Just got the renewal through for Willis - and, despite no claims, despite living in the middle of nowhere, despite him only being 2 its gone up from £12 to £15 and now to £18.99!! And Phoebes (when I checked on hers at the same time) has gone up to £20 a month! When questioned they tell me its based on age and breed and a claim wouldn't have made a difference.

But, for quote of the year from stupid-greedy-money-grabbing-useless-More-Th>n was "Pedigree dogs are less healthy than mongrels and claim more"

Riiiiiiiiiight. On what basis? That more pedigrees are INSURED because they COST MORE perhaps and therefore you have more people CLAIMING?

Duh. Insurance cancelled. Even PetPlan is cheaper. Not happy

My last insurance company, who shall remain nameless, were irritating to say the least.  They were expensive to start with but they charged more for pedigrees (which I think is standard) and then when I had my renewal I discovered the monthly premium for Copper had gone up by 5 pounds.  When I phoned to complain they said "We now send you a newsletter".  Hmmm like I really needed a newsletter?

I've switched to what is certainly a cheaper company for the same cover.  The proof of the pudding is when you come to claim.  That's when I really start tearing my hair out!  Not a fan of ANY insurance company I'm afraid.

CG

That sounds quite cheap :D I pay £40 per month for my two, which includes a mongrel :D (Petplan) Not that I begrudge a penny as I have just recouped my last two years premiums in one claim :)

I would have thought that was cheap, compared to your 'running' costs for two Great Danes. If I drove a Rolls-Royce - then I would expect more insurance :)

Daisy

Edited to say that -  as I mentioned elsewhere, Petplan payed out really quickly and without comment for my last claim. You get what you pay for :)

Well I think its an outrageous amount of money to charge. Its £230 a year and and over £500 for both!

As for running costs - hardly - Burns plus Green tripe @ 12p a pound won't break the bank, but running £500 per year for a potential of ten years is ridiculous! My horses only cost £350 a year each with PetPlan!! And they are insured for full value and a lot more vet fees.

But if you sit down and work out how much you would put away if you self-insured (an amount a month into a savings account) - how much do you think that you would have to put away ? Tara's broken toe cost £500 and that was without the other problems that we had. My neighbours had retriever cost £6000 to have both her knees operated on. I am sure that other people can add to this :) OK - it's fine if you don't have to claim. I've only had to claim twice in 5 years and both were for accidents, not illness. Bearing in mind that the cost of an anaesthetic for a Great Dane must be huge ......... :)

As for running costs - I thought that Willis ate bedding not tripe :D

Daisy

Insurance companies are great (I've always insured despite my moans) if you can actually get them to pay up.  They seem to go out of their way to find reasons not to pay.  I used to have a great pet insurer who paid up over a thousand pounds with no problems when my cat got run over and had to have its leg amputated.  However, when I tried to insure the new pets with them, guess what - they've changed their terms and conditions.  Hmmm, I wonder why!  I always seem to be insured for everything imaginable, except what I claim for. 

On the other hand, my mum's spaniel had to have an emergency op to remove a peach stone and it's all gone through no problem.  She's with SAGA though, I'm still not quite at that stage :D

CG

Daisy - my point is that they are increasing premiums year on year and for what? I didn't complain at £11, and I didn't complain at £15 - but whats it going to be at aged 5 if this carries on? They are taking the mick frankly, putting on a couple of quid across the board and making a fortune because they think we are so stupid as not to check our policies.

You're loyal to a company and they take the mick! And THEN they don't even have a half decent excuse for doing so!

Willis likes a nice drink of feathers to wash his tripe down with, yes :D

Petplan did make it quite clear that my premiums have gone up - they state that it is due to increased vets' charges and I'm sure that this must be partly to blame - certainly in my area, I did some checking when Tara was spayed last year and the charges had gone up quite a lot on the previous year.

When we got Tara 2 years ago we did consider NOT insuring, but decided against. My personal opinion is to either go with the best insurance or not to insure at all. So far our decision has proved right - but I hope that in another couple of years I will be able to say that it was a waste of money :D :D

Daisy

I am changing to Petplan - its £14 a month with them - and I insure all 4 horses with them and I find them very efficient.

You must live in a very cheap area :D :D

Daisy

Not according to More than :D :D

I just checked what it is for a Great Dane in my area - it's £291.50 (that's for the lifetime budget plan) I'm definitely NOT getting one of them :D

Daisy

LOL @ Mel :D

Daisy - try 2! :d

The problem with insurance is that it is a never ending spiral.

Vets costs go up because they know the insurance will pay, the insurance goes up to cover the Vets increased fees, the vets costs go up because............and on, and on.

For those of us who have given up insuring our dogs due to paying out far more than we ever recover, this is a pain because even though we dont insure, we are still hit by the price rises.

snomaes

Agree with you 100% but what can we do?  Who can pay a vets bill of thousands without insurance??

CG

When you have nine dogs like we do, it COSTS thousands per year to insure them anyway! Taking into account that insurance will not pay out for annual boosters and there is quite a high excess now on most policies, we never seemed to be able to recover any money even if we did visit the vet.

