Lesley Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Does anyone else have pet insurance with this company? We have had a flurry of letters from them - re changing their underwriter...... .........followed by letters from the existing underwriter saying they can't do that....... .........followed by more letters Just wondered if anyone else was able to sort out what they are doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 (edited) i left them Lesley for pet plan after I realized the cover wasn't much good for us. Sorry I can't help more Buffie x Edited July 9, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 9, 2008 Author Share Posted July 9, 2008 We chose them because they had a more ethical stance than some - and they provide ongoing cover for illness, rather than it stopping at the end of 12 months. I'll have to start looking around again I'm fed up with all the bickering from both Companies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Never heard of them I'm afraid Lesley....but it all sounds a little confusing I hope they sort themselves out soon. Otherwise it'll be back to looking for new insurers I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Hi Lesley, I recently insured Bess, Alfie and Milo with this company after hearing about them on a thread on here. I to was drawn in by the idea of ethical insurance and the fact they are non - profit and give the money they make to animal charities. I've had these letters also and am a bit bemused as to what to do, if anything... No idea which company is underwriting the insurance now (not that i particularly care but i want to know i am paying all this money and will be insured when the time comes) Am a bit bemused by it all quite frankly.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Hi Lesley, Never heard of them either! We use "More Than" having trawled the web for a company who don't have either a short period of cover for each condition or a very low upper limit on each claim. We had been stung in the past with an old girlie who had just about everything go wrong with her that was possible, but still managed to live to 14 1/2! Her claims were always big - tumours, both eyes removed, on going thyroid problems to name but a few. Still much missed baby girl though, even 4 years on. Just for the record, we had another girlie who I think we only ever claimed once for, so the company (Dog Breeder's Ins, I think it was) did have their money's worth out of us for one and paid out for the other! Wouldn't consider having a pedigree pooch without insurance now though. Both Jess and Poppy have had leg ops (luxating patella x2 for Pops, and cruciate ligament for Jess), at £1200 - £1800 per leg we were very glad we had the cover! Back off my soap box & on with the housework Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 http://www.animalfriends.org.uk/other_afi_content/existiong_el_clients.html You have probably looked, but they have an explanation of sorts on their website - Animal Friends claims the letter sent by the underwriter is in breach of their contract and it looks like there a legal dispute going on. What a mess. As both Animal Friends and the new underwriters are members of the ABI etc looks like you are safe to stay put, especially as you subscribe to the ethics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 We use Pet plan and as we have incurred over 25K in repairing our duff spaniel I think they are great! A sign in our vet says love is spending £50 to fix a £5 dog In our case 25K to fix a £50 dog which was a donation as he was a rescue dog. When we took him to the vet the day after we got him the vet said he should be dead as he recorded the highest temp the vet had ever seen in a dog(and he had 50 yrs experience)he told us that Charlie would only live a few years maybe until he was 5, well he's 8 now coming up 9 and still mad as a box of forg on springs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 We chose them for the same reasons of ethics Lesley but the back up sadly wasn't there when we needed it. It was all a bit of a shame and I did tell them our reasons and they said they understood. it all felt such a nice idea. Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 9, 2008 Author Share Posted July 9, 2008 I'm so glad it's not just me Helen .....and thanks for all the replies - and the link Tina. I knew I'd find help on here. I'm tempted to ditch them both and start again What a shame Daisie wasn't covered in the way you needed her to be Buffie Is Petplan good? - do they cover ongoing illness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Is Petplan good? - do they cover ongoing illness? Petplan have driven me half crazy Our Maine Coon kitten came with 6 weeks free insurance with Petplan, a week before the insurance ran out we started getting what I can only describe as nuisance calls from Petplan. They just assumed we wanted to renew but no amount of questioning would get them to give me a price for continuance. I searched their website and all the paperwork they sent me, and couldn't find even a hint of their charges. We still haven't reinsured her I hate companies who hassle you. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 We use Pet plan and as we have incurred over 25K in repairing our duff spaniel I think they are great! Oh my goodness! I will have to tell a dog walking friend of mine as he has just remortgaged to pay a 6k bill for his rescue dog's leg operation. I had said to him that my husband always says it will be a 42 jab if it ever got that expensive. His reply was that even 'the jab' was more expensive than normal ie £145 as the dog is so big. That said we paid £2,000 vet bill on our £40 dog as we knew the insurance would pay out for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Marks and Spencers insurance is good. It has a high level of cover which a lot of other comapnies don't go to. 2 of my dogs potentially have a fatal back condition which I lost another dog to. A lot of companies just have a fairly low level of cover. It is quite expensive though. As the 2 dogs concerned are past the high risk period I have stopped the cover and have my fingers crossed. I know I can pay for any care so with 6 dogs it would cost me about £1,000 a year for insurance . It just isn't worth it for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 I was most interested to see this, two of my cats are insured with PetPlan, typically I have never had to claim (sorry, that sounds awful; of course I am pleased that the puggies have only had minor dentals & nothing else wrong). But, one of my bunnies who wasn't insured cost me £1,000 over 2 years Anyway, I was looking at Animal friends for Spooky-cat, he is older (ex- stray, I am guessing about 12 years old) so it was good to hear other people's experiances. I particularly want 'life' cover, I am so scared he might get something long term that I would struggle to pay for x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 I'm so glad it's not just me Helen .....and thanks for all the replies - and the link Tina. I knew I'd find help on here. I'm tempted to ditch them both and start again What a shame Daisie wasn't covered in the way you needed her to be Buffie Is Petplan good? - do they cover ongoing illness? We fortunately had pet plan for daisie Lesley ( oddly enough dasie's treaments haven't been really costly more the diet we had to give her) It was years ago, it didn't cover Katie's ligaments etc and this really mounted up. Petplan has been the best for us and we can get complimentary treatment too. Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 10, 2008 Author Share Posted July 10, 2008 Ah! I see, it was Katie. The latest Animal Friends letter states the reason for them changing underwriter was that they were unhappy with escalating claims about E&L's claims service. I really need to have a good look around again then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisnrob Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Marks and Spencers insurance is good. Agreed. Both our cats are insured with M&S. They turned out to be cheaper than PetPlan (even with my Cats Protection discount!) and offer a comparable level of cover. PetPlan and M&S are two of the ever decreasing number of companies who offer cover that doesn't pay out a limited amount per condition. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 I can't decide whether to move or not......... Jazz was covered with AF as soon as her Kennel Club cover ran out - about 8 weeks (?). She has been fine except for a day at the Vets while they did all sorts of tests to find out what she was allergic to. She had diagniosed grass pollen/dust mite allergies on her notes. We control the allergy with homeopathic remedies bought from local shops and administered at home If we move would she be covered if the allergy problem escaletes into something we can't manage ourselves? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Lesley, there's an article in Insurance Times here that may explain some of the confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 I've only just got my 3 signed up with Animal Friends and i like the ethics of the company so am not changing now. All the letters and stuff are a bit over my head but so long as my pets are still covered by then i really don't about their argument! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 18, 2008 Author Share Posted July 18, 2008 Thanks for the link Olly . I must admit we've been sticking our heads in the sand, waiting to see what happened It was like being caught between two bickering children I think we'll be staying with AF as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
