Topic: Direct Line Insurance (Read 4208 times)

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #39 on:** October 02, 2007, 07:56:23 AM »

Gill, Sainsbury's did go up a bit, I think Molly's has been increased by about £4, I haven't had to claim for her though. I have only ever cancelled due to loss of pets, I think i paid the month after Ginger died, but Pebbles's was cancelled by them when they paid out the final cheque.

tez2384 · « **Reply #38 on:** October 01, 2007, 22:41:17 PM »

I totally agree, Saves you a bomb in the long run

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #37 on:** October 01, 2007, 22:27:12 PM »

Yes definately worth insuring them, insurance is a must have

tez2384 · « **Reply #36 on:** October 01, 2007, 18:27:31 PM »

Yeah but thought it would be worth insuring them all just incase you never know

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #35 on:** October 01, 2007, 17:51:49 PM »

yes rosella i prob will stay with them till nil excess is up although thays a lot of money.

they are con merchants cos they told me all the companies had gone up this 40% plus.....not true. also they drip feed info unless they think you know something and try to not let you find out things.

yes axa may put up prices but think they will alwas be cheaper than those they under write.

soorry frantas lying on my typing hand lol

Millys Mum · « **Reply #34 on:** October 01, 2007, 17:40:48 PM »

Quote

When Aslan died btw, M&S only reimbursed that part of the annual premium that had not yet elapsed. The policy started in August I think and he died in Sept so they refunded 10 months. I don't think they reimburse anything if you pay monthly.(

I paid Georges policy monthly and they let me cancel half way through when i had him pts. If you are cancelling just cos you feel like it they are not so kind.

Rosella moggy · « **Reply #33 on:** October 01, 2007, 17:34:59 PM »

Quote from: Gill (sneakiefeline) on September 28, 2007, 17:35:29 PM

My goodness Rosella and looks like we are back where we started

It's all such a pain Gill. Have to weigh it all up for each cat depending on claims history, cost of treatment for existing conditions, cost of premiums, cover esp nil excess (this was a biggy for me) etc etc. Changing Tom to Axa was a no brainer due to cost of premiums with M&S being so high, excess higher for older cats with M&S and cost of treatment for Tom's existing conditions being so low.

Mine all still with M&S cos nil access will run until next Jul but at double the cost...........ho hum should i look at AXA now I wonder, certainly could do with that money back in my pocket!

IF I were you I would stick with nil excess policies while you have them although Axa may increase their premiums too before next July of course >:. When Aslan died btw, M&S only reimbursed that part of the annual premium that had not yet elapsed. The policy started in August I think and he died in Sept so they refunded 10 months. I don't think they reimburse anything if you pay monthly.(

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #32 on:** October 01, 2007, 17:02:48 PM »

And lets hope you dont have to cos your kittys are all healthy

tez2384 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 01, 2007, 17:01:22 PM »

I have changed to AXA but obviously havent had too claim yet

Millys Mum · « **Reply #30 on:** October 01, 2007, 16:51:07 PM »

Quote

are they as efficient at dealing with claims?

Thats what im waiting on. There are a few guinea pigs here who have signed up.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #29 on:** October 01, 2007, 16:31:18 PM »

I dont know but will be interested to hear.

I also liked the telephone attitude od the M&S staff but the paper work side left a lot to be desired.......I have a stack of policies nearly 9 inches high from trying to get the details right with them when I registered last year. Also the staff change very frequently.

Trouble is I cant afford their prices now they have put them up so much.

sixfurballs · « **Reply #28 on:** October 01, 2007, 16:19:29 PM »

well apparently Direct Line issued our cheque on Thursday and posted it on Friday (no doubt by 2nd class post!)

I was certain I was going to switch to M&S as not only was I pleased with the policy but also the ease of access to them, very polite and friendly staff etc and my vet said they are great at sorting claims. Now I'm not sure - seems Axa offer pretty much the same but less expensive - are they as efficient at dealing with claims?

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #27 on:** October 01, 2007, 16:12:30 PM »

Will have to dig my book out, I suspect I wont get round to this till the NIL excess runs out, although I desperately could do with that £30 a month back in my pocket.

Millys Mum · « **Reply #26 on:** October 01, 2007, 16:09:18 PM »

Yes i am.
I stayed with them even tho they took the nil excess away. May swap the younger ones next time round once i hear more on AXA's service. I dont mind paying more if i get my money promptly.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #25 on:** October 01, 2007, 15:43:36 PM »

Are you insured with M&S Milly?

They cancelled some of my policys and re did them and told me a way round oto get the NIl access when I first joined them was to cancel and start again......in the end they did that for me.

Millys Mum · « **Reply #24 on:** October 01, 2007, 15:40:19 PM »

It says in my booklet if you pay by instalments they wont refund you.
I thought there was a post before about it but cant find it.

