aliwake Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 Wow, that's bad... I just re-checked the renewal notice they (finally) sent me by email, and it has no mention of the excess. I'm worried now!! In other news, I gave them my new bank account details for direct debit about 3 weeks ago, and they just took this month's payment out of the old account... Lucky I thought that would happen and left some money in it! It pays not to have high expectations any more. Hopefully it's actually sorted out this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vehs Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 jesus! I was thinking of getting insurance if we got a pup, but at these prices no way! I've managed to find tens of thousands for my dog so far so can probably do the same for the next (fingers crossed it won't be needed) that's as much as a house to insure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teekay Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 (edited) Just checked my policy and the excess is still $125 That's strange ETA just had a quick check on the quick quote and it say $150 excess (unless you have a 'select breed' and only have the 12 month 'essential' cover), not sure why mine is still $125. This is recently renewed policy after the big price hike. I'll just keep my head down :) I'd double check with them luluove. Edited again to add sreenshot :) Edited July 18, 2014 by teekay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 It may depend on the size of the dog? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amf Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 I initially went with Petplan for our German Shepherd puppy based on recommendation from breeder and from doing a few online comparisons with other insurers. I was impressed by the ease of the online application but after that it was all down hill! First, I noticed that, as mentioned in an earlier post, the online quote was less than what is actually deducted from my account each month - currently around $49. Then the Petplan run around started, eg being told that the claim hadn't been received, detailed vets report had gone missing, not once but 3 times, had deductions not taken out then taken out twice etc etc. I lodged a claim for the specialist xrays, medication, vet consults etc for over $2000 more than 4 weeks ago, got the text msg advising claim received, would be dealt with in order of receipt etc and nothing since. Had been told 6 weeks earlier over the phone my claim was approved but have not received written confirmation yet. Charlie's troubles started not too long after we brought him home unfortunately, with the vet suspecting both elbow and hip dysplasia, he was 4 months old! He recommended xrays at a specialist practice, estimated cost around $800 (these ended up costing $1500!) to confirm. The xrays at the specialist confirmed elbow dysplasia and arthritis, as well as deformed tibiae in both back legs and spinal stenosis but luckily no hip dyspasia. The specialist recommended a CT scan to check if the nerves were being compressed in his spine - estimated cost $1600 to $2000, if elbows done at same time as scan around $6000 for both! Spinal stenosis is congenital, as are the deformed tibiae, so no insurance cover. Having been out of the pet ownership loop for quite a few years, I have been completely blown away by the cost of medication, vet bills, surgical procedures and ancillary medical charges ($1600 for a CT scan??, anti-inflamatories $68-70 for 14 tablets!!) since getting Charlie. After reading through all the posts, it seems Petplan admin is in chaos and I'd better not hold my breath waiting for the claim to be paid but in the end I am very glad that I did take out insurance the day we brought him home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Petplan always take ages to pay up but they usually seem to approve most claims! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lululove Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Just checked my policy and the excess is still $125 That's strange ETA just had a quick check on the quick quote and it say $150 excess (unless you have a 'select breed' and only have the 12 month 'essential' cover), not sure why mine is still $125. This is recently renewed policy after the big price hike. I'll just keep my head down :) I'd double check with them luluove. Edited again to add sreenshot :) I might ring them up cause it's definitely a $200 excess for Lucy with a Classic Option 2! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Sheesh an excess of $255 plus 20% of the vet bill when a dog reaches 7 years of age is certainly covering all their bases. The bill would have to be pretty hefty to even warrant a claim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted July 19, 2014 Share Posted July 19, 2014 I've cancelled Hamish's policy with them, and I'm supposed to get a refund of the premium they have taken (I still haven't received any paperwork about his policy!). But they have refunded me the amount of Kenzie's premium which is still an active policy! I don't think they have a clue what they are doing at the moment. Mind you with the way people are leaving them they should have plenty of time soon to sort it all out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cointreau Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 As much as it annoys me the premiums have gone up with Petplan I couldn't change because my girl is now 10 was 9 when the policy was renewed, I have at least $2000 to claim and can't guarantee I won't have more expenses during the year. Would rather have cover than not and my vet claims directly from them so I don't need to find the money first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Petplan are backed by Allianz not Hollards. Most of the rest are backed by Hollards. You can tell which ones are hollards at the moment - they all have 20% "co payment" and the insurance should cover the other 80% but all "bilateral" problems are excluded eg if dog needs cateract surgery - only one eye is covered and you have to pay for the other one. Tho I have heard of some retailers paying out the 80% anyway if it's a single op - depending how the vet presents it. I'm thinking self insuring would be cheaper... