petguard insurance problem ** RESOLVED SUCCESSFULLY **

[citizenB]

Hi I received a letter from the FOS asking if I would accept an offer from Thistle to re-imburse costs and settle any future costs which I accepted. I then received a letter from Petguard with my compensation cheque which also informed me that they would be prepared to consider a lump sum settlement. I telephoned them to ask how to go about this and they advised me to makes them an offer in writing which I have done and received a response back very quickly informing me that they are looking into my proposal and will be in touch shortly. To work out my figure I have worked out costs over the last 14 months and then worked out the annual amount of treatment for the rest of my dogs predicted lifespan, I have also spoken to my dogs hydrotherapist to see what else could possibly happen to him due to his hip condition and added these costs on. I would prefer a settlement just to get the matter out of the way as I am worried that after a year or so of claiming we could end up back to square one and having to go back through the Ombudsman! I will update again when I receive my next letter, I am sure it will be a silly offer back!

 

What breed of dog, what type of hip condition ?

 

I had a bearded/border cross breed who was born with hip displaysia (which went unrecognised/undiagnosed for the first 12 months) We did have him insured however, the cost of 3 operations, 10 years of hydrotherapy and many drugs and vet visits were not fully covered. I have just looked back over the cost of the bills and we contributed £18,000 to the cost of his treatment over those 10 years.

[Gaillesley]

What breed of dog, what type of hip condition ?

 

I had a bearded/border cross breed who was born with hip displaysia (which went unrecognised/undiagnosed for the first 12 months) We did have him insured however, the cost of 3 operations, 10 years of hydrotherapy and many drugs and vet visits were not fully covered. I have just looked back over the cost of the bills and we contributed £18,000 to the cost of his treatment over those 10 years.

 

My dog is a Cocker Spaniel also with hip displaysia. The vet told us our options were hip replacement for both hips or we could try hydrotherapy, he advised me to check my insurance as some cover hydrotherapy. Petguard was one of the companies who covered hydrotherapy unlimited up to your policy yearly limit. Hydrotherapy has been amazing for him, he has now been going for four years.

 

I would have a look back at your policy details and check it may be that one year your bills came to more than your limit with the operations but after that year it may be that you could have claimed again.

[TINK660]

Letter received yesterday in reply to my lump sum settlement proposal with a cheque for the full amount proposed, no problems. At last a good outcome.

[PeKay]

Thanks for the update TNK, have yet to propose a sum, it's nit like how long is a piece of string?

 

I'll send off this week

[Gaillesley]

I received a reply to my lump sum settlement proposal along with a cheque for the full amount on Friday! Can't believe they paid out so promptly and I really thought they would try to negotiate the amount. I hope everyone else is soon sorted out at long last.

[maroondevo52]

 

I received a reply to my lump sum settlement proposal along with a cheque for the full amount on Friday! Can't believe they paid out so promptly and I really thought they would try to negotiate the amount. I hope everyone else is soon sorted out at long last.

[melbury]

I accepted the offer made through the FOS of Thistle covering any future claims for my dog's ongoing condition. I can't recall seeing anything about a lump sum payment. How do you go about claiming this? Is it too late now?

[Gaillesley]

I accepted the offer made through the FOS of Thistle covering any future claims for my dog's ongoing condition. I can't recall seeing anything about a lump sum payment. How do you go about claiming this? Is it too late now?

 

I accepted the offer through the FOS and then petguard wrote to me and advised that if I wished to I could look at a lump sum payment, they also enclosed the compensation cheque with this letter. If you have not had your compensation cheque then you will probably get the same letter. If you have had your compensation payment then it may be worth contacting petguard to ask about a lump sum settlement.

[PeKay]

Stands to reason that they are settling only a few of those affected have taken the time to complain, and it will be cheaper to administer paying out of lump sums than deal with lifetime claims where there is no premiums coming in.

 

Sending off my "offer" today, I expect them to quibble, plus I have new expenses that are not covered that I will fight if they refuse it.

 

This may not be over by a long chaulk.

 

If they settle I will send a donation to the site because without it where would we be?

 

In a dark place.

[melbury]

I phoned them today and was told that there is no time limit on submitting a claim for a lump sum settlement.

 

I really don't know how to work out what figure to put though.

 

My dog has an ongoing condition that cost over £2,000 in operations during the last year of him being insured with Petguard, but in the last 18 months he hasn't actually had to undergo any more operations. He got very close on three occasions, but thankfully the nails came away on their own at the last gasp just when we were getting ready to take him in. I have bought some anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics from the vet, but that is about all.

 

However, he is only 6 years old and there is no cure for the condition he has (SLO) and so there is always the chance that more operations will be needed going forward - next year we could be looking at another £2,000+, who knows.

 

I am just not sure how to work out a suitable figure.

 

I would be very grateful for any advice on how others worked out a reasonable figure. Obviously I am not asking for any actual figures or personal information, just some idea of what formula to use.

 

I mean do you think they are prepared to pay out a couple of thousand pounds, or are we just talking a few hundred? If it is only a few hundred pounds, then I suppose I would be better off just leaving it as it is.

 

Many thanks to you all.

 

P.S. Yes I did have the compensation cheque. Have to say I was quite amazed that the FOS got such a result, I certainly didn't think it would happen!

[Gaillesley]

I phoned them today and was told that there is no time limit on submitting a claim for a lump sum settlement.

 

I really don't know how to work out what figure to put though.

 

My dog has an ongoing condition that cost over £2,000 in operations during the last year of him being insured with Petguard, but in the last 18 months he hasn't actually had to undergo any more operations. He got very close on three occasions, but thankfully the nails came away on their own at the last gasp just when we were getting ready to take him in. I have bought some anti-inflammatory medication and antibiotics from the vet, but that is about all.

