i found out today that my dogs insurance had not been renewed due to a cock up at the insurance company. i hadnt noticed the direct debits not coming out. can i start the policy again from today i asked yes but any pre existing conditions are excluded. i told them she had been to the vet with possible epilepsy but had no treatment but that didnt matter to include epilepsy i had to pay the payments id missed- over £100. i wouldnt mind but it was their cock up and she never had treatment and i never made a claim. so am i stuck with this pet insurance for life? why do pre existing conditons include stuff you dont claim or even get medication for?

Was it quite a while before you noticed? only this happened to me but only one month was missed and when I pointed out to them that I hadn't cancelled my insurance and that it should have just carried on they just took the months' payment that was missed so that I could carry on with no penalties. I was quite relieved as that particular insurance was for my girl with an ongoing (life) condition and I would have been well and truly in trouble without it.

>any pre existing conditions are excluded<

Was epilepsy declared on the original policy?

>been to the vet with possible epilepsy but had no treatment<

If your girl hasn't got epilepsy, and no treatment was given, no payment made? then I wouldn't declare that she hasn't got it, thats declaring something that she hasn't got?

Sorry to be a pessimist but if your girl has been to the vet regarding possible epilepsy is it because she is showing some neurological condition that will exclude her from having paid insurance treatment further on down the line.  If your present company will let you pay the missed payments (and £100 is nothing compared to what a vets bill might be) and she was covered before you attended your vet with possible epilepsy you should still be covered.

If you go to another insurance company it is just about definite that they will ask your vet what treatment or investigations your dog has had before making any payment and they will assume there was a good reason for you going to the vet to test for epilepsy in the first place.  Just playing devils advocate here.

Alf suffered with a bad leg at the beginning of last year, he had x-rays etc and two lots of hydrotherapy but because an actual condition was never diagnosed it is not classed as a pre-existing condition.

Depends how long they didn't go out for and for what reason. A number of yrs ago this happened to me but it was the company who had stopped asking for the payments from the bank, I think probably cos the dog had cost them a lot of money..............................they said tuff and she would not be covered again..............my answer was then I suggest u go and ask your supervisor for her answer cos I will go to the press. The insurance was running again in 10 minutes.
I think it really depends if the payments not going out is your fault or theres.