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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Dog insurance - who would you recommend?

39 replies

tipsyloolah · 11/10/2014 19:54

We use Tesco - have all insurance with them so was easiest to do, but I've never had to claim so I don't actually know if they're any good or not.

Would anyone who has had to claim be able to suggest/recommend providers? A friend has just got a (seemingly) healthy dog and is looking to insure.

Have searched and old threads seem to go for PetPlan as vets prefer to deal with them directly, but perhaps that's changed.

Many thanks Smile.

OP posts:
CleaninQueen · 11/10/2014 20:13

I use pet plan, they're fab we've got lifetime cover which I think is brilliant

CleaninQueen · 11/10/2014 20:14

We did have to claim with out female Bengal cat when she was ran over and they were brilliant at paying the vet direct

Original poster
tipsyloolah · 11/10/2014 20:18

Thank you! I've just been looking at reviews for everywhere and they all get awful write-ups Sad - especially Tesco! Maybe all the people who are incredibly satisfied just don't write reviews . . .

OP posts:
digger123 · 11/10/2014 20:19

We had Petplan for 2 years but the premiums doubled so we stopped. 2 yrs after that we had vet's bills which equalled the amount we would have to pay for insurance. Our dog is now over 15 and personally we did the rights thing money-wise not insuring him

TwelveLeggedWalk · 11/10/2014 20:20

NOT the one affiliated to Petdoctors. Was sold to us as hassle free cover for life with direct payment to the vets. Has been a ballache after ballache, and Giant dog now costs over £60 a month to insure. I could insure a rather nice car for that.

ClaimedByMe · 11/10/2014 20:22

I use HelpUCover and they paid out straight away for my dogs operation, my mum uses John Lewis and she hasn't had any bother when she has claimed.

Floralnomad · 11/10/2014 20:23

My mum has Tesco insurance for her 2 elderly dogs we have had to claim a few times and never had any trouble . I use Direct line for my dog and I've made 2 large claims in 4 years ,the premiums have not gone up much at all and they also pay up in a timely fashion and are very helpful.

Original poster
tipsyloolah · 11/10/2014 20:24

Pretty much all of the reviews are saying that the cost of first year, or the cost before any claim, is misleading anyway - once you claim or the dog gets older, they rocket (which seems to be what happened with digger12).

OP posts:
Original poster
tipsyloolah · 11/10/2014 20:25

or even 123 !

OP posts:
Original poster
tipsyloolah · 11/10/2014 20:26

It is just like car and home insurance though I guess - they only like you when you aren't claiming Sad.

OP posts:
pantsjustpants · 11/10/2014 20:50

We've recently insured dpup and went for Argos platinum cover as it was recommended by a friend. She's claimed and found them easy to deal with.

Tiredemma · 11/10/2014 20:53

John Lewis ( as recommended by a mumsnetter)

tabulahrasa · 11/10/2014 21:42

I use purely pets...my premiums have doubled this year, but I claimed about £4000 in the first year and reached my limit last year - and the premiums are still going to be less than his bills this year.

They pay out quickly, they've never quibbled on anything and have paid out even when technically I've broken the terms of the insurance (I didn't get pre-approval for the huge bill).

Toooldtobearsed · 11/10/2014 22:14

Can't recommend MoreThan too highly.
They paid out with no quibbles for both my last, and current dog. Premiums did not really go up until my last girl was an old lady.

Dirtybadger · 12/10/2014 00:41

I'm with MoreThan because they were the best value for money and I hadn't heard too many bad things as with almost all the supermarket insurers (read any of the dog magazines which have insurance question sections and they are usually the ones causing trouble), etc.
I wanted to go with PetPlan but couldn't afford it.

Check out who underwrites your policy.

I paid £25.99 a month for pretty comprehensive cover for a year and now pay £14.99 as my premium was reduced after I made no claims. £25.99 was quite steep consider my dog is a young, healthy SBT but I am happy with £14.99. I have never claimed so can't comment on anything more than their level of cover and affordability.

Cirsium · 12/10/2014 00:52

Pet plan have been great for us with our older dog who sadly died of Leukemia early this year and now a puppy with allergies. No quibbles paying out, they deal directly with the vet, so after the excess payment paid once a year per condition no upfront costs. They will also cover our puppies allergy treatment for the rest of his life, which even if the premiums are more expensive than other places or rise a bit each year will be very worth it, we would have paid out thousands for his treatment this year alone.

ohdearitshappeningtome · 12/10/2014 01:10

We used sainsburys last year but they put premium up even tho no claim! They claim to put up due to vet fees and customer
Relations! I asked
Get and she said they were lying!

Now were with marks and spender for a tenner off what Sainsburys wanted

SquidgyMaltLoaf · 12/10/2014 01:10

I disagree about MoreThan - hate them. Our premium has doubled after about three small claims and we are not covered for stuff others cover as standard.

SquidgyMaltLoaf · 12/10/2014 01:11

Our MoreThan premium is £61! Dog is 7 so not even geriatric!

Original poster
tipsyloolah · 12/10/2014 09:20

Dirtybadger - who should she be looking at as the underwriter?

I really appreciate people taking the time to respond - thank you!

OP posts:
lucidlady · 12/10/2014 09:23

Animal Friends here. It's a not-for-profit company, so it's all about the animal welfare.

lucidlady · 12/10/2014 09:23

www.animalfriends.org.uk

tabulahrasa · 12/10/2014 09:39

Animal friends have a really bad reputation for not paying out.

Toooldtobearsed · 12/10/2014 12:32

Isn't it strange, other people's experiences? I seem to go through life so lucky (I am being serious, not snarky), I have had no problems with Morethan, premiums have never shot up due to claims, but for others they onviously have.
My Tesco delivery comes on time and is correct, others have problems with home delivery.
I have never had a problem with Ebay, NPower have been a joy to speak to on the phone and Virgin have given me fantastic customer support.
I even rate Sky quite highly.

Sorry, going off subject, but everyone will have a great story or terrible story to tell. I think you just need to do some homework on what is offered for the price and go for it.
If you pay attention to every review you would never buy anything!

Notsoskinnyminny · 12/10/2014 14:58

We're with John Lewis, picked purely because it was the cheapest life time policy.

We had to claim for the first time this year (she's 3) and it even includes £250 of prescription food p/a. Our vet recommends petplan and asked to look at the policy docs when he found out food was included. He said we'd wait ages to be reimbursed but the money was in my account within 5 days.

We got our renewal notice just before I contacted them about making a claim so it'll be interesting to see how much the policy goes up next year at it went up by £8 pm to £26. We haven't claimed this year as there's a £75 annual excess and her medication won't cost much more than that and she's back on normal dog food.