Hi all, first post - NEWBIE alert !

We are soon to get our first puppy.  A female brindle SBT, not sure of name yet (!).
I have spent HOURS looking at this site, and seen many many useful tips / thoughts and even a few great stories................ 

Anyhow, Ive been having a look around at dog insurance, and like car iunsurance, the quotes, benefits etc are VERY varied.

Any advise on what I should be looking for in terms of benefits, companies to avoid etc etc..............

I dont necessary want cheapest quote if the benefits arent good, but would like to get value for money (who doesnt!)

Thanks
Darren

You may well get 6 weeks free insurance from the kennel club when you first get the puppy. My vet told me to go for Petplan. He said they were always the first to pay out, no arguments or hassle. :)

Yep thats what my vet said, and it's true, just had a £200 vet bill for a 6year old collie, for injuring is front legs doing agility and they were very quick to pay out, no hassle, but it was a £70 excess! Spoke to woman from Petplan and she said the excess varies depending on your postcode - can be anything between £60 and £90 so worth checking.

Char

hi
i am with more then if you apply on line you get 2 months free cover and its cheap tryed direct line not very good and tesco pet insurance and that was really bad

Hi Darren

Make sure that the insurance covers an illness for the life of your dog not just for a year.  My lot are with Sainsbury's which does cover for life but they do take quite a while to pay up (approx 2 months if your lucky). 

It's a mine field, there are so many out there. Good luck.
Caz

Welcome to the forum :)

Ive been looking at the M&S insurance.  Not a bad price, covers a dog for life................ there have been a few threads on here about it, seems ok.... but as with car insurance I guess you only know how "good" they are when its time to make a claim  !!!!!!!!!!

So, insurance sorted, next.......... how to stop worrying about looking after the puppy !!!   lol

Darren welcome,

I am with M & S for my puppy, what appealed to me (apart from the life bit) was the fact i could elect (at a slightly higher premium) to have no excess.   Good luck with your choice.  The number for M & S quote is 0800 072 0119  ( i hope this isnt gonna get me in trouble for advertising)!  :o)

hi Darren, I've found Direct Line to be excellent and they pay up very quickly.  I was £14.50 for a staffy pup the first year and claimed extensively and it has only gone up £1 since then.  that is for lifetime cover I think it is up to £6,000 per illness and they have replaced cheques for me when I've lost them without any problems.  The only problem I've had in getting money back has been when I've paid upfront for treatment and have had to wait for the vet to sign the form so I can get the money refunded.  my vets only seem to process the paperwork quickly when it is them who is to get the money.

Hi Daren,
I have tried quite a few pet insurances over the years, quite a lot of companies now do policies for life, which is very important. But from my experience I would advise you to keep well away from E & L, I am still waiting for my claim from October! for £222. I have rang and they said that they were only so far doing claims received from 30th November, they received mine 23rd Devcember so I have 2 or 3 more weeks to wait, most unsatisfactory.  My other dogs are with Pet Pals, you pay the first £40 of each claim, the policy is for life and the cost is £11.68 a month - cheeper if insuring 3 or more dogs and they pay out within 2 weeks approx...Pat

M & S are excellent.Good value
have a look at their website

www.marksandspencer.com/money

Archer

I'm also with M & S.  I took the policy out at the start of the year.  They did forget to take Januarys direct debit out and have taken 2 payments out this month.  I have the policy paperwork and everything appears to be dated from 1.1.05.  I will very shortly be putting a claim in for Molly's cut foot  for the full amount as I also opted for the no execess and at £11.19 a month seems excellent value.  I will come back when I have claimed and let you know how quickly everthing is sorted.

Hi, Im with more then, have recieved my claim form today as Kizzy has not been well, will let you know when sent back, and how long it takes them to pay. Viv

http://www.vip4u.co.uk/  will help you get the policy you want.

Many thanks all.   Useful numbers and advice, will go looking soon.

Pick Cassie up tomorrow, so need to get something sorted soon I guess !!!

Thanks again, no doubt I will be leaving MANY MANY thread requesting advice  ............ lol.

I dont know where all you guys live but for 2 labs in bedfordshire the premiums varied between £25 per month and £50 per month. Just checked M&S and they were £40. I have renewed with direct line at £25 per month as I feel that this gives me enough to take the sting out of any major costs. At £40 per month I think I would rather put it in to a savings account.

Also many companies will not insure a dog over 8 years old.

hi,
   I was originally with direct line,but after 12 months my premium almost doubled(and i hadnt claimed) in price.
I have now changed to M&S and their price and cover are great,lets hope next year it doesnt double in price the same!!!!!!!!

                             sam

M & S have paid out in full, 7 days to receive the cheque.  Very good service I think.

We have one of ours (the only one insured I think) with tesco, they where very good!  they even paid out for a spay when mum put on an unpset voice explaining it was life or death situation!!!  very quick payment, us, vets and maisie all now very happy!

hi have pet plan find them very quick pay out straight to vet no problems about 24.00 per month 50.00 excess

Worth trying DBI (Dog Breeders Insurance) for a quote.

we have pet plan too there suposed to be good from everyone ive herd talk about claiming , we havent had to :) touch wood wont have to use it :)

I have applied for M&S, but the price online is lower than that which they have emailed to me. Although Hants is not in their list of counties it seems they do not apply it as 'rest of uk' ? so it is going to be about £50 more than the website said?

Also they are dragging their heels,although I've had a policy booklet, the paperwork is still not with me and they have not answered my emails asking why the increase in price and where is the documentation.
I know they had to contact our vet as Spice had a short treatment of antibiotics for mastitis shortly after her spay,but I'm worried that they will not cover her all this time from 14th Jan.and will only feel happy when I have the documents in my hand!

Just hope I do not have to start 'shopping' for insurance again, this was a change from Pinnacle to save money and to get better cover,but it is not going as smoothly as I hoped, the premium is now the same as before, although the cover is slightly more.

Jacqueline

Porkie, the same thing happened to me with m&s.  I started the policy in january so  it would have been the 14th after qualifing period.  I too only received the booklet, no policy document.  I phoned and the m&s person had to physically look for the paperwork which she said was still sitting in a folder!!

I was worried about being covered but they assured me it was their error and would all be ok.  We shall soon see as I shall be claiming very soon for Mollys foot. 

It might be worth giving them a ring to find out whats going on.  I'm also in Hampshire and pay £11.19 per month, no excess.

Hi there
Well done for getting insurance.  We had a boxer for almost 12 years and over those years I definately claimed more than I paid in as Schubert was found to have a heart murmour and an underactive thyroid. These problems were found when he was 9 and Sainsburys pet insurance paid out, no questions! They usually paid out after around 2 weeks, so it was a speedy process. The tablets he needed cost around £300 per 3 months so it was a godsend for me.   Before that we were with Petplan and they were good but as Schubert got older, the excess was steep.  They paid up quickly though.
Hope this helps and whatever insurance you take out, you are doing the right thing. I only hope you never need to claim and you have many happy, healthy years with your dog.
Julie

Many thanks all.

I think I''ll go with M&S.  We picked up Cassie on saturday, she has settled in already, making a pest of herself (lol) making me and my partner laugh and cry (lol)............. I think we will need insurance for a nervous breakdown  and of course the NEW CARPET / TV / COFFEE TABLE / SHOES / TROUSER LEGS / HANDS   !!!    lol

Vets this week, first injection next week................................................... aaahhh  bless.