Can't really recommend this company after the recent and massive hike in insurance for a two-year-old Labrador of 28% (increase of £100). Whilst the top policy was worthwhile at £350 last year, I have not made any claims yet the BBM felt the need to increase my renewal so drastically.

I did call to see if they would reduce, and was refused on all accounts - they don't negotiate, even though a lot of the things they offer cover for are not really necessary or will come with your vet's monthly subscription.

I was told that there are three things that make up the bulk of the cost (a) dog age, (b) dog type, and (c) dog location. Whilst this information is certainly useful in a general sense, none of this has changed in any real sense in the course of the last year, and certainly not enough to justify the sudden hike. I would answer the above as follows:

Dog age - it's clear from BBM's policies that they consider 9 years old to be the limit at which serious or chronic issues will start to occur. My dog has aged - unsurprisingly - from one to two in the last year, and like the vast majority of dogs at this age is fit and well, and very likely to remain so.

Dog type - the potential issues with my dog's type have been well documented for years. Nothing in the veterinary knowledge has changed significantly in the past year. So again, no justification for the hike.

Dog location - well, I've certainly not suddenly changed address, and barring the effects of COVID, there will not have been sudden changes in dog issues based on location. And if there are effects of location, this will be nationwide and more in the nature of one-offs. If COVID is used as a justification for price hikes, this would also be a falsehood.

So overall, I frankly can't believe the current hikes are justified, and so cannot recommend BBM based on the way they have so suddenly and drastically increased their prices.