Insurance - what will happen?

[Brightbird97]

Hi,

I’m currently really worried about what might happen to me.

I took my first insurance policy for my first dog after advised by a colleague his dog unexpected needed surgery that cost them 7.5k. My dog has suffered with his ears and after a change of vets, felt like I was getting somewhere with a diagnosis.

I took the insurance out and 3 weeks later went to the vets, and just so happened he was diagnosed with Otitis (allergies).

I spoke to the insurance lady at the practice as well as a veterinary nurse who both advised I have grounds to make a claim as prior to my policy, it had not been diagnosed as allergies and my notes did not suggest this either.

I also made a stupid mistake on the application form when asked if he has good health - he is a healthy dog but at the time was just scratching his ears more than the average dog - apparently this was wrong to disclose.

I have been contacted by an investigations firm who think this is specific fraud and have said my notes contain a visit of suspected Otitis and claimed he was a healthy dog.

for clarity, the claim was for £411 in which they have not even paid out, and this was in May of this year.

I’m really worried I might get a conviction or something similar and am desperate for advice so I can sleep well tonight before calling them in the morning.

I have replied and stated all of the above and I am an honest customer who has made a genuine mistake. I would never have submitted a claim if I thought this would have come about.

Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you.

So your dog "suffered with his ears" and after a change of vet, he started to improve?

So you had consulted a vet about his ears?
And you did not declare that to the company?

If that's the case then they are acting normally in refusing to cover all ear-related claims (you are lucky they haven't cancelled your cover completely)

Yes, the specific diagnosis was new, and you acted in good faith (but made a mistake in not disclosing full vet history). But changing vets, not disclosing records from vet 1 in full, then not long after making a claim via vet 2 is a route often used fraudulently, and insurers tend to be hard line over it.

Have you called them yet? You need to get in touch to find out whether they will still cover you with exclusions. I don't think prosecution is likely

And I hope your dog is on the mend soon.