We gave up insurance many years ago and for quite a while we put the equivalent money away in a savings account. The sums that can build up if you have basically healthy dogs is quite an eye-opener.
We eventually gave up saving because the money was not used. Half our dogs have not visited the vets for years and the others have only been for reproduction related reasons, health screening and vaccinations which are generally excluded from most policies.

Last year we had to pay out several thousand pounds for an operation on one of our dogs, but the money it cost in total was LESS than a years premiums for all our dogs!

If we had a huge vet bill to pay, we would take out a bank loan. This is still a cheaper option long term than insurance.

We do have separate third-party only insurance for all our dogs to guard against any unforeseen incidents.

snomaes

I totally agree with you Chloe, Jazz was insured with charge More Than the rest of em.  His premium went up from £10 per month for the first year £12 the second and they wanted £18 this year.  I never have understood on what basis insurance companies charge you because it seems to me its a charge what the hell you like business.

Michelle

arghh insurance....

Currently the boys are only covered for accidental injury. However i am now looking to insure them for all vets fees....

But here is the problem. EVERY insurance policy i have looked at, classes dill as a PEDIGREE......... he is a lurcher. How is that a pedigree???????? he has beardie, greyhound, collie and bedlington in his background, how on earth does that make him a pedigree huh?

I realise that if a lurcher is worked then it might incur more injuries than a bog standard crossbreed, but loads of polices do have a 'is this dog worked, raced, does security' etc, so surely that would cover that bit!

So far im looking at Direct line as its cover looks worth it and the excess is not ridiculous.

Any tips? Or do i put him down as a crossbreed, he isnt a particularly tall lurcher anyway.

Em

I always thought that ALL insurances went up with inflation!!

Im with More Than also, its up for renewal in December anyway, so im going to change it (its only the first year anyway).

I was thinking of Pet Plan. Is this a good choice, from peoples experiences?

Gonzo,

Remember if you are going to change it because it is up for renewal in December you will need to start a new policy now or you will have a couple months without insurance as most companies won't pay out for the first month or two of the policy. :-)

A friend of mine has both her Lurchers down on the insurance policies as Greyhound Cross breeds, my own pet insurance is a really good one though my dogs are pedigree they are not recognised by the kc, so the company has them down as pedigree but non kc recognised, i pay £10 per month and they are really good with their payouts!

I use a company called Petline, I got them through a broker, so far they have been brilliant I have had to claim twice this year and they have paid out with no problem.  Also they are £15.00 per month.  I thought that was very good as some of my friends are paying £23.00 per month with Petplan.

Hi There, running quite a few dogs the amount they quote for me is horrendous so I decided to put half the amount away each month a few years ago this has paid for all my dogs treatment Including a broken leg a complete hip rebuild on a puppy whose mother stepped on her and much much more, this year it has paid for a leather suite and I still have plenty aside incase of emergencies. I may be very lucky as I have a wonderful vet who does not over charge and provides excellent care, he will even let people pay in installments if they have to at no extra cost, he is very much a vet for the animals not the money. To be quite honest I don't know what I'd do if this man went back to Australia where he comes from he is a gem.

http://www.vip4u.co.uk/

Independent specialist pet insurance brokers

He sounds like my vet, and he is from the same part of the world?

I'll need to check mine as I am with Morethan also. :-)

It seems the insurance companies are doing the same as a good deal of the vets charging what they like.  When you look at some of the vet bills quoted they are daylight robbery.

Chloe,

NOw don't jump up and down ;-) I just called Morethan as my Labrador's insurance is due for renewal on the 5th Nov,  it is currently £11.49 with more than this years payment is actually going down to £10.99.. 

Not sure what has happened with yours. Are they putting your breed into a higher risk catagory now do you know?

BFN Pam

I had Petplan do this with me for this years renewal.

I changed to M&S and saved over £200 for two dogs over a year.  My Monthly premium with Petplan went up to £49 per month with two dogs.  I know I live in an expensive area being in the South East but they could give me no explanation for the rise.

They did pay out quickly, but the one claim I have had with M&S was just as quick and efficient.

Sandra

Speechless Chloe ;-)

Very strange. Edited to ad not very strange about you being speechless just stranged about Morethan :-))

Frankly, I feel persecuted!

Perhaps they have heard of Will's reputation on here

Chloe you have hit the nail on the head :-)  we have a spy ;-)

Poor Will's

Poor lickle Willis - its not like he deserves it... he only *nearly* choked on the feathers he pulled out my duvet, he only *nearly* got a splinter from eating the conservatory, he only *just* got booted by the pony when he thought she was another Great Dane in season, he only *nearly* got an obstuction from eating a small Thomas the Tank Engine and he definitely only *slightly* fell down the hill into a tree when Phoebe broadsided him in the field. Sigh. :D

LOL Chloe,

In that case the insurance has a cheek as he is only " nearly" a risk. The nerve ;-)

Pam

PS my westies are 10.99 also ( sorry for rubbing it in).   Mind you they fall down the hill a bit slower, and if kicked by another westie don't end up as far down the field ;-)

Yes my Ickle Moose is £11.49 a month as well with More than:)
The nice man said it is done on Post code, breed of dog and age :)
I changed her from the Kennel club insurance as that went up some stupid amount after her first year ! We have had to stick with them for MB aka Dudley dog because of her HD ! Nobody else would take her on poor little girl ! :)

I searche a company which I found on here.. pethealthcare insurance (which is now More than)  and next to your quote I see this...........

