Animal Friends Reviews

1.7 Rating 532 Reviews
15 %
of reviewers recommend Animal Friends
1.7
Based on 532 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Courier
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Live Chat, Email
Queries Resolved In
Over A Week
Customer Service
1.2 out of 5

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Animal Friends 1 star review on 30th November 2021
Roger Rothery
Animal Friends 1 star review on 6th April 2021
Angela
Animal Friends 1 star review on 23rd February 2021
J Sewell
Animal Friends 5 star review on 15th October 2020
Paula Mccur
Animal Friends 1 star review on 25th September 2020
Paige
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
Disgusting, wouldn’t pay out, I have been paying for over eight years and never claimed. Now I have a small claim off the vet for £1500. Avoid at all costs.
Helpful Report
Posted 2 years ago
AVOID AT ALL COSTS. They take your money and when you put a claim in its rejected, even though I had rang up and made sure it was covered. First excuse was that it was a pre existing complaint, even when they had proof with history via former vets, and dog passport. I was then told categorically that the history and passport clearly state the condition of THEY DO NOT AS IT WAS NOT A PRE EXISTING CONDITION. So they lie to you and do not seem to have any qualms in ignoring the truth. They did however make this statement whilst the call is Recorded, this means that the reasons they have given me are false for not paying the claim. I am sure the relevant departments will be looking to get out of this situation, however, a couple of daily newspapers are extremely interested in this, as Animal friends are the only animal insurance company to make a profit last year I am informed, and have (despite their claims) a lower payout than a few of their competitors. I also bet a manager calls me now, they have not bothered to try even a repeated requests. Finally sorry for the rant however it was to give a clear and honest picture. Did I mention the FSA can give unlimited fines and impose strict rules when a company has been shown to be deliberately not paying and lying.
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Posted 2 years ago
Do not use this company. If you have a policy, cancel it immediately. Dishonest company that try to avoid paying all claims. Go somewhere else.
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Posted 2 years ago
We have been paying for pet insurance SUPERIOR COVER for our Dog Ruby for 4 years. In March this year she was diagnosed with Damage to her Cruciate Ligament to her right rear Knee. I phoned Animal friends to inform them of this, I was disturbed to be told that " Looking at the policy, she SHOULD be covered for this". I said to the woman on the phone that my dog is covered for £2000, what do you mean SHOULD? The woman couldn't answer me and said I need to ask the Vet to request Pre-approval because the cost would be over £1000. The Vet sent the request on 26th March, we have heard nothing since and Animal friends won't answer the phone, (Probably blame covid) like every other chancer in the UK. It's now Thursday 22nd April and my dog's operation was due tomorrow, Friday 23rd April. We are absolutely disgusted with this, and our dog has to go without her operation that she badly needs, we can't afford £2000, that's why we took out the insurance for problems like this. I should have took more notice of the reviews for Animal friends as a lot of them have had bad times with them not paying out. I have cancelled the direct debit now as it seems the policy is not even worth the paper it's written on. THE GOOD REVIEWS ARE MOST LIKELY ADDED BY THEMSELVES. IF YOU LOVE YOUR PET, AVOID THESE RIP OFF MERCHANTS, THEY WILL DO ALL THEY CAN TO GET OUT OF PAYING FOR YOUR PETS CARE. Animal friends, Don't insult my intelligence by replying with a generic answer to this review. I DON'T WANT AN ANSWER, WE ARE FINISHED WITH YOU. Man up and do what people are paying in for years for. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED
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Posted 2 years ago
What a con, had to put dog down for medical reasons costing me £100, excess = £99 with %20 co-payment charge on the £1 remainder which means only 80p is returned. What a absolute joke of a company, spoke to advisors who were useless and gave the wrong information\missed out the info I needed twice. Will never use them again. Be warned. Seems when others have put in a claim, that they will find the slightest thing in a pets medical history to try to link to the existing condition and call it a pre-existing condition so they don't have to pay. Typical insurance company just with a pretty website. No doubt will be given the standard response from them. Find a decent pet insurance company, avoid these clowns.
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Posted 3 years ago
Like the other readers dont bother with these cowboys. On the surface nicey, nice but underneath ruthless money grabbers. I wont say why but do not bother with these. They like to threaten, change wording and rob people. seriously stay away and pay a bit more with a reputable company.
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
My rating would be no stars however the lowest this allows is 1. This company are your typical insurance con outfit. My dog was very ill with several issues having to be dealt with at same time....final bill over 5k....my 'Prime' policy had maximum allowable payout of 2k....however these con artists dug thru yearly vet check ups etc and cited an instance several years ago where as a responsible pet owner....when vet asked if i had any thing i wanted to check i mentioned my dog had vomited....i was told just to monitor but like babies these things happen likely passing bug and nothing to worry about. As a result these thieves have refused the claim stating my dog had a stomach issue from several years ago.....they wrote the full claim off even though there were other issues which included Pneumonia and a spinal deformity. Please beware of these people....they care not about your pets welfare or providing the assistance that you would expect. They will find any excuse to refuse a claim. There are far better providers out there who really do want to provide cover that you pay for and woulc expect. Dont say you havnt been warned.....these are insurance scammers.
