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Animal Friends Pet Insurance Discussion

MSE_Ben_T
Posts: 32 MSE Staff

Hi,
Please share your experience with other MoneySavers. Click reply to take part:
The feedback comes as part of the Cheap Pet Insurance guide.
Thank you,
MSE Ben
Please share your experience with other MoneySavers. Click reply to take part:
- Have you experienced problems?
- How quick did they help?
- Happy with the overall service/premium?
The feedback comes as part of the Cheap Pet Insurance guide.
Thank you,
MSE Ben
0
Comments
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We had an Animal Friends policy for our cat since he was 5 weeks old (He's 14 now). Many years ago I put in a small claim which was settled promptly after paying the excess. A few months ago, we were told that the policy we had was being discontinued as the smaller premium policies "weren't worth it". They offered me another policy at six or seven times the previous monthly cost which I declined.
Thank you Animal Friends, after 13 years our cat no longer has any insurance, and I can't afford £70 or £80 pounds per month for a new policy.0 -
We had a bad experience with Animal Friends some years ago which put us off taking out insurance on our other pets. Our cat was unwell and underwent a series of tests at the Veterinary Hospital, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and was subsequently euthanised. Our claim, under the then highest level of cover provided by AFI, was rejected because they said he had a pre-existing medical condition - it turned out they were citing the fact he was overweight. Our vet supported our claim and wrote to AFI stating that the cat's weight could not have been a contributory factor in the cancer but AFI wouldn't budge. At no stage of the proposal or renewals of the policy were we ever asked about the cat's weight.0
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We've used Animal Friends for a number of years for our dog. They have been very good. Always helpful on the phone. And always paid any claims promptly and without any issues. We needed to use their vet advice helpline once & it was very helpful. Premiums seemed competitive. They did increase quite a bit as the dog got older, but we chose to reduce the level of cover in order to keep the price down.0
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Very, very disappointed with Animal Friends. I've been with them 10 years, but leaving this year even though I'll have to pay for regular meds for my pet. They constantly try and wriggle out of claims, which after a lot of to and fro end up being reinstated with the help of my vet. Were horrible to deal with at the death of one of my cats. They now have nearly tripled my yearly cost to well over £2K! I can only bring costs down by lowering the amount claimable per year, and raising the excess, but it's still double last year's fee, which in turn was double the year before. Signed: muggins0
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I’ve suddenly realised something about the Animal Friends Policy that I have had for 6 years and which may be common to all pet insurance policies. Our Dog Fraser has recently been Ill requiring many tests which took the cost over the annual condition limit. AF paid up to the limit and we paid the rest. To be sure all was correct I checked the annual condition limit in my Policy which I had printed in 2018. I then checked the current Policy online to find that the annual condition limit was the same - 6 years later. In that period my premiums have increased relentlessly, but not unreasonably. However, I now wonder why as the liability for AF is decreasing. Had Fraser had his recent issue in 2018 the cost would have been below this limit, now it cost me around £500 on top of the annual condition limit, and I also pay more than £400 additional per year. I wonder how AF, or any similar Company, justify increasing costs but retain liability limits at the level when the policy started. Can anyone help me understand how this is acceptable. Many thanks.0
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Just had our annual renewal come in for our 8 year old dog. We have had the policy since she was 8 weeks old.
They have introduced a new policy:Once your dog reaches 8 years of age or your cat reaches 10 years of age, you will need to pay 20% of any vet fees if you make a claim as well as any excess applicable to the policyAlong with a 37% increase in premium.
Going to have to renew as she has long term issues which have hundreds of pounds of repeat prescriptions each month but will probably have to increase the excess to offset the premium increase.
Otherwise we've had nothing but good experience with AF.
They pay for the repeats each month (minus the excess once per year after renewal).
Many claims with them over the years and always paid out without argument.
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Is that a new policy or are they just pointing it out to you due to the dog's age now being relvant.
Most companies increase the perium oinclude a copay after 8 years old.
Have you compared how much you will pay in premiums for the year plus how much excess you will pay with how much you will claim back.
When I got to the point when premiums plus excess for an ongoing condition would exceed my annual claim limit ( before ay other claims may arise ) I did not renew but oput the money away in a separate account.
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The worst animal insurance company I've ever dealt with. They rejected the claim for my pet, the vet didn't understand why. It went to an ombudsman and they rejected the initial findings and dragged it out for another year when the ombudsman come back again siding with me and that they should honour the claim. Very stressful experience, very poor morals from this company. I wouldn't take another policy with them even if it was free. I don't trust them now. Had far better experience with other insurance firms with previous pets. I think there are some firms that their business model is cheap policies and they reject as much as possible to make their money. Steer clear of these0
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My dog was insured by them from getting her in 2009. Only one claim 2015 for which they tried to wriggle out of 1200 and when they finally paid they wriggled out of a large portion of that as well.
2017 she was only coming up to 8 years old they changed excess to 35 percent and minimum to £69 ..... That excluded the vast majority of normal vet visits at that time.
Also excluded all death benefit and offered a premium of 1100 a year needless to say I couldn't afford to insure her god knows what they would charge now.
Did not touch them with a barge pole0 -
Like many others here I am extremely disappointed with Animal Friends and would never use them again. My cat is 20 this year and I have faithfully paid premiums for all that time thinking that I would be at least partially covered as he got older. But no, they continually hike premiums so that I am paying more than I would without insurance. TO me this is a huge insult and I am angry that I gave them my money all these years.
I was paying roughly £14 per month once he was over 10 years (before that it was less but I've paid since he was a kitten). Started claiming roughly £60 per month when he was 17 for arthritis meds. Premiums hike to £48 plus 30% copay so already at a loss. I complained but refused to budge. This year premium has increased to over £80 per month plus copay (cost has increased to 90 due to price rises but I'm still out of pocket quite considerably).
I consider this to basically be thieving from me. I paid in good faith expecting some protection and instead they are just fleecing me.0
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