Has anyone anything good to say about Horse-Insurance.co.uk / E & L ??

[devilwoman]

Its that time of year again for renewing insurance, i've been with Scottish Equestrian for years, this year my premiums are up by a ridiculous amount, plus they want the same amount as with the riding horses to insure the foal (1 month old) even though all she is doing is grazing ! - so my total insurance for 2 happy hackers and 1 foal this year has come in at just over £800, which includes the basic death etc, vets fees up to £4000 and thats it, I have my own public liability insurance. I've never had a claim for any of the horses since i've been with them EVER.

So i've had some quotes from NFU, Shearwater, KBIS (who came in quite competitive but won't insure foal for vets fees until she's 90 days old) and a couple of others, SEIB etc, they are all very high, some also have extremely high excesses on the vets fees.

On the Horse-Insurance.co.uk site my total premium for all 3 of them is only about half that price, but after reading back through old posts on here relating to them I see they are underwritten by E & L and that does concern me BUT so does throwing £80 per month into insurance.

So has anyone used them and had a good experience ? (probably no-one )

 

[melxvengeance]

i have nothing nice to say about E&L at all, i hear a lot of people calling them "E & HELL" instead! i did have my horse insured with E&L before i knew this about them, but they suddenly decided to cut my insurance off half-way through the contract, and sent me a letter about it saying that i didn't have any money in the bank to pay them - which was rubbish as i had at least a few hundred pounds sitting in there, and then a month later sent me a letter to tell me they had cut the insurance off the previous month (4 weeks ago!!). what had happened if my horse had seriously injured himself after they cut me off, without telling me??

 

[devilwoman]

That isn't just limited to E & L though - as I had a similar experience with Scottish Equestrian at the beginning of the year when my bank failed to pay the direct debit, I too recieved a letter telling me the insurance had been cancelled 2 weeks previous, I phoned them and got it sorted but if anything had of happened during those 2 weeks no doubt I would have been hanging dry too !, I do appreciate your views though, thanks.

 

[NeilM]

We have both ours insured with E&L.

We had a typical claim experience with them a couple of years ago, but within the last twelve months we have had two claims for my OH's mare and both sailed through quickly and without a hitch

Maybe they have lost enough customers for it to influence the way they do business. All I know is that we had no problems this time.

 

[dieseldog]

My sister just had a vet bill paid by E&L no hassle at all.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I've certainly nothing good to say about them.
Now we have public liability through BHS Gold membership and save the premiums towards any necessary vets' fees. The only downside to this is that you have to be able to pay the vet if something happens as you start this scheme. I could have bought a Classic winner with the premiums I've paid over the years and I can't remember one occasion when I've claimed over the excess for any insured horse.

 

[fine_and_dandy]

I have been stitched up by them in the past and frankly, for all the recent posts where people have said they haven't had a problem with them paying, I am far too wary to go with them again.

I just know if I did I would end up being the one person that would get stung again. My vets have also said before that if I was insured with them they would still require me to make the payment and then retrieve the money from E&L because they have had such bad experiences trying to get payment from them.

I made a point of asking my vet who they recommended as an insurer; not only from a money point of view but to the ultimate end - who actually pays them without too much hassle! They recommended NFU and Pet Plan Equine. I have been with PetPlan equine for 2 years now but they bumped my premiums up this year so when it is up for renewal I will look to switch to NFU.

 

[claireandnadia]

A girl on my old yard used them and as far as I know they paid quite a lot out without problems.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I know of several vets that consider you not to be insured if you mention you are covered by E&L. They present you with the vet bill & you have to pay it & then you have to try & recover the money from E&L. They are fed up with the company & the time it takes to try & claim their fees.

 

[Jesstickle]

I'm glad you asked this because I had the exact same question. My girl is with Stoneways, spoilt girl she is but I've just aquired another on loan and he is worth a bit more than her and the quotes I got for him were astronomical. Talking like £90 a month! He is a fit and healthy five year old who hardly ever sets foot off the yard! E&L are really the only people I can afford as I am broke and really didn't need another horse but it is a long story so I am hoping to hear a few more good news stories to make me feel better.

 

[Ilovefoals]

Ditto Toby_Zaphod

What about KBIS? I think they are fab!

 

[Tinseltoes]

My sister just had a vet bill paid by E&L no hassle at all.

EL-Just-payed-my-claim-and-it-was-recieved-processed-and-sorted-within-3-days.Recieved-payment-following-weekend-(just-over-a-week-later)-So-they-are-not-that-bad

 

[LouandBee]

Hi,
I've posted about this before but no I do not work for E & L.
I'm with E & L via horse insurance.co.uk and so far have had no problems. They've paid out every penny of my last claim without any quibbles. I went for them because they were by far the cheapest and you could pick and choose which bits you wanted in your policy and they also inc loss of use which alot of companies won't without a 5 stage vetting. The only thing i would say is they do not pay out particularly quickly i.e. do not pay the vets directly. I pay the vets myself on a credit card and the insurance cheque normally comes by the time my credit card bill is due.

