All,

I had my two dogs insured with Petplan.  No problem with Petplan, they were great after one of my dogs broke her leg and required two surgeries.   I would recommend them to anyone.

This year when it came to renewing I took the time to check rates.   Petplan wanted £560 pounds to insure my two Cairns.  I was considering dropping insurance because I thought that was way over the top.  I had not made a claim for either dog over the past year, both are healthy (knock wood.)

So I did a bit of web surfing and was able to insure both dogs for £204 a year with Direct Line - less than the cost of insuring one dog with Petplan.  Plus, I didn't have to pay for cover I didn't want - like money in case my dog dies or is lost, etc.  

I hope never to have to use Direct Line - but at least it's there if something happens.

Stacey

I swore never to give PetPlan another penny after my first dog turned 8 years old and they started increasing the premium by more than 30% a year, despite her never having had a day's illness in her life.  You can't knock their service, but you can (as you have found) buy the same service for much less money.

Direct Line have been excellent in my experience, no issues at all with claims, and far cheaper.

M.

Hi

I have just taken out a policy with E & L insurance, and it is costing £13.70 a month. Seems to give good cover too.

Actually Rach, I'd say that's not that cheap - particularly as E&L are notorious for not paying out if they can POSSIBLY help it. ;)

I think most people on this board have heard many horror stories and would recommend you changed ...

M.

Thanks for that advice Brihow Collies, I will have a rethink! I found it quite difficult comparing all the various insurance companies, who would you recommend?

I use Direct Line for the dogs I own solely and have at home, and have found them excellent.  More Than usually get good recommendations too.

For the dog I own in partnership, we have used the M&S policy with no excess as that seemed 'neater' from the partnership angle, but (touching wood manically) haven't had cause to use it yet.

There are lots of threads on here if you use the search facility, and you will normally find the same recommendations and the same warnings.  You do need to look at some of the less well known policies and make sure that they are not underwritten by E&L.

M.

Oh and PS - note that Direct Line do two policies, one of which is on an annual basis and one of which is cover for life.  I use the cover for life one, and mine is still cheaper than the E&L price quoted above.  (Also pedigrees, although a different breed - don't know whether that will make a positive or negative difference.)

rach1, E&L are usually cheap but that's all!  But that doesn't sound cheap to me, but I supposed it depends what dog you are insuring.  Please do a search on this site and see what others say.  If you're still in your cooling off period, do think again! :(
Look at M&S.

I'm with Petplan for my Golden Retriever - and am currently in dispute with Petplan over the cost of DAP plug ins - they paid for them for over a year and then stopped paying - citing that they had paid for them in error, outside their T&Cs.  Strange, given they had paid for around half a dozen claims for DAP each around £40 - 60. 

The case is with the financial ombudsman, who as I understand it are trying to negotiate with Petplan to get them to pay.  I will let everyone know what the final outcome is. 

Petplan are also paying for Struvite problems with the golden - he is on a special diet and touch wood - they have paid no problem.

Our whippet cross is with M&S on a no excess policy.  haven't had cause to use them yet - hope i won't have to.  But the cost was only around £10 a month compared to over £20 a month for Petplan and an £80 excess!  Sadly stuck with Petplan given the goldens underlying health conditions - Struvite and Anxiety.  But must admit I have really had my monies worth from them - aside from this DAP dispute.

Always make sure its a whole of life policy and also check the excess.  A lot of companies are now sneakily making the excess a percentage of the total bill instead of a fixed amount.  Marks and Spencer do a policy with no excess, you just pay more in your premium but it worked out to be a few pence a month extra.  However, once the animal reaches 9 years old they switch to the percentage thing - no choice.  I think all companies are going this way as vets fees go through the roof.

I had a claim for Copper with M&S and they paid up no problem.  Not even one phone call to ask me to "explain the details again".  Quite impressed so far although it's not the cheapest.  I pay 13.90 per month for the dog and 7.90 for the cat.

CG

Are you sure that the insurance gives life cover for ongoing conditions.  Many will not insure the following year for something that has been treated the previous, so if your dog needs lifetime medication you get nothing after the first year.  Some also do cover ongoing conditions, but after a preset limit is readhed (say £6000) the cover expires for this, whereas others reinstate the annual figure each year.

I had exactly the same thing happen with Petplan.  They paid up on a bill for around £1500 with no problem, then the renewal came through and had gone up to a ridiculous amount.

I am now with M&S.

Have read all your comments and some of the other posts about insurance, and think I will cancel the E&L policy- still in the cooling off period. Have had a look at M&S and that does look good to me. My breeds are Dobermann and Rottweiler.
Thanks for the advice!

Aty the time we insured we found Pinacle good too, but there is a £50 excess or 15% of the claim.

Hi Rach1
have just taken out a policy for our 18 week dobe and it is about £15 a month (that is without an excess to pay for a claim) but will be cheaper if you choose the option to pay for an excess.
Everyone has said so far that they have had no problems and even when claiming.
Em

My rottie is insured with M+S and its about £12 a month (based on the area I live). E+L were cheaper, but took on everyones advise on here didn't go with them. My last dog was with pet plan and they always paid out quickly but were too expensive and I didn't like the guys attitude when it came to settling after barnie died.

My cats are with Direct line and again, they pay out quickly, but you have to let them know in advance that you are putting in a claim and then they send you a form. I hope to have little experience with M+S but everyone says they are good.

Thats interesting. I had to claim approx £1500 from Petplan last year and our renewal hardly went up at all. However I do pay approximately £70 pcm for two dogs, one with an £80 excess and the other with a £90 excess. I have looked at M&S and they seem to provide reasonable cover for the value. I have never had to claim anything for one of mine so may change them over when their renewal is due, though Petplan have been very good and our vets bill them direct :).

M&S will give on going cover but if you change insurers from one to M&S they will contact your vet to see if there are any pre existing conditions that they may not want to cover.  If the condition is not there at the change over they will cover it.  You can get a complete statement of cover from their web site. 

I nearly died when I sent of for my 6 week free insurance from PP and got the statement that said the premium for my new puppy, when it kicked in, would be £22 plus.  I am changing to M&S next week as I have done with my others.

my parents pay £60 per annum for their lurcher to be insured with E&L and they paid out really quickly when she was attacked by another dog and had to have stitches.  Personally im with Direct Line, once they have paid out for the latest stuff though I will probably cancel it and put the money into a bank account because the vet bills always come to under the excess so I never get to claim :(

There is no excess with our M&S policy.  I think that is standard but check it out on the web site.

You have to select to have no excess with the M&S policy.