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Posted 3 years ago
This is not insurance. They do absolutely everything to avoid claims and will exclude anything that they think is remotely connected to a claim you may have had with them or any others in the past. The first loss escalates with age of pet rapidly. They are awful at communicating with vets. Just avoid this company.
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Posted 3 years ago
Animal friends provide a disgraceful service and I would strongly recommend pet owners to avoid them at all cost. They are excellent at creating loopholes to avoid making payments and their complaints department is useless, arrogant and rude. Hopefully all these bad reviews will eventually lead to them being put out of business.
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Posted 3 years ago
Calling a car accident a "pre existing condition" is neither truthful nor honest. For people that want cheap insurance there is "animal friends" for REAL life there is the Ombudsman who can hopefully get this skinflint company to pay out! Do NOT use them, pay a bit more and actually get a service....
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Posted 3 years ago
hidden deductions I accept an excess payment, which is standard for insurance claims But "co-payment"? Sounds so cuddly, but just another way of getting money from people Would not use them again
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Posted 3 years ago
Avoid at all costs. I should have read more reviews before taking out this policy as there are a huge amount of terrible ones. We had some small lipomas on our dog looked at years before taking out the policy. Several years later after having the policy for a couple of years my dog developed a couple of lumps (not near the existing lipomas that had never been an issue or grown in size) these new lumps were growing and would need removing. Although I thought they may reject the pre authorisation because he had had previous lumps checked I did not expect them to then put an exclusion in my policy meaning that he would not be covered for any tumours or cancers! After calling them it was clear that they wouldn't change their minds as they can do what ever they like. I inquired if they would reduce the price of the premium as they had decided to reduce the service they were providing me, only to be given a firm NO and that they wouldn't discuss it. If this company had an honest bone in their bodies they would change their name from 'animal friends' to 'screw your pet we only want your money'. It would be far better to pay a little more for your policy and go with a decent insurer as their insurance isn't worth the paper its printed on! 1 star review is far too generous!
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Posted 3 years ago
Pretty much the same as everyone else reviews. Put a claim in, they refuse then put an exclusion on your policy to prevent further claims. Happy to take the money each month but not to pay out when you need it. AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS!!
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Posted 3 years ago
Awful company, Ruby our Staffy died from heart failure yet animal friends, against our vets advice decided to take upon itself that Ruby died from a pre existing condition.... A lypoma yes a unharmful fatty lump, so with them never seeing Ruby they thought they knew more about my dogs health than my vets and I, please if you have any sense avoid, avoid avoid, they are very condescending and have no empathy. If one person reads this review and looks elsewhere I may just may cheer up a small amount, If your pet for eg hurts her foot/leg when she is 2 years old and later in life suffers problems with said leg, sorry not covered pre existing condition and 365 days have elapsed, disgusting.
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Posted 3 years ago
Paid out for TPLO surgery with no questions or issues at all. I would say if taking out insurance make sure you do tell of any vets visits, it won't necessarily put your insurance up, but logs whatever was treated.
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Posted 3 years ago
The worst insurance company I have ever dealt with. They acted against how the vet filed the claim following the death of my beloved cat. Appalling customer service and exceptionally patronising. Lodged an official complaint with the Ombudsman
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Posted 3 years ago
Just cancelled my policy with animal friends,our dog needed an operation on his eyes they refused to pay out saying the dog was born with this condition,would not recommend this insurance,waste of money
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Posted 3 years ago
The company does everything not to pay you, it combines, extends the time so that you do not deserve anything. Avoid from afar. It is better to insure in another more expensive company. They are very dishonest, I do not recommend. Never again.
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Posted 3 years ago
Like other customers comments we have insured our dog for 8 years with animal friends never made a claim - he needed a scan for a bad leg and the claim was declined on a technicality as he had seen the vet in the previous year for a limp despite being insured with them the whole time - would never trust them again with one of our pets - they weren't there when we needed them as they should have been - be careful out there is all I can say look elsewhere would be my advice
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Posted 3 years ago
Awful company. Had policy for 5 years, but they refused to pay out on a ruptured fatty lump. They say they're not paying out because we noticed the lump 18 months ago and apparently we only had 365 days to have the lump seen to. Our vets advised against surgery due to the dogs age but after 18 months it ruptured and needed attention. That's when this company drop in the 365 day rule and refuse to pay out. We now have a £500 bill. Policy cancelled. Avoid this company like the plague.
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Posted 3 years ago
Animal Friends is rated 1.7 based on 532 reviews