M&S Pet Insurance Hidden Con

metalmick

Just had a pet claim dealt with by M&S Pet Insurance for £1015, our excess is £200. They deducted 2 x £200 excess i.e. £400 purely because it straddled the renewal date! Having never coming across this in any insurance policy in my lifetime I was absolutely shocked and disgusted. Be warned!

mta999

Not sure that is correct you should go back and check

Presumably a claim happened in one year and the deduction should be for that year ie 200 pounds even if the claim payments continue through to the second year it is not a new claim

KittenChops

If what you are claiming for (i.e. treatment costs) span the two policy dates then I think it is correct that you pay the excess on each policy year

Our cat has diabetes so has an ongoing claim - we claim his expensive medication & check up costs etc. When the policy renewed in early this year, the excess for the new policy year was payable.

You can't compare it to car insurance & having a car accident - that has only one date of loss / one event

sheramber

Standard for all pet insurance that is an annual policy.

The excess applies to each policy year.

elsien

yes, that’s how it’s always worked with me with Petplan,

metalmick

After reading the replies (which I find staggering,if true) in future you have to be mindful of when your renewal date is, because it may be beneficial to start your claim prematurely so as to avoid a 'double' excess payment. It's just plain ridiculous and wrong! It's not my cat's fault it was ill at that time of year, and it's not my fault either.

metalmick

It's irrelevant whether you compare it with car insurance or not, ONE claim, One excess payment. That's just common sense and right.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82014685#Comment_82014685

How down you mean prematurely ’? You cannot claim before your cat is treated.

If the treatment straddles two policy years then the cost will be split between the two years and any excess set against each claim. 2 claims so two excesses.

It is unfortunate timing but the only way to avoid it is to delay going to the vet until the new policy year.
Not the best outcome for your animal.

elsien

car insurance doesn’t offer lifetime cover in the same as pet insurance.
I claimed for 5 years for my dog’s arthritis meds as a long term claim . Are you suggesting I should only have paid one excess in that time?

stormCat99

That's perfectly normal for any type of insurance, not just pet. If your vet treatment takes place across 2 policy years, then of course you have to pay 2 lots of excess.

somanyscams124

Why should Pet Insurance work differently to other types of insurance?

If my car is damaged on June 1st, I call my insurer to make a claim immediately. If it renews on June 5th, and car gets repaired on June 10th, the garage issues one bill and I pay one excess.

This is just another example of the Pet Insurance industry ripping people off. It needs stronger regulation.