Renewal Extortion for my 3 year old dog.....
We have insured our cherished American XL Bully with Napo since July 2023. When we first took out the policy, we paid around £79 per month for £12,000 of annual cover and felt reassured knowing our dog was protected should the worst happen. Unfortunately, a few months later she suffered a cruciate ligament injury and required TPLO surgery. Napo covered the treatment, and at the time we were genuinely grateful. The claims process was handled well, allowing us to focus on caring for our dog during her recovery. Less than six months later, her other hind leg failed and she required a second TPLO surgery. Again, Napo covered the treatment, and we appreciated the support. When renewal came around, we fully expected our premiums to increase due to the claims history. However, we were shocked to receive a renewal quote of around £230 per month. Despite the financial strain, we wanted to keep our dog protected, so we reduced our cover from £12,000 to £8,000 per year, bringing the premium down to approximately £170 per month. Fast forward another year, and in that time we have submitted only one claim for around £140. Despite this, our latest renewal quote has arrived at an astonishing £385 per month. I understand that insurance premiums are based on risk, claims history, breed, age, and rising veterinary costs. I also understand that insurers are businesses, not charities. However, increasing a policy from £79 per month to £385 per month in just three years leaves responsible owners with little choice but to question whether continued cover is realistically attainable. As XL Bully owners, we have faced significant challenges in recent years and have done everything required of us to comply with legislation and ensure our dog is cared for responsibly. One of the reasons I recommended Napo to others was because they appeared willing to support owners of a breed that many companies were reluctant to insure. For that reason, this renewal has been particularly disappointing and gut wrenching. Napo were there when we needed them most, and I will always acknowledge that. However, the level of premium increase now being requested feels excessive and risks pricing loyal customers out of the very protection they have spent years paying for. I hope Napo can provide greater transparency around how these increases are calculated and consider how such pricing impacts responsible owners who simply want to continue providing their pets with the care and protection they deserve.