[docmartin]

I WAS with Petplan/Allianz for Crystal's first year. Pre renewal (with 8 days to go) they sent me the new schedule with a 15% increase. I advised them Direct Line offered better cover cheaper than their first year price and gave them 7 days to reconsider, otherwise the DD got cancelled. Eleven days later (and after I'd renewed with DL) they responded saying that because of the Data Protection Act they required the pets name and my date of birth, before they could respond. Obviously an excuse to cover their tardy customer service. I replied stating my amazement at this attitude. Nearly a month on they're still asking blindly for the details, ignoring my first and latter responses. Accordingly their now in the 'Spam' folder!. In my view utterly USELESS and I'm glad I didn't make a claim.

Tv's 'Don't get done get Dom' featured Pet Plan insurance's history to rejecting claims and general approach to clients, which confirmed my own experiences. Most insurers these days are 'shysters', with armies of call centre script driven inhuman clones to overcome. Their default position is to start off wanting to dodge paying out and will prevaricate on anything to avoid, or at least delay payout. Watch out also for the "no treatment for the first 14 days clause" and what you declare. I was once an Actuary in the industry and the reform of moral responsibility in the past 20 years disgusted me to the point of leaving.

I picked Direct Line as they handle all my insurance needs and are polite, professional and at least create the illusion that you matter!

Choose a strong name, as eventually they have something to lose, unfortunately, generally we live in a world of declining standards and these corporations only respond to media revelation!