Insurance cost depending on the area you live

gettingready

I have moved just over a week ago from East to North London and was absolutely shocked.

Zara has been insured with Argos Platinum for years with quite a few very expensive claims over the years so last October her insurance jumped again to £197 per month. I accepted that. She is over 10 now, need the insurance.

As I moved and called Argos to notify them of our new address I did not think much about it till few days later I got a letter stating that because of the move (still London, just different part) they are putting my payments up to £259 per month.

Renewal was only at the end of October so frankly I did not expect that at all and unfortunately I had to cancel Zara's insurance as I was struggling with £197 per month so £259 per month really was not an option.

Cats insurance (PetPlan) did not jump with the move.

Friend of mine lives on the outskirts of London and is about to get a new puppy so run a quote based on her postcode with PetPlan for a 12k live cover and that came to £100 per month. We run it on my post code again for a GS puppy, again 12k for life cover with PetPlan and it came up with £150 per month.

I expected a bit of a difference but.... looks like will never have another dog to be honest...

paddypaws101

Oh GR that is terrible, especially as you are presumably going to keep using the same vet in Higham Hill. No real reason for the insurers to know you had changed address in many ways and a scary position to be in now with no further cover for Zara

gettingready

I am in 2 minds about that really as yes it is scary not to have cover but Zara is over 10 now and I would not be putting her through anything major like surgery of any kind.

Her tablets I get online so the cost is not really high and definitely nowhere near the 259 per month insurance wanted.

So just fingers crossed all is good xx

toniq

Our older boys insurance jumped when he turned 8, we started an Isa and save £100 a month for him, luckily we started it off with £2000 as within weeks of not renewing his insurance he tore his cruciate and he has now used over half of what he has saved.

I truthfully wished we had done this since we had him as other than this injury there have been no other issues.

But you just never know with dogs.

£259 is a ridiculous amount, they have you over a barrel once a dog gets an injury or illness so they can get away with the enormous increases.

x

gettingready

This hike was due purely to moving to a different London post code. It was not at renewal time and not due to dog's age - that is why I was so surprised.

Zara's insurance paid a LOT for her over the years and I would have stuck with the 197 per month but just could not tretch to 259 right now

krlyr

Yes - I did some quotes when we were considering moving "Oop North" and it halved the premiums I pay here in Surrey. Guess it's much like any insurance, and based on number/value of claims in the area, cost of vet treatment, etc.

Have you considered taking out a new, cheaper policy elsewhere? Obviously they'll exclude her pre-existing conditions but you may find a reasonable cover that'll cover anything new. CoOp weren't too bad for my older boy, only £5000 cover but at least they covered him at his age (we had to move because of the AXA debacle - and many places wouldn't take him on for lifetime at his age) and are underwritten by the same people as PetPlan (my theory being hopefully - if I ever need to claim - the quality of service will be similar)

I'm sure you're already aware, but if not, if you don't take out a health insurance policy then at least sign up for the Dogs Trust for their third party liability cover, in case anything were to happen out on a walk.

gettingready

Thanks - yes I did think about that but frankly there would be way too many exclusions with Zara's history to take up another policy.

I freaks me out knowing she is no longer covered but then again - really nothing I could have done when they hiked it to 259 per month.