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I've sent an email off to cancel my policy. Of course haven't heard a word back. The increased payments was going to stretch things a bit far and I am going to put what I was paying onto a credit card. While I claimed a large amount for Fern over the last 12 months, my premiums actually would have covered it if they had been put away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchnauzerMax Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 I've sent an email off to cancel my policy. Of course haven't heard a word back. The increased payments was going to stretch things a bit far and I am going to put what I was paying onto a credit card. While I claimed a large amount for Fern over the last 12 months, my premiums actually would have covered it if they had been put away. There's actually a form on their website that you fill in for cancellation. You have to fax it or mail it or scan and and email it, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 I got my PetPlan renewal for Boston (I had to email them asking for it, normally it arrives in the mail about a month before it's due and two weeks before the time I thought it was due I started getting worried that I hadn't got it, so emailed and a few days later they sent it). Nearly fell over when I saw it increased from $600 to $770, and my excess went from $125 to $150 (which wasn't explicitly stated, but I knew my excess had previously been $125, and the chart listed it as now being $150. It had already increased from $100 the previous year Couldn't find anywhere on FB to write anything, either they had closed their wall or my FB app was being dumb so I went to twitter. They replied saying they would contact me directly, but I didn't think much of it and didn't hear from them for close to a week. Someone rang me yesterday and I was surprised, she was nice and explained the reason for the increase which seemed like cr@p to me. Said the old fee structure was based on a model that meant you were charged the same regardless of dog breed or state , whereas now it's based specifically on dog breed (they didn't mention size, just breed) and the state you live. Based on that, I'd be expecting some breeds to come down in price, as if it was 'averaged' then some would have been paying more to make up for those who were paying less (for the whole average thing to work out) but I've yet to come across any breed who has gone down/stayed the same. The girl I spoke to said she agreed with me about personal circumstances not being taken into consideration (registered breeder, health testing vs BYB etc) as even with car insurance they take into consideration personal circumstances when calculating premiums and said any comments/complaints etc could be directed to [email protected] I reckon most other insurers will follow with large increases soon, once one has done it, it's not usually long before they others realise they can too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I've sent an email off to cancel my policy. Of course haven't heard a word back. The increased payments was going to stretch things a bit far and I am going to put what I was paying onto a credit card. While I claimed a large amount for Fern over the last 12 months, my premiums actually would have covered it if they had been put away. There's actually a form on their website that you fill in for cancellation. You have to fax it or mail it or scan and and email it, though. I saw that and couldn't be bothered, they accepted my email just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Let the PetPlan saga continue! I was refunded the wrong amount, and it's taken them over 5 days to get back to me about it. They're now sending it to their accounts department! And then they want to know if I'll be cancelling the other policy that expires in December - I don't understand why they don't wait til the policy requires renewal!!! And I'm still left wondering why I haven't received a single thing in the mail from them even though they have stated that they have posted stuff to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FHRP Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Sounds like you're going through the same as I did PME. Accounts department were no more competant at rectifying the issue, until after a week and severl exchanges of emails I sent a terse email mentioning 'financial ombudsman'. Got my correct refund the next day :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Yes FHRP. The magic word of pet insurance is Ombudsman. I spent weeks getting nowhere, this was couple of years ago. As soon as I mentioned I intended to take my issues to the Financial Ombudsman everything was sorted within two days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RubyStar Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Looks like my decision to renew has been made for me! This is the SECOND time that I have noticed that my monthly Petplan payments haven't been coming out of my credit card. The first time, sadly I didn't notice until a year later I'm ashamed to say. I rang them and asked WTH?! They said they changed systems about a year ago blah blah, but if I wanted continuing cover, I had to backpay that year and then continue on. I decided to do that. Now tonight I log onto my online banking as this thread prompted me to check if my premium had been hiked with no warning because my renewal is due around this time, to find that the last payment came out in May. Did I read somewhere in here earlier that they changed their system again? Total incompetence!! I have decided not to bother contacting them about it, as it is likely I won't want to renew anyway with the insane price hikes everyone is getting, especially considering you guys are having issues getting refunds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 They seem to advertise for staff and team leaders A LOT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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