If your dog is less than 11 when you claim, your excess will be £70.00 or 15% of the total amount claimed - whichever is more.

If your dog is 11 or older when you claim, your excess will be £95.00 or 20% of the total amount claimed - whichever is more.

I can say I do not like the (WHICHEVER IS MORE) comment..... are alot of insurance policies like this?

Sorry for the trouble, but am a bit worried and I am trying to fnd a suitable company for all my babies..
d
Suzanne

My theory is that, generally, more pedigree dogs than mongrels are boostered every year, hence they suffer from more immune-related illnesses and conditions.
But, maybe that's a whole new debate.........;)

I use Direct line and they are fantastic.  One of my dogs is on permanent treatment and they pay direct to my vet, no quibbles any claim which can vary month to month from £80-£350.   Only £45 excess too.

Bev

I did warn people re this as I was insured with MoreThan with my Boxer bitch whose 6 yo.
Despite only claiming once in 4 years of insuring her with them..and then no more than £150
From 21.99 a month last year's policy amount they wanted to hike her premiums upto 38.99 per month!!
I cancelled my policy with them too......................

Currently got a renewal through from Petplan & it's gone from £15.55 to £16.95 so shopping around.

The cheapest is more than at £10.99,excess is £70 or 15% of the claim.

Petplan says just £70.00.

Therefore do I go for the lower monthly premium or opt for the one that would help more financially if treatment was needed.

Have you tried Pinnacle?  We have a £50 Excess and it is £130 a year for an Elkhound male.

Personally i'd go for the straight excess - we had to claim and only had to pay the £60 excess for petplan :) Whereas a colleague of mine at work was with more than and she ended up paying nearly £300 as an excess as her dog required quite a lot of treatment :( That's only my personal opinion though :)

will give pinnacle a try.

Chloe, my friend lost her Dane last year, insured with Morethen and was left with a £750 vet bill.
Her Dane was nearly 8, had heart problems, was on propalin and tablets for joints.  This was costing her 15% of every treatment plus she had just renewed the policy at a cost of £26 per month.  Morethen paid the final claim for 2 night stay at the vet plus previous call out excluding all the accrued exceses and the balance of the annual premuim.
It came as a nasty shock when she received a cheque for just over £100 and went to settle up with the vet.  She lives on a pension and was struggling to pay the insurance but thought it would help if the dog ever became seriously ill.
So now a year later she is still paying off a vet bill for a dog she no longer has.

Thats interesting - and also very worrying! I have decided to go with PetPlan on the basis of the way they handled my claim with one of the horses - at least I know they have a good reputation as a company. Thanks

Chloe

Our MoreThan insurance also goes down year on year.  It started at £12.99 four years ago and is now £8.99 per dog - Bichons though - but no claims and a year on year reduction.

Lucy

Just as car insurance, house insurance or any other insurance premiums vary from year to year. so does pet insurance. Do we complain at paying car insurance or contents insurance for the house each year and not having a claim.

I decided to insure my dogs after one of them had a large vet bill each year for totally different reasons- she was accident prone to say the least!

Despite an exclusion for previous illness/ treatment within three months I had a claim for 450 pounds, the second year a cruciate repair and ongoing treatment came to nearly 2000 pounds. The next year she took pneumonia and  four months treatment and xrays etc came to 1000 pounds.
She died last month and the bill from July to then is still to go through.

Petplan paid out direct to my vet with no quibble so I did not need to find the money first. When I notified them of her death my monthy payments were stopped immediately.

Even with my excess and the premiums for my other dog - who has had no claims- I am still quidds in!

As an aside, she died when we were on holiday. We phoned the local vet at six in the evening. He said his surgery was at eight o'clock but in the circumstances he would meet us at the surgery. When we got there the surgery was attached to his house. We were there for  less than ten minutes. He charged us a call out fee of 17.50 on top of  the disposal fee.

Genuine question (before someone thinks I'm being antagonistic!). Does pet insurance have a no-claims bonus, like car and house insurance does?

Has anyone had any dealings with E&L (Equine and livestock Insurance)? They are reasonably priced... I have made a few claims with them and have not had any troubles... sadly the ones I did not have insured with them have cost me over £4,500 in the past 6 weeks!! Needless to say I now have every one of them insured... I am quite lucky as I get a "breeders" discount and pay only £6.20/ month for the basic insurance... that is a 50% discount from the normal price, which helps alot as I have quite a few dogs insured.

Suzanne xx

>He charged us a call out fee of 17.50 on top of  the disposal fee.

Thats cheap, my vet charges £45 to meet him at the surgery even if he is already there because it is still out of hours :(