 

[fine_and_dandy]

I'm glad you asked this because I had the exact same question. My girl is with Stoneways, spoilt girl she is but I've just aquired another on loan and he is worth a bit more than her and the quotes I got for him were astronomical. Talking like £90 a month! He is a fit and healthy five year old who hardly ever sets foot off the yard! E&L are really the only people I can afford as I am broke and really didn't need another horse but it is a long story so I am hoping to hear a few more good news stories to make me feel better.

Don't want to come across the wrong way, and sorry if I missed a previous post but why have you taken another horse on if you are broke? I had 3 horses but because my time and money were a problem I have sold one and just got the other to sell. I know when Krypto has gone that I will be able to afford Bailey without too much hassle at all, whereas at the moment although I can afford both of them money is tight and life isn't that enjoyable.

What would happen if you went with E&L or another insurer for that matter and for some reason they didn't pay? Would it affect your ability to keep both horses? Maybe worth checking with your vet whether they are happy for you to be insured with E&L and to chase payment or, like mine, whether they would expect you to pay first.

As I said, not meant to be taken the wrong way, and apologies if I missed a previous post as to how you ended up with the new one!!

 

[devilwoman]

Thanks for all the replies, it seems that maybe they are becoming less of a pain maybe than their reputation has them down as, I am tempted to give them a try and like one other poster said i've plummeted money into insurance for donkeys years and have yet to have a claim, knowing my luck though the one time I do it'll not pay out but suppose i'd have to deal with that if it happens, i'd take them to every ombudsmen and court in the country if i have to (and in the meantime I know my dad would always pay my vets bills for me and i'd pay him back).

Ditto Toby_Zaphod

What about KBIS? I think they are fab!

The quote I had from KBIS wasn't too bad although still more than Horseinsurance.co.uk, but my main gripe with them was that they would not have the foal insured for vets fees until she is 3 months old, she's only 1 month at the moment, all other insurers will allow vets fees from 30 days onwards - strange that they are the only ones not to.

 

[Jesstickle]

Don't want to come across the wrong way, and sorry if I missed a previous post but why have you taken another horse on if you are broke? I had 3 horses but because my time and money were a problem I have sold one and just got the other to sell. I know when Krypto has gone that I will be able to afford Bailey without too much hassle at all, whereas at the moment although I can afford both of them money is tight and life isn't that enjoyable.

What would happen if you went with E&L or another insurer for that matter and for some reason they didn't pay? Would it affect your ability to keep both horses? Maybe worth checking with your vet whether they are happy for you to be insured with E&L and to chase payment or, like mine, whether they would expect you to pay first.

As I said, not meant to be taken the wrong way, and apologies if I missed a previous post as to how you ended up with the new one!!

No offense taken I have him because I love him and if I didn't he'd spend a rubbish winter in inadequate rugs without enough food and with minimal turn out where as if I take him on for a bit he will live the life of riley At the moment I have no children and a supportive OH so can be selfish. I wouldn't do it if anyone was depending on me I promise!

And I suppose I would find the money if they wouldn't pay. Unless it was into the thousands of pounds. I don't suppose many people can just find 3 grand although I will probably have loads of people tell me they could now! When I say I am broke it is, I suppose, a relative term as I have a job which pays ok and covers my bills etc easily enough (as OH earns lots more than me he deals with the lions share bless him)

I think your advice to speak to my vets first is probably extremely wise though and I will give them a call in the morning. If they are not willing to chase then I will have to go with someone else as I can not afford to stump up the whole amount for a colic surgery say. Thank you for worrying about us all. I'm sure the Brown Horse would give you a big slobbery lick for checking that his doting aunty isn't being a complete numpty!

 

[LouandBee]

Just a wod of warning - as with all insurance companies now, they will want your horses vet history since you owned it and anything on there will be excluded - even if you haven't claimed. Just thought I better add that.

 

[Luci07]

No offense taken I have him because I love him and if I didn't he'd spend a rubbish winter in inadequate rugs without enough food and with minimal turn out where as if I take him on for a bit he will live the life of riley At the moment I have no children and a supportive OH so can be selfish. I wouldn't do it if anyone was depending on me I promise!

And I suppose I would find the money if they wouldn't pay. Unless it was into the thousands of pounds. I don't suppose many people can just find 3 grand although I will probably have loads of people tell me they could now! When I say I am broke it is, I suppose, a relative term as I have a job which pays ok and covers my bills etc easily enough (as OH earns lots more than me he deals with the lions share bless him)

I think your advice to speak to my vets first is probably extremely wise though and I will give them a call in the morning. If they are not willing to chase then I will have to go with someone else as I can not afford to stump up the whole amount for a colic surgery say. Thank you for worrying about us all. I'm sure the Brown Horse would give you a big slobbery lick for checking that his doting aunty isn't being a complete numpty!

