Avoid Marks and Spencer Pet Insurance

twinkleyes

I have three dogs and my insurance has just gone up and up and I now pay around £350 per month, but they get you because once you claim you cannot go elsewhere as that condition will never be covered, unfortunately my Tibetan had sarcoma and has been treated for that for the last 3 years, but they deduct 20% of every claim as she's over 9, one of my dogs I have never claimed for and her premium per month is £55 there have been times when it has doubled and I used to pay extra to get no excess but they changed that to £70 per condition per year and also increased my premiums at the same time, I think you are better off putting money aside each month and not having pet insurance at all as it seems to me most insurance companies are the same, I will be cancelling my policies when my Tibetan is no longer here as my two other dogs will be nine this year so they will start deducting 20% again of all claims. :eek:

dacouch

The answer is Pet Plan, more expensive initially than the rest of the market but generally cheaper in the long run especially if you make claims for ongoing claims

jhm13

Am trying to cancel my M & S insurance as it has gone up so much and I have never claimed. However have received a threat of action notice because I cancelled my direct debit. Has anyone else experienced this? Received a nice letter from petplan in contrast

Michelle_J

WARNING: DO NOT USE MARKS AND SPENCERS PET INSURANCE.
6th Year 2013 - £91.29 pm Annual Premium £1095.48

It’s legalised theft. I’m outraged at being ripped off. CHANGE INSURANCE CO’S ASAP.

Your mthly premiums rise astronomically. They have you against a barrel because any pre-existing conditions will not be covered if you change.

So leave asap. I have hardly used my policy for my Labrador dog, so there is no reason for the rise.

1st Year 2008 – £20.79 pm Annual Premium £249.48
2nd Year 2009 - £26.99 pm Annual Premium £323.88
3rd Year 2010 - £33.99 pm Annual Premium £407.88
4th Year 2011 - £40.99 pm Annual Premium £491.88
5th Year 2012 - £61.49 pm Annual Premium £737.88
6th Year 2013 - £91.29 pm Annual Premium £1095.48

Petplan has been recommended by loads of local dog owners, mthly payments £50.45 and the policy stays more or less the same in price.

I wanted to change earlier but thought I could only cancel at the time of renewal. You can cancel anytime.

flash.gordon

WARNING DO NOT GET PET INSURANCE WITH M&S!

I have had my dog insured with M&S Pet Insurance since 2008 at the cost of £16.99 per month. In December 2014 I had my renewal policy through and the monthly charge is now a staggering £179.36 per month.

The premiums have been as such:
2008 - £16.99 per month
2009 - £25.99 per month
2010 - £37.99 per month
2011 - £49.99 per month
2012 - £79.99 per month
2013 - £119.97 per month
2014 - £179.36 per month

It has now become totally unaffordable. My other dog who is insured by John Lewis (RSA - who are the same as M&S) who I have spent more on in the last 2 years because of her entropion and in 3 years of having her my premiums have hardly budged.

I spoke to Customer Servies at M&S/RSA and they have told me that the price is fair. Not even Tesco was this ruthless when my Staff had cancer - there premiums hardly moved as well.

M&S say the reason for the increase is because of inflation, vets prices and how I claim. Inflation has only peaked at 4.8% during the above years and I have moved and my vet prices have actually come down!

STAY WELL AWAY!

sallyj17

Mikeyorks wrote: »

If you're watching the pennies - you opt for the Standard cover (same on their house policies etc)

Be aware that pet insurance policies are not like house policies. The level of vet fees cover varies. For example on the M&S standard policy you can only claim £1,000 of vet fees per condition per year which is peanuts!!!

sallyj17

flash.gordon wrote: »

My other dog who is insured by John Lewis (RSA - who are the same as M&S) who I have spent more on in the last 2 years because of her entropion and in 3 years of having her my premiums have hardly budged.

Going to keep my fingers crossed for you.. as I have seen similar stories about John Lewis!

sallyj17

Michelle_J wrote: »

Petplan has been recommended by loads of local dog owners, mthly payments £50.45 and the policy stays more or less the same in price.

I wanted to change earlier but thought I could only cancel at the time of renewal. You can cancel anytime.

Yep.. Petplan have a reputation for low increases... so often the better long term deal even if more expensive to start with. Do be aware though you will pay 20% of vet fees for pets over 8 years old.


You will always pay more for older pets.. simply because they have more health issues ... but the way in which it is charged varies... some ask you to pay a % of the costs and keep the premiums low... others hike up the premiums... and most do a combination of both!

sheramber

sallyj17 wrote: »

Yep.. Petplan have a reputation for low increases... so often the better long term deal even if more expensive to start with. Do be aware though you will pay 20% of vet fees for pets over 8 years old.


You will always pay more for older pets.. simply because they have more health issues ... but the way in which it is charged varies... some ask you to pay a % of the costs and keep the premiums low... others hike up the premiums... and most do a combination of both!

Petplan do not charge the extra precentage on the excess until 10 years old.

Tammy2

If I were going to insure a pet I'd definitely go for PetPlan. They've been running for years with many happy customers.

I've made many claims with PetPaln Equine - two ponies used all of their £5K limit. No problems with the payouts at all. (Although by the end of it there weren't many bits of them they'd cover!)

NFU seem OK too (at least for horses).