Marks & Spencer Pet Insurance

[Topcat]

I am so angry, my cat Pet Insurance renewal has arrived from Marks & Spencers for one of my cats. They have told me that they have changed their underwriters to "ensure they offer their customers the best level of cover".

I then took the time to read the small print and am so angry to find that not only has my premium gone up by £5 a month, but they put big excess amounts on top of that AND their new terms are a joke, some examples are they no longer pay out for death after the age of 8 !!! You can no longer take an animal to the vets out of hours without calling Marks & Spencer first, so thats great if one of my animals is taken seriously ill I have to start making phone calls and quoting policy numbers before going to the vet!! They no longer pay for prescription food for an animal with an on going illness (this is essential as anyone with a sick animal will know the cost involved) and the list of changes goes on.

I have today written to Watchdog about this as I can not believe that these Insurance Companies can make such huge changes to their policies, and for anyone like myself who has animals insured with them with ongoing complaints we have no option but to stay with them

I now pay Marks & Spencer a huge £74 a month for 4 animals, when I took these policies out the monthly payment was £42 a month and NO EXCESS was the main advantage for being insured with them - what a joke !!

[Dimplyred]

You know what my answer is TC.

[harleyfatboy]

Topcat .....Unfortunately this kinda s/.;t happens all the time i have been in the same position its not nice....... so you either continue or cancel ....believe me you can write... you can phone.... you can lobby your MP.....Dick Turpin aint dead man ...your call....ON A STEEL HORSE I RIDE

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by harleyfatboy

Topcat .....Unfortunately this kinda s/.;t happens all the time i have been in the same position its not nice....... so you either continue or cancel ....believe me you can write... you can phone.... you can lobby your MP.....Dick Turpin aint dead man ...your call....ON A STEEL HORSE I RIDE

At least he had the decency to wear a mask whilst robbing folk.

[robbo51]

Originally Posted by harleyfatboy

Topcat .....Unfortunately this kinda s/.;t happens all the time i have been in the same position its not nice....... so you either continue or cancel ....believe me you can write... you can phone.... you can lobby your MP.....Dick Turpin aint dead man ...your call....ON A STEEL HORSE I RIDE

HF: How about becoming a supporter?
You've made 100+ posts.
How about supporting the forum?
.....and you get a sticker for your car/motorbike

[Jack The Lad.]

Should look good too HFB, for when you post that photo of your pink fat boy. !

[sallytraffic]

Have you tried asking your vet for the best way to insure the animals, TC ? They usually have a good idea what is best.

[harleyfatboy]

Jack the lad ....My wife has a pink harley ....My fatboy is black .... I also have a Silver Annivesary Edition V ROD.... and a Red Road King Custom .... ON A STEEL HORSE I RIDE

[NEEMSTAR]

Originally Posted by harleyfatboy

Jack the lad ....My wife has a pink harley ....My fatboy is black .... I also have a Silver Annivesary Edition V ROD.... and a Red Road King Custom .... ON A STEEL HORSE I RIDE

Harley, VERY amateurish question for you

i want to learn to ride motorbikes
what is the best way to go about it ?

[cylon2007]

Try Petplan they are the best, most vets recommend them and you don't need to contact the insurers first. AS they specialise in Pet insurance they know how it works best.

[Unknownsoldier]

CBT is first, then apply for a full licence, I believe over 21, you don't have to have your bike limited (????).

TC: I put what I would pay monthly into a bank account, works out more economical for me. Petplan, I found where the best for my Alsatian, their diamond cover was great, and their premiums are not too bad. They paid out for almost 12 years continuous, without massive rises in the cover, at one point they were paying for tablets (3/6 a day) at over 30 pounds a tablet, for something like a year!!!!!!

Tom

[harleyfatboy]

Neemstar ... The best way to start is to have the PASSION .....For as in life... without this every thing is harder to achieve .... Then find a competent motorcycle training school in your area ....First there is your theory test to take which is a series of highway code questions and hazard perception videos ....Which require a certain pass mark to move you onto the next test.... which is CBT which is Compulsary basic training ...Once you have gained certificates for both you then either take a direct access course which if you pass makes you eligiable to ride any motorcycle .....or a 125 cc test which is restricted to anything 125cc or below for two years and then you automatically can apply for and get your motorcycle license without taking another test ...if you are thinking of doing this i would be quick as the law regarding tests changes in october ...AND IT WILL BE MORE COMPLEX ...hopes this helps you man ...Good luck with you choice..... FOUR WHEELS MOVE THE BODY TWO WHEELS MOVE THE SOUL

[Topcat]

Ok it was the vet who recommended Marks & Spencer because at the time their Policy ws Nil excess.

