Read 4Paws Pet Insurance 256 Reviews Summary 2025

Joan Airey rated 4Paws Pet Insurance 1 stars

Edited 3 weeks ago

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I chose 4Paws as they had better dental cover than my existing insurer, the premium was reasonable and they had good reviews. It took me two days to peruse their Ts & Cs. I therefore paid the annual premium in full though there was no financial incentive. However, since my experience, there appears to be a downturn in their reputation. As far as my own pet is concerned, the facts as I see them are as follows: My cat started overgrooming and I had to take him to the vet a few times. After consideration I put in a claim. However, I was rather alarmed when it was turned down due to a precondition. In taking this decision, 4Paws tried to link this to a spot he had had on his bottom lip and both conditions were said to be allergy related. I challenged the decision but to no avail. There then followed lengthy correspondence, carefully orchestrated by those who were well trained. They were clearly very confident and remained polite throughout. This intellectual exercise took about three months, including my attempt to get the decision overturned. They confirmed: '...that all the information was reviewed by senior assessors and passed to the underwriter, Covea, for further assessment.' In their defence and with reference to the spot on the lip and the overgrooming, oddly enough they concluded: '...until there is a definitive diagnosis to confirm that they are NOT related (my emphasis) we are unable to overturn the decision.' It was also unclear who I was dealing with since I got communications from a Jigsaw Insurance. On enquiring I found: '... 4Paws is a trading style of NCI Insurance Services Ltd which is an appointed representative of Jigsaw Insurance Services Ltd. Your insurance policy is underwritten by Covea Insurance, part of the Covea Group'. At one point I also got communications from a Thistle Insurance as well. They partly upheld my complaint agreeing they had not been as clear as they could, particularly in relation to correspondence with my vet. They said: 'Please let me assure you that we will do our utmost to do better in the future.' They clearly expected me to renew my policy but there was no suggestion of any compensation, only the statutory invitation to report the matter to the Ombudsman. I decided against it as they are bound to take months to reach a verdict which would no doubt find in favour of the large company. Any compensation, if any, would no doubt be minimal. At only three and a half, my little boy has been left virtually uninsurable thanks to 4Paws. At the time of writing I can only insure him for Accidents and have done so elsewhere. 4Paws does not even give advice to rejected claimants, no doubt because there is no profit in it. If you want to avoid feeling stitched up, my advice is to steer well clear of 4Paws and all their accoutrements.

David M rated 4Paws Pet Insurance 1 stars

4 weeks ago

In all the years we've had our dog insured by this company we've only claimed twice and each time they have tried it on with us. The first time our dog had a lump removed and they refused to pay point blank. I spoke with the specialist and he wrote a letter saying that they should pay and that their excuses were without merit and they then paid up. Obviously their default position is not to pay and hope the customer doesn't challenge it! Make sure you do. The most recent experience our dog had an eye removal procedure due to a mass under the eye being detected and they tried to wriggle out of paying again saying that a little wart on his eyelid that he'd had for years was the cause. Once again the specialist wrote to them to tell them it was nothing to do with the mass and at first they ignored him,I then threatened to take them to the ombudsman and they relented. My specialist told me that he has never known an insurance company to ignore his guidance and the receptionist said that they were the worst company they had ever dealt with. They then tried to claim that my dog had been aggressive years ago when having a seed removed from his ear so they wouldn't insure me if he was aggressive with the surgeon and he wouldn't be covered in the street. Just before I claimed I'd had a renewal for roughly the same as I was paying,£178pm, which draws gasps from those I tell. They then hiked my premium to over £300pm! We now put away money instead rather than pay these crooks. What really gets me is that I diligently paid over the odds for years for peace of mind should anything happen. My wife and I had the most terrible time, not only worrying about our dog but whether 4paws would pay. So absolutely no peace of mind, only extra worry! Please take my advice and don't use this company but if you insure with them fight them all the way when they inevitably try to avoid paying out.

Imogen Rumsby rated 4Paws Pet Insurance 5 stars

4 weeks ago

Can’t complain at all. Have made 2 claims in the past year, both sizeable. We’ve just had our renewal through and the increase is totally reasonable considering the above. Service always easy and quick with claims. Staff are really nice over the phone too and always helpful. Highly recommend.