written by 458Ross on 30/05/2022
Have been a customer for a decade and alwasy re-newed. Premium increased to more than £1000 this year so belatedly looked at the alternatives. Have saved over £600 by changing. Direct Line abuses your trust loyalty.
written by Abigayle197 on 11/11/2019
I Took out Insurance with Direct line for my Dog who at the age of one was put down with a tumour on his spine Direct Line have come out with some rubbish excuses not to pay out on my Insurance I would never use them again or recommend this company to anybody and I will be taking this matter Further Do not buy there Pet Insurance.
written by Abigayle197 on 11/11/2019
I Took out Insurance with Direct line for my Dog who at the age of one was put down with a tumour on his spine Direct Line have come out with some rubbish excuses not to pay out on my Insurance I would never use them again or recommend this company to anybody and I will be taking this matter Further Do not buy there Pet Insurance.
written by KatyStedham on 16/06/2019
I took out a policy for my dog 11 years ago. I now pay £53+ per month - When it came to claiming I realised the policy was virtually useless compared with other products at this price. I would never trust Direct Line again.
written by Ssherwin91 on 21/12/2017
Disgusting company avoid at all costs, we paid thousands in pet insurance over 6 years and when we came to put a small claim in for our dog they used a loophole to say because we switched policy’s from one direct line policy to another it was no longer a continuous policy and was invalid. Modern day robbery at its finest.
written by 220Stack on 08/09/2017
I find it very hard to understand that this company is still selling pet insurance with the reviews from many upset customers , myself included. After a long battle with staff who do not understand who the FCA are even though they are selling insurance is very worrying . I too am looking to take legal advice and putting a case to the FCA and copy to the CEO of the company to get some clarity.They even agreed that how I have been treated is not good enough and said they had sent me a cheque for £50.00 gesture of good will my foot they can have it back.
written by GaigeCochran287 on 29/07/2017
My poor german shepherd suffered with ear problems and after misdiagnosis eventually required surgery I do not blame direct line for not agreeing to cover the costs,but they seem to have information from the vet's that I did not have despite being there at the time therefore I have come to the conclusion that they will do everything to stop paying out ...no discussion not a a very personal service they did pay for the minor problems but the big one no.notcheap premiums .My advice is do question them on what cover you are getting if you are thinking of taking out their cover as your animal is precious. Make sure you know what expensive cover you are paying for. I used them for lots but those days are gone
written by Pruittdx380 on 07/03/2017
I would not recommend this company to anyone, tried to make a claim for an operation which my dog needs and they're refusing to pay out I have now cancel my insurance and gone elsewhere. The customer service is shocking was told on many occasions that someone was going to ring me back and each time I had to ring them back to chase things up, overall just an awful company!
written by on 12/09/2016
Go with the advanced £8000 maximum benefit policy. They pay claims without any questions and are improving their pet insurance a lot lately. The major downside was having to wait up to 2 months for a payout, however they have introduced an online claims procedure now (assuming your vets have signed up for this) and typically pay out in a week now. They have also started covering for dental disease recently so I really can't fault them. Beware this isn't lifetime cover, however there aren't any time limits and unless you spend more than £8000 on a single condition you should be pretty happy. If you can't afford some of the more expensive companies then I go with Direct Line's £8000 cover.
written by Cherish346 on 30/04/2016
Only interested in finding ways not to pay claims the worst company ever dealt with never ring back when promised now have serious doubts about my car insurance no chance of recomending or continuing with policy
written by 197Mead on 05/10/2015
Insurance supposed to take the financial pain away from sad occasions 4 weeks on and after a £600 bill , that I have paid directly to the Vets , Direct Line still haven't paid , I have cancelled car insurance , home insurance and breakdown insurance in the past because of the poor service , so this policy will be cancelled soon and be placed with a professional company DEAL WITH DIRECT LINE WITH CAUTION , BUYER BEWARE
written by Ziegler263 on 16/09/2015
My German shepherd suffers from an ear condition which I paid to be treated and it was resolved,she then got a separate infection and require treatment, they linked the two and said we were out of time to claim quoting small print in the policy, I will need to obtain more information. I don't think I will bother and will settle myself, I and my wife have used this lot for car insurance for over10years and the dog for 7 or8 no claims in this time whatsoever I will never use direct line again in any capacity
Written on: 12/09/2016
Not very fair. Most companies will link ear and skin conditions, a vet will say that if a dog has repeated ear infections they are susceptible to this and therefore are linked. This wasn't paid because you went for a time-limited policy.
written by KierraBarrett on 07/08/2015
Put my policy up by 50%! My dog is only 5 and our cats are 1 year and 6 month's! When I queried this they said it was because I had a past claim. This claim was for our cat that got run over and we never found her. When I called to take her off the policy they said I could claim for the £35 which was the min cost you can enter. I would never of done so if I knew what effect it would have on my policy! I wonder if this is why they won't let you put nil down as a cost?! Other insurers do.... Were not clear enough and I feel as though I was tricked into claiming. I would never of do so for £35 if they had not said so! I would much rather our cat was still with us. Thank god my horse is insured elsewhere! Funny enough we now have insurance with another company! Just look at the other reviews on here and make your own mind up!
written by stephenj885 on 06/08/2015
Not interested in the welfare of my dog only interested in their terms and conditions appalling customer service keep clear of this insurance company.