Some companies wont refund when the pet dies, that is mean.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #23 on:** September 28, 2007, 19:06:46 PM »

As I pay monthly and have made no claims, I think I can cancel when I want

Millys Mum · « **Reply #22 on:** September 28, 2007, 18:36:43 PM »

If you cancel mid policy you wont get your money back Gill. Unless your cats "die"

bit sus with 4 tho

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #21 on:** September 28, 2007, 17:35:29 PM »

My goodness Rosella and looks like we are back where we started

Mine all still with M&S cos nil access will run until next Jul but at double the cost...........ho hum should i look at AXA now I wonder, ceratainly could do with that money back in my pocket!

Rosella moggy · « **Reply #20 on:** September 28, 2007, 11:08:27 AM »

All my 3 were with M&S.

Billy still is as I reinsured just before nil excess was removed. Have changed to Axa though for other two with £50 excess. Thomas aged 18 (£275 with M&S, £120 with Axa) and Freddie aged 6 (£102 with M&S, £63 with Axa).

sixfurballs · « **Reply #19 on:** September 26, 2007, 18:36:57 PM »

it is 5% with M&S

Millys Mum · « **Reply #18 on:** September 26, 2007, 17:14:17 PM »

Quote

Do you know how much would the discount be for multiple cats?

Normally 5%

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #17 on:** September 26, 2007, 14:00:35 PM »

Axa's cover looks pretty impressive to me, I posted this on an old thread about Insurance and they compare really well to M&S with that all important 7k per year limit for the life of the pet. Also they are much better for older pets as the excess is £50 not 15% of the total claim which a lot of other insurers are.

Quote from: Tiggy's Mum - Helen on August 26, 2007, 10:41:04 AM

I saw on another website a comparison with M&S insurance and Axa insurance (bearing in mind M&S is underwritten by Axa). Axa has the all important 7k per year rather than per condition. I just did a dummy quote for an 18 year old cat (pre existing conditions excluded though obviously) and it came out to £129.

If my renewals are silly prices I'm definitely going to switch Lucas to them, will have to stick with M&S for Riley as even though the tests have showed him to be perfectly healthy I'm not going to risk another insurer trying to wriggle out of any heart related claims on the basis it's a pre existing condition.

I've copied the comparison so can't take the credit for it, text in blue is what M&S covers, red is Axa...

M&S vs AXA cat and dog policies as at 12th August 2007:

Veterinary fees £7000 per period £7000 per period

Complementary treatments £750 per period £250 per condition

Referral to behaviourist £250 per period £250 per condition

Cremation / burial expenses £100 £100

Dietary foods £200 £200 per condition

Third party liability £2,000,000 £2,000,000

Emergency boarding kennels and cattery fees £750 £750

Daily minding by someone other than kennels or cattery £750 £750

Advertising costs £1,000 £1,000

Reward £500 £250

Theft or straying £1,500 £750

Accidental death£1,500 £1,000

Death by illness £1,000 £1,000

Holiday cancellation £2,500 £3,000

Accidental damage to own property £750 £500

Quarantine costs£1,500 £2,000

Loss of Health certificate £250 £250

Repeat tick and worming treatment Covered Covered

Overseas Vet Treatment £1000 per condition

Excess £50 but pet over 9 yrs old it is £50 or 15% whichever is more £50

[/size]

tez2384 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 26, 2007, 13:17:52 PM »

i got quated £5.00 something a month from axa and thats for a 1 year old moggie

katbuzz · « **Reply #15 on:** September 26, 2007, 11:47:36 AM »

I couldn't quite believe it as others mentioned £5.00 quotes and I get triple

she's just a normal moggie shorthair. I think its postcode lottery

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #14 on:** September 26, 2007, 11:17:55 AM »

Quote from: katbuzz on September 26, 2007, 11:11:20 AM

Do you know how much would the discount be for multiple cats? I've just been quoted £8.80 for one cat on AXA. Marks quotes me £15.60 which I think is a world record - this is a kitten with no health problems btw

Blimey - that's one expensive kitten!

I think the discount with M&S is a percentage of the premium for additional cats.

