written by Notts_Guy on 18/11/2012
These were indeed very good and competitively priced pet insurers; that is until a change in the terms when renewing after a years subscription.
Specifically, it's a new clause entitled 'co-compulsory insurance' - which you are liable for. So what does that mean ?
Simply put, you have to pay 10% of the cost for your pets treatment (this is after having paid your excess - as well as monthly/annual premium). This is an utter con, and *IF* you were unfortuneate enough to have an animal that had a hugely expensive operation..or it needed costly life long treatment - you have no choice but to pay for 10% of that treatment.
If you are on a low income particularly, this will leave you with no peace of mind. Some ongoing treatments, or major surgeries can cost thousands - meaning in order for them to pay the other 90%, or risk invalidating your cover - you potentially would have to have the ability to pay hundreds of pounds. And as I said, if it's a lifelong condition, then 10% of such costly treatments may simply be beyond your reach.
My years subscription was up this month, and I got the renewal notice, along with the policy leaflet. This new 'co-compulsory' insurance is now included on the back of the form. This would leave me with no peace of mind in a crisis..which is why we have insurance to begin with. Cancelled it the same day, and the customer rep at Petsathome didn't offer any resistance once I mentioned that I'd seen the new clause - just surrendered without a sales pitch when I told him I'd spotted it..!!
It's your money, your pet, your choice. Sorry for the gloomy update to a once good company to have had pet insurance with.