Written on: 12/09/2016
It is your job to look after the welfare of your dog. Theirs to abide by their T&Cs.
Written on: 12/09/2016
I take it you work for direct line as that was one of the comments made just look at the other reviews NOT a good company, and by the way I take my dogs welfare very Seriously thats why I had pet insurance unfortunately it was with direct line one of the worst companies I have ever dealt with. Their loss I did not renew my
House insurance & car insurance so did my brother and sister and from the response on Facebook hundreds of other would not be using them.
written by on 04/06/2015
My dog needs an operation on his ears to remove scar tissue from ear infections. After 4 years of insuring him with direct line they are refusing to pay on the grounds that he has had the condition for longer than 12 months!!! Well obviously! Who in their right mind operates on a dog after its first ear infection! To say i am appalled with their "service" is an understatement. Do not touch this company with a barge poll!!! Utter rip off merchants. And to direct line - I'll see you in court.
written by Ljsgran on 15/05/2015
My dog was insured for 10 yrs with direct line and when I made a claim they wouldn't pay out, as it was the second time I had claimed in 3 yrs and they said the ear condition was related. The staff are a disgrace they have no people's skills they are rude and not helpful !!!! I laugh when they say calls are recorded . Does the DIRECTORS of this company think it's okay to not to train staff properly !!!!! I'm disgusted with Direct Line Pet Insurance. So don't go near them with a barge pole. I couldn't believe how they handled my claim , I asked to speak to a manager and I was told it was I deal with this as it's not important enough for a manager . When I got insurance 10yrs ago I wasnt made aware that if my dog had a condition and had same condition after 3yrs that they wouldn't pay out. I' started paying £9.00 and then it went up every yr I was then paying £48.00 . I had claimed once and was paid £100 so why was I paying all that money ????? Also at first they say about ongoing ear problems as I'm not a vet so I don't know that my dogs ear infection 3 yrs earlier was then going to cause problems 3 yrs later. Im totally disgusted as my dogs opp cost £5000 and he now needs another . If I get another pet il just put money away each month for vet fees as its a RIP OFF getting insurance. Especially with poor customer service and a company with no customer care skills.
written by Poolepd303 on 20/03/2015
My dog has been insured with Direct Line for years, I have never made a claim until recently. My dog has had an underlying ear infection for sometime. In December he developed a completely seperate ear condition (which has cost my £100's). Direct Line say they are linked and will not pay out. My vet and extensive research on my part prove the conditions are completely different. Appauling Customer Service, this has been going on for 3 months. NEVER use them, AVOID at all costs.
written by bonnie67 on 25/01/2015
From day one I had my cairn terrier insured with direct line, claimed when she was a pup, straight forward and quickly settled, when she became ill when she was 10 I had loads off tests and then operated on and bill was settled with the vets very quickly followed with a text to tell me! Sadly a year later she became ill again and once again loads off tests, kept her in and then sadly had to make that sad decision! Direct line were amazing ! Settled bill and wrote me a lovely letter say how sorry for my loss! Def would recommend
written by on 14/01/2015
First time claiming for my dog paid for years. Vet sent claim form the 19th December just been told they received it the 30th but will take until end of jan to assess it. I have worked in insurance this is awful, when i asked what am i supposed to do about that i am paying out for tests my dog has to have i got no response. Terrible claims service.
written by on 18/12/2014
I have had my pet dog insured with direct line since 2007 I have come to make my first claim regarding a skin condition that my dog has she had some tests done in 2009 which I paid for myself but the vets couldn't find anything definitely wrong so I agreed to manage the condition with creams etc She has now developed an ear infection so I took her back to the vets the vet thinks it is linked to her skin condition and advised more tests I spoke to Direct Line to make sure I was covered to only be told that because I had taken her to the vets before with a ear infection that they would not be able to pay out unless I could prove that the ear and skin condition weren't linked I have booked my dog in at the vets to have the tests which I will have to pay for My friend has always told me that pet insurance is a waste of money and I wish I had listened to him I should have just put the money away and I would have had £3000 to go towards my vets bill Stay away from Direct Line I have been a customer of there's for 8 years and will be canceling my pet insurance with them and won't be taking any other policies out with them
Written on: 05/03/2015
I am having a similar experience to this with my claim, my dog was treated for skin condition in Nov 13 but in Oct 12 I took him with an ear problem and happened to mention that he had a dry patch of skin as well. He was 5 months old. he is now being treated for skin allergies. According to Direct line this is all linked and therefore a pre distinguish condition as my policy started the day after the first visit to the Vet. My vet has written to them saying that the conditions at the first visit were not linked, that he was too young at 5 months as allergies like this do not normally present until Around 9 months to a year. I am really angry with this insurance company. If I could score them with minus stars I would. I echo this reviewers advise...DO NOT TOUCH this company
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Jussy123's Comment
Written on: 07/01/2016
I've just been told that my dogs oral tumour might not be covered as its their choice after she has had the op and biopsy?? What my exactly have I been paying for? My home and car insurance will also be cancelled adapt. Livid is not the word:(((