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
Well all I can say is I wish I had read the reviews before I insured my dog with this nightmare company! My 6 year old labrador spent 2 nights at my vets after vomiting continually for hours. I am now over £1400 out of pocket because they will simply make any excuse to not pay out. I should have known because when my vet asked who I was insured with, he rolled his eyes and shook his head when I said 'Animal Friends'. He said they were pretty much the worst he'd ever known for paying out. Another vet I have spoken since said the same thing! AVOID!! I'd give them zero stars if it would let me. ps On a brighter note, thankfully my lovely lab is back to her bright happy self again.
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Posted 6 years ago
Shocking company!!!! AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!
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Posted 6 years ago
policy discourages you from taking an animal to the vet as any claim made is tenuously linked back to a “previous condition” and won’t be honoured .augmentative, confrontational staff and definitely not ethical.
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Posted 6 years ago
Avoid like the plague, been insured for over 6 years paying around £30 a month so had roughly £2000 Plus off me, put a claim in for ear infection for £230, but cos my dog went to vets on 18th sept then my policy renewed on 21st sept there charging 2 excess of £69 as it runs over 2 years insurance apparently, ( not the fact I’ve had continuous insurance with them for the past 6 years. Only paying out £100 absolutely disgusted and fuming.
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Posted 6 years ago
Policy utterly worthless. Will clas any unrelated issue as a pre existing condition to avoid their responsibilities. Save your money and bank it for when you need a vet
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Posted 6 years ago
Although our dog has always been insured with animal friends they declined her ear infection treatment due to saying it was pre existing. This was because we were insured with them we paid ourselves for previous treatment.
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Posted 3 months ago
I've been with animal friends since I first had my cat. I have never made a claim. Now that my cat is 10, the new annual policy is £300. I have to pay the first £200 of any insurance claim, plus an extra £20 percent. I thought they were loyal like I was, but they just want to get rid of me, now that my cat is 19. It has all been a waste of my time and money.
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Posted 3 months ago
Should be called Animal Enemies! I have held a policy with them for nearly 12 years for my GSD and in that time, have never claimed! They recently contacted me about stopping the policy I had as it was no longer relevant to the market, leaving me to find new cover for an ageing dog, when he needs it the most. As you can imagine, instead of paying £16 month as I have for the last 12 years, other insurers now want nearly £100 a month due to his age!!! To cap that, he recently had a check over at the vets before the policy finished and they noted he was starting to struggle with Arthritis (a common issue for GSD, especially at his age), but they declined the claim as it was first noted by the vet in 2020 when we were told to keep exercise light, which is hardly "treatment". I think they have an agenda and policy here, and it would be interesting to hear of similar situations. I will be reporting to the ombudsman accordingly.
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Posted 7 months ago
My small dog has been insured with Animal Friends for 12 years and only had one small claim. As she has got older, the premiums have significantly increased and this year they have doubled the premium. This has made it unaffordable at the time she is likely to need it most. Shocking discrimination against older pets.
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Posted 7 months ago
READ YOUR POLICY!!!! Unfortunately my Partners 17 year old Staffy had to be put to sleep because he collapsed several times and could not get up. We rang our local Veterinary Practice where Jack was registered but they did not do weekend call outs, but they gave us a phone number for an emergency Veterinary Practice letter "Dignipets" we called them and they came out to see him at our home. The Vet who attended was very Professional and Sympathetic and explained that it would be best if Jack was put to rest, he talked us through the process and Jack passed away very peacefully in his favourite place on the settee. The Total cost for their services was £420 ( Home Visit £155 + Out of hours Fee £160 + Consultation Euthanasia £40 + Euthanasia £65), the Veterinary Practice were very good and sent the invoice to Animal Friends on our behalf. We received a letter from Animal Friends stating that they had accepted our claim and that we had Claimable Costs of £265 (Maximum of £200 for Emergency costs and £65 Euthanasia) From the £265 they then deducted £99 Policy Excess and a 20% Co-Payment fee, so the total payable would only be £132.80. My Partner had taken out the "Superior Plus" cover and was now paying £81.11 per month (Last years monthly premium £52.98) she had never claimed on the Policy and was not really sure what costs she was covered for, "MAKE SURE YOU READ THE POLICY BOOKLET AND THE ADDITIONAL SHEETS YOU RECEIVE". I will be making a complaint to Animal Friends and the Financial Ombudsman regarding the reductions they have made to the total claim costs and the fact that they set maximum category pay outs. I enquired with our local Veterinary practice where Jack was registered, how much they would have charged for the treatment, they informed me for a Week day call out (Not weekend) the cost would have been in the region of £680. This means that we would have been even further out of pocket, I will be asking why there is such a disparity between the Veterinary charges and why the insurance provider manipulates the costs down with various caveats to their policy, and who sets the maximum treatment pay outs, are they saying that the Vets are over charging, surely the Insurance pay out should be in line with what the Vets charges.