As he is on loan - are the owners contributing to any of his insurance?

 

[Jericho]

I know of several vets that consider you not to be insured if you mention you are covered by E&L. They present you with the vet bill & you have to pay it & then you have to try & recover the money from E&L. They are fed up with the company & the time it takes to try & claim their fees.

I found this with my vets in that he gave me a 'look' but to be fair E&L were quite good, they didnt quibble but they did need to be chased on things and were overly great at calling me back. My claim of over £4k was paid and I would use them again. Just make sure you have everything in line / there are no discrepancies on your schedule and ideally see what the vet sends them....

 

[Tinseltoes]

Hi,
I've posted about this before but no I do not work for E & L.
I'm with E & L via horse insurance.co.uk and so far have had no problems. They've paid out every penny of my last claim without any quibbles. I went for them because they were by far the cheapest and you could pick and choose which bits you wanted in your policy and they also inc loss of use which alot of companies won't without a 5 stage vetting. The only thing i would say is they do not pay out particularly quickly i.e. do not pay the vets directly. I pay the vets myself on a credit card and the insurance cheque normally comes by the time my credit card bill is due.

Yes-they-do-pay-the-vets-directly-if-you-want-them-too,as-theyasked-me,but-I-said-no.If-you-read-my-post-earlier-you'll-see-they-were-VERYVERY-quick-to-sort-everything-and-pay-out-was-fast.(-just-over-a-week-after-claim-was-processed)

 

[Jesstickle]

As he is on loan - are the owners contributing to any of his insurance?

No. His owner does not have him insured currently but I would rather he is if he is under my watch so I am getting it sorted. They do still pay his livery bill (DIY no hay no bedding) though so I don't mind overly. Plus I would not want to count on them to remember to pay the insurance bill so is safer if I have it in my own name etc.

 

[LizzyandToddy]

E&L. nothing wrong with them. Paid out for my boys 5k colic op last year! And my friends leg problem (loss of use). I dont really see why people speak so badly about them. So long as you have evidence and all your paper work to hand they are fine!

 

[devilwoman]

Ok there's enough positives for me to take a chance I think as (although i'm not skint so please don't ambush me, but I do like to be careful with money and as they are so much cheaper and I pray I never need a major claim i'm going to go with them and save the rest of the money I would be plunging into another of the companies).

The only time i've had vet to any of my horses was a few months back for a cold which I have put into the quote form and I will make sure they are aware of that.

E&L. nothing wrong with them. Paid out for my boys 5k colic op last year! And my friends leg problem (loss of use). I dont really see why people speak so badly about them. So long as you have evidence and all your paper work to hand they are fine!

May I ask how you got a £5K vet bill paid by them the only vet fees cover I can see on the website says up to a maximum of £3K per incident ? thankyou. Sorry just realised you are with E & L direct I assume ?, the quote i've had is with Horse-insurance.co.uk.

 

[fine_and_dandy]

No offense taken I have him because I love him and if I didn't he'd spend a rubbish winter in inadequate rugs without enough food and with minimal turn out where as if I take him on for a bit he will live the life of riley At the moment I have no children and a supportive OH so can be selfish. I wouldn't do it if anyone was depending on me I promise!

And I suppose I would find the money if they wouldn't pay. Unless it was into the thousands of pounds. I don't suppose many people can just find 3 grand although I will probably have loads of people tell me they could now! When I say I am broke it is, I suppose, a relative term as I have a job which pays ok and covers my bills etc easily enough (as OH earns lots more than me he deals with the lions share bless him)

I think your advice to speak to my vets first is probably extremely wise though and I will give them a call in the morning. If they are not willing to chase then I will have to go with someone else as I can not afford to stump up the whole amount for a colic surgery say. Thank you for worrying about us all. I'm sure the Brown Horse would give you a big slobbery lick for checking that his doting aunty isn't being a complete numpty!

That's ok! Now you have explained it a bit more I can understand why you have taken another on; it sounds like he will be cared for and have a lovely time with you

I am one of those people that pay insurance because if I didn't, and I saved what I pay in a premium, I wouldn't be able to afford something if it went into the thousands, and after being stung by E&L previously and ending up with a huge vet bill, I would avoid them. I would just end up always being uneasy if something happened - and as far as I am concerned, insurance is there to give me and others peace of mind.

Definitely call your vets; I am so glad I did because at the end of the day, they are the ones that will be paid by the insurance company

 

[suzyqet]

I have claimed thousands with them in the past.
Always used them. Always will!

They have never failed to pay on any of my claims, whether they have been for a few hundred or a few thousand.

I'd recommend them to anyone.