Author Topic: Insurance Dilemma  (Read 3369 times)

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Offline hollyd443

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Insurance Dilemma
« on: October 03, 2011, 09:26:13 PM »
Just going through all our household bills, trying to do some cutbacks and one area I'm looking at is the dogs insurance. We have three dogs insured with Esure and they've put their premiums up a lot this year. If I'm to go on with the current cover its £18 per dog per month, £650 per year. The excess is £75 and when they turn six, 20% of the claim is also payable by us.

A lot of the covers I've looked at are around this price with high excess. They all go up and up each year and when you need them most (when they're 9+) they hike it up no end. The lower price ones £6/month provide such little cover they're hardly worth having. We've been lucky and have never made a claim. Insurance is such a gamble. I'm tempted to put the money away in a bank account (£55 per Month). This worked for our old girly, Penny.

Am I crazy to do this? When I mentionned this to a friend she said its still a good idea to have public liability cover.

Insurance dilemma, please help!! Ta muchly!  :blink:

Offline jasper_boy

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2011, 10:38:43 PM »
I might be particularly unlucky with my dogs but I couldn't survive without their insurance. Jacob is having many ops for bi-lateral HD, knee problems and spine. He was only insured 2 months before all of this was noticed! Jasper was insured for a few years with no claims and now I claim about £300 a month in meds for his dry eye, bronchitis and senile dementia. Jasper's monthly premium is £97 alone (I have 5 dogs in total and pay over £200 per month in insurance) but I wouldn't be able to afford to keep him if he wasn't insured.

I have Vixen here who was diagnosed with SLE and her insurance doesn't cover the condition (its pre-existing to before I rehomed her) and I have about 9k of debt sat on credit cards and she is only 5 years old! With all of her vet bills, her meds which cost £223 per month etc, the costs go up and up and up.

Offline rogermanley

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2011, 08:00:15 AM »
It maybe worth looking at your household insurance policy as it may include third party liability. If in doubt talk to you insurance company or agent.

Roger
Roger Manley

Offline seaangler

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2011, 08:23:33 AM »
hollyd443...  Tell me about i know what you mean....Are is just a bit less than yours with three dogs 20 for cindy 17 for peggy and 13 for gemma....And thats not including the cat and two horses... :D

That 20% does not come into play until are Cindy is ten..Thats a bit steep with yours i must say...But saying that all insurance are different to others what you gain on the swings you loose on the roundabouts >:(

But you do need the liability cover just in case It may never happen with your dog but you have just in case...Even if the postman falls over your dog delivering the mail and gets lick to death :005:





Gemma..Cindy And peggy

Offline seaangler

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #4 on: October 04, 2011, 08:28:18 AM »
It maybe worth looking at your household insurance policy as it may include third party liability. If in doubt talk to you insurance company or agent.

Roger

It may cover around you property BUT not away from it..I would look into a bit more to be on the safe side!!!!...





Gemma..Cindy And peggy

Offline Jan D

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2011, 08:36:29 AM »
Think you can get third party liability insurance through Dogs Trust quite cheaply - might be worth a look  :D
Roxy b.19.05.10  Bobby b.21.08.11
My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dogs think I am.

Offline supergirl

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2011, 08:39:14 AM »
It is a difficult dilema - but I have to admit that because I have 4 dogs I wouldn't be without insurance.  When I had my first dog and she was ill at a young age and it took just a week of treatment to cost £4500.  I am like you now in that I haven't had to claim (other than once with Lexi) and am paying about £13 per dog per month and while saving would be an option, it would take just one of the dogs to need treatment to clear what had been saved in a very short time.   I have never insured my cats (3 of them) in 10 years, only one has needed treatment which cost about £1000, so it can work.  Its a gamble and you just need to weigh up whether you can afford the gamble.  I can't and I try to earn a little extra if I can (mystery shopping and shopping through cashback sites), which doesn't bring in a fortune (about £30 a month on average), but it does help.
Misha, Ellie, Roly, Lexi (& Karen)

People who have dogs live longer - it's all the extra love

Offline c19unn

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2011, 09:30:05 AM »
OK I AM DEFO GETTING RIPPED OFF  >:D
I pay 25.00 a month for Diesel  :huh: :huh: :huh:
How are your payments so low  :'(
What companys are you lot with please 
My Mummy's name is Charlene
My name is Diesel