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Posted 7 months ago
Been declined a claim. Any Decisions made are on advice by your vet. Something was noticed but told to just leave. Animal friends noted it. Only when the vet thinks, ah this needs removed I instantly make a claim to be told ITS OUT OF DATE! And I’m not covered for that op. What’s the point in insurance. Been with them for years, no claims made and now refused through absolutely no fault of mine. DD debit cancelled with immediate effect. Do not go near
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Posted 1 year ago
Avoid! They took every loop joke not to cover my pup. I’m so annoyed. Our dog needs a specialist and because we took him to the vets within 14 days cuz he was sick……7 months ago! They won’t cover him. Like wtf????? I’m fuming!!! All dogs get sick, they was not related! He’s a dog! I’m so angry!!! Don’t use these guys! They don’t care about your pet!
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Posted 2 years ago
Took out a policy last year, and accepted the renewal price this February. My dog then went in with suspected pancreatitis and because she went to the vet in 2019 with an upset stomach… they are refusing to pay. ONE visit to the vet as she was off her food for ONE day. That does not make it a pre existing condition. A vile company in my opinion, do not use. Will fight this disgusting money-grabbing company all the way to the financial ombudsman.
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Posted 2 years ago
My dog has a torn cruciate ligament and refused claim by animal friends. They said the vet needs to prove its not caused by a patella knee which she is not covered under the claim by doing an X-ray before hand. My dog is having an X-ray and the operation straight away. I explained the test is due to exercise the knee is not involved. For a £2200 operation and £99 excess. I would only claim £901.00. After paying for 5 years. Dissatisfied with service.
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Posted 2 years ago
Animal Friends? I don't think so! All I can say is...with 'friends' like these, who needs enemies!
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Posted 2 years ago
I have made two claims with this company but unfortunately due their small print, lack of knowledge and empathy I have found them to be a complete rip off. If you have a pet please could you ask them to time their illnesses (or in our case, death) to be more in line with the policy timings. Only had two claims in two years - first was an ear infection. We went to the vets on day 18 of first taking out the policy to be told by Animal Friends "well the infection must have started within the 14 day initial period" - must get the dog more educated on when she can time this better in future. Second claim - leg lame in last month of policy (April) and Xrays followed by euthanasia in first month of the new policy (May). All one event but - two excesses and 2 x 20% of costs to ourselves. Animal Friends paid less than we did and minus a much loved dog! Okay so we are one week into paying you for a full month of insurance - you said you have automatically cancelled further payments from us so do I get a refund for the three weeks of insurance I don't need as this works both ways? No that that either...... I was made to feel like a hinderance when I queried it. Appalling service and feedback will be left to other sites and animal services so others don't fall foul.
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Posted 2 years ago
Like the previous reviewer I had superior cover for my cat which I never claimed on. My cat had dental treatment under anaesthesia which I know they don’t cover but during the operation they discovered she had oral cancer which was in operable and terminal. I was very reasonable with my claim and knew non of the dental work was covered and I only asked for a contribution towards medication for her palliative care already subject to £99 excess and 20percent co payment but they wiggle and squirm there way out of any payment.
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Posted 3 years ago
Corrupt insurance company, they try everything to get out of paying a vet bill, yet they take thousands off individual pet owners, it’s unbelievable the excuses they come up with. Please please stay clear of this so called insurance company
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Posted 3 years ago
If I could give 0 stars I would. This company are the lowest of the low. Premium policy an yet they will not pay the £2114 for diagnosed IBD in my dog due to her vomiting a year earlier due to eating cat faeces. DISGUSTING COMPANY!! AVOID AT ALL COST!!
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Posted 3 years ago
They are the pits......as with all pet insurers, they refuse to let you know whether or not they will pay on a claim BEFORE taking on a procedure/ treatment. No other insurance operates this way....but this lot are the worst. They actually changed the wording of my vets report in order to reduce cover. Anothr time, my dog had to have a grass seed removed from her paw.....then this lot said she would no longer be covered for that again.....HELLO.....this is not a ‘condition’ to be regarded as pre-existing.....it’s an ACCIDENT. They will use any tactic to reduce/deny cover...it’s all about the money, not the animals. The entire way these pet insurers operate needs to be investigated and changed. They are the reason dogs are left in shelters because of the highly inflated expenses with vets and insurers. Surely, if a ‘condition’ is later regarded as pre existing and no longer covered, the premiums should be reduced since the over is reduced.
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Posted 3 years ago
Animal Friends is rated 1.7 based on 532 reviews