Hi,

Much against my better judgement, I have been insured with M & S Pet Insurance for the past year paying £23.00 per month for 4yr and 2 yr old Briards respectively. I used to put money away in a high savings interest account but that was used for one of the dogs in an emergency and I was not disciplined or financially able enough to continue, so Pet Insurance was the next best thing.

I've just had my renewal quotes through and see that they have changed underwriter and the premium has risen dramatically :( My now 5yr old has risen by £5.00 pm and my now 3yr old has risen by £4.00 per month, doesn't sound much but when you add it up over a year it hurts.

My previous cover was Vets fees up to £7,000 per dog, ongoing per condition. I have had quotes from other insurers and their price is just as expensive, if not more but with less cover. Has anybody got any recommendations on other Companies that are reasonable in comparison?

You could try AXA (they were the M&S underwriters). When I got my Goldie pup in October I got a quote from M&S which was roughly £280 a year. Going direct to AXA, the same policy was £190ish. 4 of my other dogs are with M&S (2 I've made numerous claims so am stuck with them) and the M&S quote was including the multiple pet discount! My Dobe's insurance practically doubled with M&S at the last renewal. Depending on the next renewal premium I think I may change the 2 dogs I haven't claimed with, to AXA.

Healthy Pets underwritten by AXA seems very reasonable with good ongoing and lifelong cover.

> Healthy Pets underwritten by AXA seems very reasonable with good ongoing and lifelong cover.

I was just going to suggest that.  2 of my dogs are with M&S, and are £34 and £15 a month each.  Healthy pets quoted me £28 for all 4 dogs with very good cover.

I can't change the oldest one to them - she's with petplan - because I'm just about to have her thyroid tested and chances are she's got hypothyroidism, so I will need the life cover for her medication.  But she's only £20.50 a month anyway, not great but pretty good for a 6yr old dog.
The other three will go to healthy pets though.

I was with M&S - on my renewal they had scrapped my no excess, had put my excess to 15% of any total bill and doubled my premium.  No reason given and no reasonable excuse given when I phoned them except the dog was 8 and a higher risk.  Blah.

I eventually got him in with AXA on their top cover for £14 a month.  I must have rung 20 insurance companies and may I mention that if your dog has ever seen a behaviourist nearly all the insurance companies won't touch them.  AXA did insure mine but with an exclusion involving incidents with other dogs.  Hmmm.  Pet insurance is becoming really hard work for the buyer.  The companies just don't want the risk.

CG

I was with M&S and ended up going with Axa also :D

just all remmber that axa was the first under writer for m/s when they started 5 years ago i was one of the first to to take out INSURANCE cover for chase with at £10 a month with 0 excess then they put it up and up each year then sold to another company last year,
so i would be awear incase they do the same again catching you in at a low deal,

plus as anyone that was with m/s under axa had a claim and now gone just with axa,have they coverd you.

Personally I wouldn't touch AXA or E & L, might be cheaper than many but not necessarily reliable when it come to making a claim.  :rolleyes:

M&S were always great with any claims I have made but my premiums doubled last year and as they are ending their 0 excess at renewal I will be cancelling mine as each comes up for renewal.  I insure 2 dogs and 2 cats at a cost of £56 per month.  It was great when they had 0 excess because I could claim for everything but its going to be a waste of time when they start charging £50 or whatever excess.  Im going to start a savings account for the pets so I will have money put by in case anything happens.  I will need to insure them 3rd party though so will have to look into that.

I never had any trouble with claiming from M&S while Axa was the underwriter.  I am one of those people who is stuck with M&S now as one of my dogs has had two crucuiate operations and requires ongoing treatment for arthritis :-(  Any opinions on M&S's new underwriter, Spender?  Think it's Sun Alliance (?)

M & S will keep AXA in line, LOL; :-D just don't trust them when left to their own devices...too many stories...M & S themselves are decent

Never heard a bad word about Royal & Sun Alliance apart from they are not cheap. 

But of course there is always exceptions in every case.......

Well, that's reassuring at least.  The expense bit is not my main concern, as, having claimed thousands of pounds in the last 18 months or so, I'm well in credit ;-) and I can't afford not to have insurance for him.

Remember that if you ever change insurance companies, any condition that your dog's suffered from before won't be covered.