AXA pulling out of pet insurance

krlyr

Oh dear. Just what we all need with the hassle of the whole thing and the worry about how we're going to cover the cost of on-going conditions!

Wonder if the insurance ombudsman would look into this, given how many people it has happened to? It's effectively theft, especially if no paperwork has been signed to authorise the DDs and they've been informed that you don't want to renew the policy.

rising_from_the_ashes

I can only advise everyone to contact NCI / Axa

NCI stated that even although I did not sign the credit agreement they automatically started the new policies to ensure continuity / no one missed out on cover!

This is despite me cancelling the policies (by email) AND not authorising Axa to pass over my details - and cancelling my previous Axa d/debit (so they have in fact set up a new one without my authorisation)

I spoke to Axa who said they sent a letter (which I did not receive - and since there were 2 policies so should've got 2 letters I find this it hard to understand how neither reached me) and they therefore passed on my details as I hadn't contacted them to advise not to

I asked how was I supposed to do this when I hadn't got the letters - they said that wasn't there problem as they'd sent them so had to assume I'd got them

I stated they have both my mobile no & email address so they could've sent a message asking for a response ......

Have lodged formal complaints with both Axa and NCI

Spoke to my bank who have arranged for an 'indemnity claim' to be raised & will refund the money within 48 hours (and then claim back from NCI)

NCI have said they will cover any bank charges ....

cassiehagger

Complaint submitted to ombudsman and they are now complaining to axa. Person I spoke to seems to think it is unfair and hopeful axa will do the right thing. Glad someone is as im not.

Former_MSE_Helen

Hi all,

I'm looking into this issue with a view to potentially covering it on the news section.

I just wondered if anyone's premium with NCI has gone up where they've made no claims in the past? If it has, please could you let me know the details via PM on here, thanks.

MSE Helen.

rising_from_the_ashes

MSE_Helen wrote: »

I just wondered if anyone's premium with NCI has gone up where they've made no claims in the past? If it has, please could you let me know the details via PM on here, thanks.

Yes - both my cats policies went up substantially despite me not only never having made any claims BUT they hadn't even been to the vets (and it not being worth putting a claim in)!

Archie's premium went up approx 70% and Mia's was just under 60%

AND NCI took payment from my bank account despite me not having signed a credit agreement or a direct debit mandate

The wording in the letters from Axa needs changed - passing on 'personal details for a quote to be provided' to me (and I think everyone else!) implies name / address / pet(s) details - it does in NO way advise that money can be taken from your account especially if you don't sign a new credit agreement / direct debit mandate!

I did not get the letter from Axa (for the cats) therefore how was I supposed to know my details would be passed on?

Axa have apparently used 'implied consent' (ie because they didn't hear from me, they assumed I had consented) - however, I have been advised that this is not acceptable under the Data Protection Act - I will be taking further action re this

(also sent by PM)

krlyr

Dreading my renewal - and realised a big snag in my backup plan this weekend, I was going to switch Kiki to Co Op and just fork out her thyroid meds myself if the premiums rocketed come her renewal in April (one we switched to NCI).

However, she hits her 8th birthday in December, and therefore Co Op won't offer me a new policy for her after that. Not sure if it's worth taking out the policy before her birthday and paying the overlap for the 3 or so months before I get my renewal letter or not.

Has anyone phoned NCI for a quote prior to renewal, and if so, how far ahead of the renewal did you call? I'm wondering if they could give me even a general idea of how much they'd be raising it by, but think 6 months is a bit early for them to be able to advise me!

rising_from_the_ashes

krlyr wrote: »

However, she hits her 8th birthday in December, and therefore Co Op won't offer me a new policy for her after that. Not sure if it's worth taking out the policy before her birthday and paying the overlap for the 3 or so months before I get my renewal letter or not.

Has anyone phoned NCI for a quote prior to renewal, and if so, how far ahead of the renewal did you call? I'm wondering if they could give me even a general idea of how much they'd be raising it by, but think 6 months is a bit early for them to be able to advise me!

That is exactly what happened with Maisie - her 8th birthday was at the beginning of October & her policy wasn't due to renew until nearly the end of November

As the cats premiums (and others) had gone up so much, I didn't feel able to take the risk and moved her to Co*op already

I did ask NCI about getting earlier quotes & explained why in Maisie's case. One of the guys checked for me but they came back & stated they can't do it more than 3 weeks before renewal date

I guess the only thing you can do is; get a quote from the Co*op and see what it is to move her now, compare that to what you pay Axa now (Maisie's was within £1 ), then work out the cost of the meds & prescription are and see where you're at


If your NCI premium went up say 50% or 60% (work out various options) see whether it still stacks up

krlyr

Unfortunately it's a bit tougher to know, her meds are really cheap to buy online (under £6 a month on current dose) but the amount of blood tests she needs relies on how stable her levels stay. Since her diagnosis 2 years ago, we've had to do a dozen blood tests, each 'blip' in her levels needs at least 3 tests (one to confirm, one after a month to establish the dose is right, one after 3 months before they do a longer prescription at that dose - we haven't got the dose wrong yet but that'd mean even more blood tests!) and she'd had 3 dose adjustments now, so including diagnosis, that's been 6 blood tests a year at £60-ish or so each. In theory, she should stabilise and only need one or two a year to monitor her levels, but she's proving to be awkward!

From those figures, it works out cheaper to switch her if it goes up anything more than 50%, but then it's slightly complicated by the fact she had treatment for a tendon issue this year. Although she'd fine, it could reoccur, and if physio didn't work the second time around, it could need surgery - and if we switched, it'd obviously be pre-existing and excluded by Co Op. The physio advised I kept the insurance policy to keep that option open (fortunately it didn't rise too much on that renewal), I may have a word with her again and maybe just get Kiki checked out during these 6 months we have to see if that shows any potential issues.

rising_from_the_ashes

ohhhh more difficult with the tendon issue very difficult as it could be fine or it could reoccur - def seek advice from the physio

I'd do a quote with the co*op (if you've not already done one) to get an idea of how much it costs

I overlapped Maisie's policies BUT I guess that depends on how much they both are (having to pay 2 premiums for a month wasn't that great!)


ETA - what on earth is the matter with the forum - it keeps timing out (but if I hit back & submit again it posts)

krlyr

Currently paying £40 a month with AXA - fortunately being a crossbreed she's the cheaper of mine to insure.

Co Op would be £20 a month to start, but that's with 20% online discount, so that jumps to a minimum of £25 next year without factoring in premium increases.
Meds would be £5 a month, I could probably talk my vet into prescribing 6 months at a time so £12 fee x 2 would be £2 a month, 6 blood tests (hopefully the max I'd need) averaged at £30 a month, so £60 a month.

There's a good chance AXA/NCI will go higher than £60 a month, but then I lose the option of claiming anything for that leg issue. Didn't get costs for the surgery, but the physio said I was looking at £1000+ just for the specialist consultation/diagnostics, before a scalpel even went near her!

Then to complicate things, NCI have been so useless so far, my worry if I stay put, aside from cost, is how good/bad the service is going to be!