I'm with petplan, who are not the cheapest (esp when it comes to the excess for older cats) but I've been happy with their service so far.

katbuzz · « **Reply #13 on:** September 26, 2007, 11:11:20 AM »

Do you know how much would the discount be for multiple cats? I've just been quoted £8.80 for one cat on AXA. Marks quotes me £15.60 which I think is a world record - this is a kitten with no health problems btw

Susanne (urbantigers) · « **Reply #12 on:** September 26, 2007, 10:47:13 AM »

You won't be able to enter multiple cats as you have to have a separate policy for each cat. But you will get a discount if you have lots of policies

So I'm afraid you will have to enter the details for each cat separately.

sixfurballs · « **Reply #11 on:** September 26, 2007, 10:00:13 AM »

I saw that Axa underwrite M&S so I checked them out but initial look has put me off - seems to be the exact same policy and when I tried to get online quote I found that I could not put in multiple cats - you have to do each one individually and when I tried calling them to get a quote and find out if there is a discount I spoke to a very rude girl who informed me that pet insurance has to be dealt with online and that I would just have to go though all the screens each time for all 4 cats - kinda put me off

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #10 on:** September 25, 2007, 22:33:39 PM »

The insurance game is a worry and like you say to have some is better than none. It depends what pre-existing conditions your cats have and as Desley says they will be excluded from a new insurance if you changed.

I would like to believe that you get what you pay for but I am not sure cos this year M&S put up their insurances by over 40% and I am now close , well there really , of not being able to afford it cos it took the whole of my pension increase. When I took it out it had NIL excess but although mine still does, only until next Aug and so far have made no claims. Then the NIL excess goes.

It seems that AXA are underwriting many of the insurances now and I keep meaning to look at quotes direct from AXA.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #9 on:** September 25, 2007, 22:15:23 PM »

The other thing with swapping insurance co's now is that anything he has been treated for will be excluded.

sixfurballs · « **Reply #8 on:** September 25, 2007, 20:02:41 PM »

Quote from: Gill (sneakiefeline) on September 25, 2007, 19:21:17 PM

I woul;d stick cat insurance in the search box and wade though that lot

that's what I did and M&S seemed to be getting lot of good reports, plus as I think I said they practice manager a my vets was singing their praises. My huuby sorted out our pet insurance and we have been with DL for about 4 years now. They were great when Harry had his jaw dislocated a couple of years ago but my vet said they have gone really downhill recently in that in recent months they have become very slow at processing claims and really drag their heels about paying out.

I never really thought much about the insurance and assumed that most companies providing it gave similar indemnity but boy was I wrong. The main thing that worries me with the DL policy is that their pay out level is a lot lower than some companies and it is not a for life policy. So if your cat develops something really serious they will cover you for treatment up to their set amount and for one year only. After the year is up you are on your own. On the other hand probably get what you are paying for - premium is £10 a month less with DL than with M&S and some insurance is better than no insurance.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #7 on:** September 25, 2007, 19:21:17 PM »

I woul;d stick cat insurance in the search box and wade though that lot

puddypaws · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2007, 18:52:49 PM »

I only came on line to see a baby scan my son & his partner sent - I just had to have another peek at Purrs while I was on.

We made a claim for our dog from DL and they dealt with it really well. The test will come when he has to have his dental treatment as they don't pay out for it unless it is causing illness. My vet say direct them to her (she had a real gleam in her eye as she said it) so we will see. I must insure these kitties - anyone got a good insurer to recommend?

Kittybabe (Ruth) · « **Reply #5 on:** September 25, 2007, 18:37:45 PM »

I've been with DL for 18 months. 4 claims no issues. They've been fairly good albeit a bit slow processing but always got my money as did my vet.

tez2384 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2007, 17:32:15 PM »

im with argos pet insurance havent had to make a claim yet but its £5.80 a month i think and thats for the platinum plan

jetcleo · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2007, 17:20:23 PM »

What a shame i've been with direct line for nearly 6 years and never had a problem. A couple of years ago Jet's treatment cost close to £2500 and they paid out within a week of my vet posting the form to me!! which i was very happy about

Millys Mum · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2007, 16:25:42 PM »

How annoying!
Iv had quite a few claims through M&S now and all have been settled quickly with no hassle. They even covered a dental for Milly when she got gingivitis

Iv got some refer a friend 10% or £10 off vouchers somewhere, if i can find one do you want one?

sixfurballs · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2007, 14:30:53 PM »

just need to say aaarrrgggh - they are driving me and my vets

. My boy Dino had to have a large section of his tail amputated a couple of months ago. The claim form has been with Direct Line for weeks. They told me last week that should have money in a couple of weeks and when I was with my vet yesterday they said DL had called asking for his FULL medical history and they refused to put their request in writing. I rang them this morning to find out what they are playing at and just got stone walled. I kept asking why they need his full medical history - what do his routine boosters etc have to do with a nasty cat bite and fracture that resulted in him having the amputation - all they could say was we just have to do this with some claims. AAARRRGGGHH.

As soon as this claim is sorted I am leaving them and taking out insurance with Marks and Spencers. More expensive but much better policy and the practice manager at my vets said they are the easiest and quickest to deal with.

Author Topic: Direct Line Insurance (Read 4208 times)