Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:14 pm Post subject: Puppy Insurance dispute - opinions sought.
Ok, bare bones of the case. I am mediating between a breeder and a puppy buyer currently. Both are trying to be very reasonable. I do not ask opinions on Lf lightly, but it saves trying to explian this seperately to ten different friends and I know the combined minds and common sense of Lf usually is excellent.
Puppy was collected at the weekend. The breeder herself was ill in bed and so her husband did the run through with the buyers. His knowledge of worming, feeding etc was fine as the raising of the litter was a joint effort. However he misunderstood the insurance side of things and advised the owners to ring Petplan immediately they get home and take out a puppy policy and he was sure they got 'some weeks free'.
They did, and Petplan sold them a policy, which THEY thought was the KC puppy insurance. A first time buyer could not know differently really and was led by the breeders husband, who himself was not trying to wrongly advise them but genuinely misunderstood as he believed they sent their litter out the previous year with Petplan insurance not a KC policy.
Worst possible senario. Within 24 hours puppy sick and dehydrated. On a drip at the vets and everyone very upset. However owners felt safe in the knowledge they had insurance. Puppy stayed 4 days. Bill approaching a thousand pounds (!!! I know!!! I am so not sure about that part!!!). Owners called PetPlan to get a claim form to...... you've guessed it, be told that they cannot make a claim for 14 days after taking the policy out so are not covered.
Rang the breeder who instantly activated the KC policy, but of course, several days too late.
Both are trying to stay civil, and there is of course no doubt the buyer has done nothing whatsoever wrong here. it was a genuine mistake on the breeders husbands part which wouldn't have been made by the breeder but she was very ill and not at all with it.
Breeders have offered to pay half the bill. Female owner more or less happy with that but her husband not at all saying its not remotely their fault and they should pay nothing.
I can see both sides, and every side. the insuarnce company are not going to change their policy. The vets would not forward date the puppy being ill as that would be illeagal. You can't turn the clock back and activate the KC insurance NOW for a week ago. Just quickly, if anyone has any thoughts, breeder OR buyer.... what should a mediator do/advise?? Do you think its fair the breeder pays all the bill? These are not rich people, at all, but then nor are the buyers, its all VERY sad. Thankfully the puppy is well on the mend.
Di
Last edited by Diana on Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
I think, even though it was a genuine mistake, that the breeder ought to pay in full as the mistake was made by her husband. But it's a very sad situation.
Sorry I disagree. I would be gutted but would I expect the breeder to pay the bill? No. I would let them know and probably hope they may make a gesture but EXPECT no.
The puppy buyer took out insurance. The insurance companies are stupidly over the top in ramming down your throat over the phone ALL of the policy, so that you know exactly what you are buying. I don't imagine for one minute they were not told on the phone they could not make a claim in the first 14 days, I have been when I have taken out insurance....yet theyy didn't pick up on it. Well that was no the breeders fault.
I understand there was a misunderstanding with the husband but did the buyer not get a puppy pack with info in about the KC insurance? I did? Then there is definatley no excuse, surely the new owner should have read through and would again have realised an issue and if unsure could have called the breeder to ask.
A couple of things I think I would query....why was the puppy ill? Was is an unfortunate coincidence or was it unwell when it left the breeder? That would then make it a slightly different matter and maybe half and half would be appropriate.
Secondly how did they get to that bill? Has the vet provided an itemised breakdown? I presume before any money leaves the breeders hands they will be in contact with the vet to check the bill (as much as checking the vet but also that the puppy buyer is not a 'chancer').
Very hard Di, I have to say if it happened to me I would be hoping the breeder would pay as I wouldn`t have known about the 14 day rule (actually I do cos as far as I know ALL companies do it, except possibly the KC because of the pup side with breeders).
IMO Petplan should have told them when they called about having to wait 14 days for activation of the policy but I doubt they`ll help out at all cos they`ll say its in the policy they`d have sent, how many of us read those!.
Above all I`d be querying a £1000 bill for a 4 day stay, maybe the breeder would pay 75% and the owners out it down to experience, they certainly won`t forget its KC insurance they need from a breeder if they buy another pup.
" Would the KC insurance have been valid immediately? I thought there was a 'waiting period' with that too. "
No thats valid immediately. the breeder confirms on the phone when activating that the puppy is in good health then its covered from literally that minute for 4 weeks.
" I am sure the last KC insurance I had was with Pet Plan so I can understand the mistake. "
Yes this is exactly where the wires have been crossed. The Kc has changed the rules, booklets and methods of activating the insurance a good two or three times in recent years and, yes, it IS the breeders responsbility to be 'up' on the changes, but well.... I must admit I had to read the smallprint this time as it was different to last year again.
But listen, appreciating the varied replies.
One major thing as mentioned by a couple of people, to me, is that a 4 day stay and by the seems of it with the puppy only using saline drips, being hydrated and having IV's and being watched has resulted in such a huge bill. I know the bill is genuine, as its been read out down the phone to me with charges.
Anyway, appreciate your comments. Sometimes when you can SEE options A and B... but sometimes someone else can see a C that you just can't....
Di
Di
____________
The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
I would most certainly be questioning/querying that bill, that sounds way too expensive for the illness you are describing unless it was Parvo and I am assuming the puppy is OK now.
Are the new owner prepared to show the bill and breakdown to the breeder?
____________ Natalie x
LAB LINK RESCUE Co ordinator and Forum Administrator for my sins
Jack, Molly & Maia, watched over by Tara Banana from the Bridge
I've been thinking about this one but I'm not sure I have an answer to be honest. I actually activate the KC free insurance a fair way in advance which I think is a real bonus with this new way of doing it. We arrange a day and a time for the pups to be collected and I activate the free insurance about 7 days in advance on the computer, although the insurance actually runs from the day of pick up, so I really can't see any way that this would happen to me.
If I was being asked to pay a bill or half a bill of that size for the treatment mentioned I would be very unhappy as to me it sounds excessive. Did the people with the pup say to the vet that the pup was not insured?
I'm not sure whether I should say this on open forum or not but most vets charge different rates according to whether the pet is insured or not. It isn't something that should happen but it most certainly does!!
All I can say is that Skip's whole charge for his meningitis which included out of hours emergency, hospitalisation for three days and lots of drugs was only around £550!!
All times are GMT Goto page : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6Next
Page 1 of 6
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
[/img][/img]img]