Diesel DOB:16-04-11

Offline supergirl

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2011, 09:33:03 AM »
OK I AM DEFO GETTING RIPPED OFF  >:D
I pay 25.00 a month for Diesel  :huh: :huh: :huh:
How are your payments so low  :'(
What companys are you lot with please 

I'm guessing you're with Petplan - Its always worth shopping around - We're with Sainsburys - look for lifetime cover
Misha, Ellie, Roly, Lexi (& Karen)

People who have dogs live longer - it's all the extra love

Offline seaangler

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2011, 09:37:17 AM »
OK I AM DEFO GETTING RIPPED OFF  >:D
I pay 25.00 a month for Diesel  :huh: :huh: :huh:
How are your payments so low  :'(
What companys are you lot with please  


If you would like to ring me i will give you my teliphone number to ring...

Sorry did not see aboves post...I am with More than and my horses are with N.F.U...Chris





Gemma..Cindy And peggy

Offline c19unn

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2011, 09:44:50 AM »
Ok i think its time for a change in policy as im not paying that much lol
My Mummy's name is Charlene
My name is Diesel



Diesel DOB:16-04-11

Offline supergirl

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2011, 10:17:28 AM »
Also worth checking some of the cashback sites as these will give you money back if you take out insurance with companies that they are featuring.  Obviously you have to make sure that the insurance company is the right one for you.  I did this once with Argos and got £50 back (you do have to wait a few weeks for it from the cashback site).

Check out Moneysavingexpert as they will give a list of cashback sites - do a search on pet insurance.
Misha, Ellie, Roly, Lexi (& Karen)

People who have dogs live longer - it's all the extra love

Offline B52

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2011, 10:29:23 AM »
I agree with Supergirl

The cashback sites are great - esp with Insurances - Quidco is the one I use

It does take a couple of months to get money, but it does eventually make it into your account !!!

I was with Marks & Sparks first year - then they hiked it up - I shopped around and found a cheaper quote with same benefits...

Main thing to look for - Lifetime Cover

Something I noticed last year - if you are changing Insurers - most Pet Insurers will not pay out for anything in first 10 days of policy, so make sure you get the timing right for your new policy

It is unlikely - but you may find you are uninsured for a couple of hours!!! but Sods law...


Offline hollyd443

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Re: Insurance Dilemma
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2011, 10:49:55 AM »
Thank you all so much for your replies - very helpful  :luv:

Also worth checking some of the cashback sites as these will give you money back if you take out insurance with companies that they are featuring.  Obviously you have to make sure that the insurance company is the right one for you.  I did this once with Argos and got £50 back (you do have to wait a few weeks for it from the cashback site).

Check out Moneysavingexpert as they will give a list of cashback sites - do a search on pet insurance.

I've had a look at TopCashBack but there wasn't much going at the minute - think it differs each time you visit so will keep looking. I didn't think of MoneySavingExpert - will go looksky thank you.

Think you can get third party liability insurance through Dogs Trust quite cheaply - might be worth a look  :D

Thank you  :blink:

I might be particularly unlucky with my dogs but I couldn't survive without their insurance. Jacob is having many ops for bi-lateral HD, knee problems and spine. He was only insured 2 months before all of this was noticed! Jasper was insured for a few years with no claims and now I claim about £300 a month in meds for his dry eye, bronchitis and senile dementia. Jasper's monthly premium is £97 alone (I have 5 dogs in total and pay over £200 per month in insurance) but I wouldn't be able to afford to keep him if he wasn't insured.

I have Vixen here who was diagnosed with SLE and her insurance doesn't cover the condition (its pre-existing to before I rehomed her) and I have about 9k of debt sat on credit cards and she is only 5 years old! With all of her vet bills, her meds which cost £223 per month etc, the costs go up and up and up.

Very unlucky  :'( Your doggies have a lovely Mummy looking after them through it all  :luv:

Something I noticed last year - if you are changing Insurers - most Pet Insurers will not pay out for anything in first 10 days of policy, so make sure you get the timing right for your new policy

It is unlikely - but you may find you are uninsured for a couple of hours!!! but Sods law...



My Mum was caught out by this. The one insurance ran out but she'd put the next plan to cover when the old one finished...or so she thought. Although the cover was in place they wouldn't pay for anything in the ten day, when her dog was diagnosed with luxating patellas  >:D Not a happy bunny.