Pets@Home no longer start insurance for rabbits FOUR+ years

Just a heads up as I attempted to get a quote for Rudy (just to see what premium would be) and it says they won't insure rabbits over 4. I have in the past run quotes for rabbits over 17 years old and it was quite happy to insure them at basic premium.

So, if you were thinking of getting a rabbit over 5 and insuring be aware that P@H are no longer an option (so far as I know 5 is the cut-off point with some other insurers).

I got Dinky at just the right time as she would be uninsurable now .

It's a very sad discovery for me as it was so good to know you could insure older rabbits so maybe it meant more would find good homes.

Looks like the really cheap insurance offered by P@H was just a 'tempt you in' and they are no longer offering all the benefits that were so tempting. Thank god I got my older buns insured with them while it was possible.

I thought it was worth starting a thread to highlight this as it's a given for a lot of us that we can get older rabbits insured with them and it's an important change that I wanted others to know about.

I agree. I have just had a rant at a young boy (my perception) on their customer service line with regards to the percentage added to my excess. All he could say is 'we didn't know this was happening. We can't change it'.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote: I agree. I have just had a rant at a young boy (my perception) on their customer service line with regards to the percentage added to my excess. All he could say is 'we didn't know this was happening. We can't change it'.

I got that response too. I said I have insured 5 rabbits with them based on asking if there would be a percentage as well as excess and being told definitely no. Having done my research though, Pet Plan said it would be 20% on top the excess when over 5 years old so even with £75 excess, I'm sticking with P@H. Thing is, with pet insurance you have to make your decision and stick with it yet they can change the terms and conditions as it suits

I did tell them that the issue for me was that I had expressly changed to PAH due to PP's excess percentage and that because of my rabbits' ages that I now had no choice but to stay with them. I am thinking of contacting watchdog.

Whilst I think people on the end of customer service haven't made the rules and they aren't really to blame, you can't just go 'I dunno, we didn't decide it', you're the face of the company so you should give an appropriate response and not that cr** that was given to you.

Insurance really is the biggest twoddle of getting as much money out of someone as possible, when all you want to do is be sensible and prepare for the worst.

I think you should contact Watchdog, it really does seem like a big scam.

I have now filled in the watchdog contact form. I have highlighted not only the changes but also the relatively high costs and excesses for the low levels of cover.

Marley will be 4 towards the end of this year. We have lifetime cover with P@H, it wont affect us, will it?

They will change you to 'premium cover' and also ask the 10% on top of the excess. I notice that they are also refusing to cover Giant rabbits also.

Humum has issues with most insurances.

If it was clear exactly what you were getting, you could be sure you were going to get it if you needed it, and there was some transparency as to how the premium was worked out that would be fine. It's the underhandedness which always seems to be associated with insurance which annoys. The impression is that if most insurance companies can get out of paying a claim they will, and the fact that your money is not simply going into a pool which benefits others but going into some fat-cat's pocket to pay for his mansion and yacht

Humum's car insurance has rocketed simply because she lives in a postcode area which includes some of the roughest parts of town, despite the fact that this is one of the best areas in town and the rough parts are the other side of the town centre

Somebody needs to start an ethical insurance company...



ETA - *don't worry, I have put her back in her box now*

Actually Big Ears have you checked your policy booket? I can't remeber what size your lot are but my booklets says

'what is not covered - Giant Rabbit breeds including but not limited to : chequered giant, flemish giant (Patagonian), French Lop Giant Chinchilla, British Giant, German lop, English Lop.'

They really have it in for the lops.

Good on you Cheryl

I've not long signed up for pet insurance but I wholeheartedly agree with what is being said about insurance companies!

When we moved last year our car insurance increased, despite us moving to a nicer area (this was on top of their various penalties and admin charges for daring to move mid policy!). I phoned them up and asked what they were playing at and the man informed me that because it was a new housing estate, it hadn't been banded yet. I said to him "so when it has been banded, will you be knocking in my door to give me back the money you've overcharge me?" *silence* "No, I didn't think so!"

I told the man that that was it, they wouldn't get another penny out of me, house insurance, car insurance, nothing.

Then my OH renewed the car insurance policy this year without telling me Boy was I mad at him that day!

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:Actually Big Ears have you checked your policy booket? I can't remeber what size your lot are but my booklets says

'what is not covered - Giant Rabbit breeds including but not limited to : chequered giant, flemish giant (Patagonian), French Lop Giant Chinchilla, British Giant, German lop, English Lop.'

They really have it in for the lops.

Yes, I noticed that as well, I didn't register that it was new though. All my ten are either dwarf lop, dwarf lop crossed with medium size of no specific breed and 2 of standard upper eared. None are above 3kg, so thankfully we are extremely common here, so they are unlikely to want to exclude any of mine.

Hurrah for commonness!

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:Hurrah for commonness!

And yes insurance is a load of twaddle. It makes a mockery of it when you don't make a claim for fear of a huge increase in the premium. My sister had a burst radiator last year but ended up not claiming. And as for the ludicrous amounts quoted for my son to drive a car

try theese they say rabbits up to 5 years old can join the lifetime plan
http://www.helpucover.co.uk/product/pets/page/your-questions/#two