I cant change now as the ongoing conditions wont be covered with a new insurance company and they are lifetime conditions

[NEEMSTAR]

Originally Posted by harleyfatboy

Neemstar ... The best way to start is to have the PASSION .....For as in life... without this every thing is harder to achieve .... Then find a competent motorcycle training school in your area ....First there is your theory test to take which is a series of highway code questions and hazard perception videos ....Which require a certain pass mark to move you onto the next test.... which is CBT which is Compulsary basic training ...Once you have gained certificates for both you then either take a direct access course which if you pass makes you eligiable to ride any motorcycle .....or a 125 cc test which is restricted to anything 125cc or below for two years and then you automatically can apply for and get your motorcycle license without taking another test ...if you are thinking of doing this i would be quick as the law regarding tests changes in october ...AND IT WILL BE MORE COMPLEX ...hopes this helps you man ...Good luck with you choice..... FOUR WHEELS MOVE THE BODY TWO WHEELS MOVE THE SOUL

cheers

(sorry TC)

[sfboy]

Not being funny TC, but I remember you whinging about M&S insurance last year.

You can't move because of your pets ongoing conditions. Unlike car insurance, pet insurance isn't a legal requirement, so if you were really so hard done by you would self insure as I suggested last year, but it sounds as though your actually getting a pretty good deal as you made over £1200 worth of claims last year and I'm guessing you've made more since then, they have to make money somewhere.

PS I'm still paying over 1k for my car insurance- and that's with no claims and a year older/wiser, if that makes you feel any better.

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by sfboy

Not being funny TC, but I remember you whinging about M&S insurance last year.

You can't move because of your pets ongoing conditions. Unlike car insurance, pet insurance isn't a legal requirement, so if you were really so hard done by you would self insure as I suggested last year, but it sounds as though your actually getting a pretty good deal as you made over £1200 worth of claims last year and I'm guessing you've made more since then, they have to make money somewhere.

PS I'm still paying over 1k for my car insurance- and that's with no claims and a year older/wiser, if that makes you feel any better.

I did moan last year about this subject an now this year they have changed their underwriters AGAIN together with their terms, their restrictions and their excess and their premiums.

Insurance Companies should not be allowed to do this to people that are tied to them with ongoing treatment.

If you dont like your car Insurance premium when it arrives you can move to another company and likewise with house insurance etc etc but when it comes to any form of medical insurance whether for an animal or a human we are well an truely stuck with it.

Putting money aside is not an option do you have any idea how much vets bill can run into if an animal needs a scan or an operation?

[Topcat]

Oh and if you work out I pay £888 a year now on pet insurance and an excess of £70 for each dog and £50 for each cat plus 20% extra excess for the cat that is over 9 I think its fair to say I that is not really a great deal now is it?

But If I cancel the insurance and one of dogs suddenly needs a brain scan or an operation on the hips I would be looking at paying out £1000s and £1000s.

[Kremmen]

Shop around - there must be better companies ?

Don't Direct Line do pet insurance for example ?

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by Kremmen

Shop around - there must be better companies ?

Don't Direct Line do pet insurance for example ?

Both my dogs who are only 3 and 4 and one cat who is now 9 have conditions that can flare up at anytime because I have made claims for those conditions they will not be covered now by another insurance company.

So the point to what I am saying is that these Insurance Companies know that people like me can not change companies but they are able to change their terms, prices etc etc whenever they like.

Last year I compared prices and other companies benefits and again this year an it would seem that Marks & Spencer have changed from being one of the best to one of the worst in the last three years.

[sfboy]

Sorry TC, I do feel for your situation, and I empathise with your position. It sounds as though the insurance companies have been using their 'we reserve our right to change policy conditions at renewal', or whatever it is called over zealously.

Reading the whole two threads again one could question whether this is just another marketing trick used by financial organisations. Like the credit cards that offers 0% for three months then jumps to 35%+, it sounds as though this was a classic introductory offer, and now they have you they can really put the boot in.