it is still good.