Some of you have Axa insurance, have you had your renewal from n c i who are meant to be taking over Axa policies, my girls renewal is Oct 3rd and I have just had their quote, it has gone up £253, I know she has hit 8 this year so expected a small rise, she has no ongoing illnesses or claims made in the last 4 years, even Axa seemed surprised when I rang, but frankly they won't care now will they, all n c i have said is well we can spread the cover over the year for you, as I pointed out it still is the same figure at the end of the year ! Anyone else had any quotes from n c i, god knows what the next quote I get from them will be because my other dog has an existing condition !

Mine is due for renewal on Oct 21st so I am waiting. Zuma was 7 in July. If mine has that sort of increase i will have to go elsewhere as the year just ending was bit over £600. :-(

It's knowing what to do for the best isn't it, I would be interested to know if you get the same price rise.

My renewal is due 12th October and I telephoned yesterday to ask what the renewal price would be. Esme has just turned 7. The price quoted was exactly the same as last year, even down to the last 80p. I did ask if he was sure that was correct and he assured me it was. We'll see when the paperwork arrives.

As I suspected the renewal quoted over the phone was wrong and has increased considerably. The new monthly payment is almost £42 a month! Needless to say I will be moving companies as Esme has no ongoing conditions.

It does sound that for dogs that have had no claims or pre existing conditions if you want to get best value from Insurance it pays to change Insurer each year.

As with so many things 'New Business' seems to get the best deal.

Surely like with Cars pet Insurance could have a No Claims Bonus???

It may be that your current policy is the cheapest now. I looked at other insurers purely out of interest and my current provider was the cheapest when George turned 7 and I don't have to pay a percentage of each claim, just the excess of £60. He's 8 now and the renewal due in December. I'm hoping it doesn't take a huge increase like last year as 7 seems to be the 'cut off' point for age price hikes. I'm not holding my breath though!

Also some insurers won't accept new policies for dogs over a certain age.

I've done quotes with Petplan which is £34 a month and with Vetsmedicover, who one of my others is with, and that was £29.64 with multipet discount. I will speak with NCI first thing Monday but don't hold out much hope they'll reduce the premium.

Look at Animal Friends I find them very good up to now. Just putting a new claim in so keeping fingers crossed. They pay direct into your bank account within 7 days if they accept the claim.

I tried Petplan for a quote last year with Zuma and they wouldn't quote for lifetime cover, when I rang them I was told it was because he was a GSD over 6! so I could only have the 1 year-condition cover.

Go to a comparison website Money Supermarket, Go Compare, Compare the Market etc. You will instantly get a range of quotes, and you can filter things like lifetime cover etc.
You can view the policy terms and conditions and some companies give a discount for buying online.

I tried a quote with vetsmedicover then realised they do not take on 8 and over still not sorted but will make my mind up this next day or so, a few quotes are about the same cover and a little cheaper, I just find it annoying we were told by Axa we wouldn't be let down !

I spoke to AXA, who really didn't want to know, and then spoke to NCI who informed me the premium was what it was and basically I could take it or leave it!

I could take out a new policy with NCI with £12000 cover for less than I would be paying as an AXA transfer customer. The "special" policy for AXA customers only covers £7000 and costs more - how is that fair?

I've taken out a policy with VetsMediCover to make sure I am covered but in the meantime have complained to the Financial Ombudsman.

>I could take out a new policy with NCI with £12000 cover for less than I would be paying as an AXA transfer customer. The "special" policy for AXA customers only covers £7000 and costs more - how is that fair?

Perhaps as a the transfer policies also transfer the claims and illnesses so by transferring you still get covered for existing condition.In a new policy everything the dog has previously had would be  excluded from the new policy.

Smithy I get what you are saying about them taking on pre existing conditions so those clients are ok, and so they should be it's not their fault Axa are dropping out but we are talking about dogs that have no pre existing conditions or claims.

Whoa ! Pedlee I have just done a new quote with NCI it has come up as £170 less a year for the £12000 cover like you say not £7000 we were getting offered

Ridiculous isn't it vanna!

I'm just hoping I don't get enormous price hikes with VetsMediCover when the policies come up for renewal. AXA have been one of the few companies who didn't seem to do massive increases (other than for my Dobes!) at renewal and on the whole I've been happy with the service they provided.

Well I got my renewal notice this morning.............gone up to £729.64

I am now trawling through comparison sites to see what else there is :-(

Regarding Animal Friends insurance, I've just noticed that their T&C require a dog or cat to be fully vaccinated or the insurance is void (for everything, not just the diseases covered by vaccination), and they will not pay any claims if your pet has ever been used for breeding, whether for profit or not. Also working gundogs are excluded.

> I've just noticed that their T&C require a dog or cat to be fully vaccinated or the insurance is void (for everything, not just the diseases covered by vaccination),

I thought the insurance ombudsman said companies were not allowed to do this? I have a feeling they are only allowed to exclude preventable diseases. But obviously people will need to check.

The wording from their T&C:

"You must ensure that your pet is vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and kennel cough for dogs, and feline infections such as feline infectious enteritis, feline leukaemia and cat flu for cats. You must also agree to have your pet vaccinated against any other disease a vet feels is necessary. You must keep your pet's vaccinations up to date, as recommended by your vet.

> The wording from their T&C:<br /><br />"You must ensure that your pet is vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and kennel cough for dogs, and feline infections such as feline infectious enteritis, feline leukaemia and cat flu for cats. You must also agree to have your pet vaccinated against any other disease a vet feels is necessary. You must keep your pet's vaccinations up to date, as recommended by your vet.

I think AXA had that on theirs.  I haven't had insurance for the last couple of years but with my staffy I had to go back to vaccinating her in order to get the insurance cover with AXA.

Well, done a trawl through other firms..............
even went into town to NFU office - there about 40 seconds - 'like to talk to someone about pet insurance' - 'you have contents with us then' - 'no' - 'oh we only do pets if your contents are with us' - goodbye!!!

Ended up having 3 phone chats with NCI and now have a 'new' policy for £12000 cover for £492 and 'over 10yrs excess goes DOWN to £75 plus 10%'

I have the initial letter they sent for £7000 costing £729.85 which also had 'over 10yrs excess of £90 plus 15%' but it states 'Pre Existing Medical Conditions - NONE' so that will be kept in a VERY safe place if I have any arguments about future claims.