 

However, he is only 6 years old and there is no cure for the condition he has (SLO) and so there is always the chance that more operations will be needed going forward - next year we could be looking at another £2,000+, who knows.

 

I am just not sure how to work out a suitable figure.

 

I would be very grateful for any advice on how others worked out a reasonable figure. Obviously I am not asking for any actual figures or personal information, just some idea of what formula to use.

 

I mean do you think they are prepared to pay out a couple of thousand pounds, or are we just talking a few hundred? If it is only a few hundred pounds, then I suppose I would be better off just leaving it as it is.

 

Many thanks to you all.

 

P.S. Yes I did have the compensation cheque. Have to say I was quite amazed that the FOS got such a result, I certainly didn't think it would happen!

 

If it looks like your dog will need more operations I would put in an offer for the cost of the last year with petguard and times it by an average lifespan age for your type of dog (minus the age at the time petguard ceased cover). If this is not acceptable to them then i am sure they will get in touch. It could be that your dog will require annual surgery in the future and why should you have to cover the costs. Just go for it and submit an offer - mine was a substantial amount. Good luck

[melbury]

Thanks for the advice.

 

So if I asked them for say £2,000, which was the cost in the last year of being insured with Peguard, hopefully they wouldn't consider that I was being greedy. I didn't think they would consider paying out anything like this amount. Does that sound an extortionate figure to ask for?

[citizenB]

If it looks like your dog will need more operations I would put in an offer for the cost of the last year with petguard and times it by an average lifespan age for your type of dog (minus the age at the time petguard ceased cover). If this is not acceptable to them then i am sure they will get in touch. It could be that your dog will require annual surgery in the future and why should you have to cover the costs. Just go for it and submit an offer - mine was a substantial amount. Good luck

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

So if I asked them for say £2,000, which was the cost in the last year of being insured with Peguard, hopefully they wouldn't consider that I was being greedy. I didn't think they would consider paying out anything like this amount. Does that sound an extortionate figure to ask for?

 

As your dog is only 6 years old, I think you need to assume that he will need probably more than one operation during his remaining lifetime. Why not speak to your Vet or perhaps telephone somewhere like the Cambridge Vet Hospital/Teaching School and ask them "hypothetically" what could happen over say another 6 year life span !

[Gaillesley]

Thanks for the advice.

 

So if I asked them for say £2,000, which was the cost in the last year of being insured with Peguard, hopefully they wouldn't consider that I was being greedy. I didn't think they would consider paying out anything like this amount. Does that sound an extortionate figure to ask for?

I think you need to ask for more as your pet may need more surgery. I spoke to my dogs hydrotherapist and vet as there were a couple of things I had not considered which my dog will probably end up needing surgery for. Your pet is still only young, so have a chat with your vet, I am sure they will be happy to advise.

[melbury]

Thank you for the replies, will have to have a good think about it. It is so hard to come up with a "reasonable figure" isn't it?

 

I don't want to be greedy, but then I also don't want to end up a few years down the line with enormous vet bills that have in no way been covered.

 

Is this a negotiable thing? If I suggest a figure and they don't agree with it, are they likely go come back with an offer?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Gaillesley]

Thank you for the replies, will have to have a good think about it. It is so hard to come up with a "reasonable figure" isn't it?

 

I don't want to be greedy, but then I also don't want to end up a few years down the line with enormous vet bills that have in no way been covered.

 

Is this a negotiable thing? If I suggest a figure and they don't agree with it, are they likely go come back with an offer?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

I would imagine if Petguard did not agree with the figure offered that they would contact you. I expected them to get back in touch but they just paid out. I did explain my figures and how I had arrived at them.

[melbury]

Thank you, I will go back through the vet's invoices for the last year I was insured with Petguard, which total some £2,000.

 

Trouble is that I am a bit concerned they will want to know how much has been spent on that condition in the subsequent eighteen months, which is of course very little. As previously mentioned, this isn't because the condition has gone away, we have just been very lucky in that the nails have come away on their own and thankfully he hasn't needed surgery to remove them.

 

Glad you got a good result and thanks again.

[melbury]

Well I have today actually drafted a letter to them. I took on board the comments several of you have made and increased the figure, which they will probably think is totally ludicrous. However, I decided that there has to be a starting point and although it sounds a large amount, if my dog had another few years over his lifetime like the last one he was insured with Petguard, then it would cost them more than that.

 

Hopefully if they don't agree they will come back and be prepared to negotiate.

[melbury]

Just popped back to say that Petguard were not interested in considering a lump sum settlement in my case, due to the fact that my dog has not required any actual veterinary treatment (as in expensive operations) for this condition since the policy with them expired.

 

Ironically he cracked a claw this week, but we have been able to avoid the vet with some Loxicom and bathing!

[PeKay]

I have been paid out, letter arrived today, a full and final settlement.

 

I did detail my claim letter with previous treatments and costs and then estimated prospective operations that may be required and drugs until the average life expectancy for my dog and possible remaining years of life, no argument at all and I was very pessimistic with my ball park figure.

 

I will now put the money into an NS&I ISA and Premium Bonds until required.

 

As promised I will donate once the cheque has cleared some time this coming week.

 

Thanks to all contributors and to The Consumer Action Group Forum.

 

Without this help I would have been continuing to fray my nerves as to how I would cope financially with veterinary treatment for my four legged freind.

 

All the best.

[PeKay]

Done!

 

[citizenB]

Excellent news PetKay. I imagine you feel some relief this is now over and your canine friend has some security for future vet bills.