British Friendly Society Avis 318

Happy new year, I believe I was given what I needed and what I was due to during my period of not being able to work, the claims managers and staff were very helpful and understanding
Thank you for looking after me during this period.

Saving with British Friendly gives you income if you are unfortunately taken ill and unable to work. Which helps to supplement any loss of of income.
Part of your subscription money goes into a savings pot until aged 60 from when you become a Commuted Member and all subscriptions paid go into your fund.
This attracts a good rate of interest compared with other regular savings funds.

Communication absolutely appalling. I did a payment holiday and since I actioned this nothing has gone correctly. I have asked for a complaint to be started and the only correspondence I have had is to rate the service. I should have had 22.00 come out and they have taken over 150.00. Disgusting service.

British friendly, what a joke, good at talking your money, put a claim in be prepared to be scrutinised at every angle, injured for six months then told my claim was rejected, income protection I think not!!

Please please look very carefully into feed back this company will not pay out! I have been with BF for years and thought I had peace of mind with sickness cover, they will look back into your records and if there is slightest link to you illness your cover is void! They went back nearly 40 years!!
Avoid this company at all costs.

I am very disappointed with your services because what you offer and what actually happens do not match in practice. I'm on sick leave, I sent you all the documents you asked for and I'm still not getting any help from you. You keep asking about something new. I had to pay £30 for a letter from the GP, which surprised me. The whole process has been taking 3 months a bit too long. I recommended your company to my colleagues, a few of them signed contracts and what should I tell them now when they ask me? That everything is fine, I receive money from income protection. Best regards, your client Karol Puchniarski

I have had a policy with them for nearly 4 years and never missed a payment at all. Now l have made a claim as l am off work self employed due to a Nee injury DONT EXPECT HELP FROM THEM. They’ll do the total opposite and try and find anything thing to get them from helping in any way or hold claim up horrendous carry on with them Don’t go near them you’ve been warned l am sorry to say Typical insurance company.

Lesley has dealt with may claim brilliantly she has listened with a very sympathetic ear and has communicated clearly, she has offered great advise and wholeheartedly helped me through my application process, thank you.

Don’t trust will take your money then once you need them they will
Make you wait 5 to6 weeks while they review your clients never mail you or keep you up to date then under there exclusions they will find some way to not pay out. Liars and thieves. Please avoid at all costs

Unfortunately i couldn't give a 5 star review as the time they took to process my claim was quite long. That being said once they had processed everything they were very helpful and back paid a lump sum from the start of my claim and weekly thereafter. Everyone i spoke to were both professional and pleasant with the added bonus of an English call centre.

Not happy customer I’ve cancelled it now ,, Make sure you check your policy !! Before taking it out

Trustpilot; what a vast fan club this is developing for complaints, and such a lot for 2023.
Ever since I had the misfortune for using this company you have been lazy and unresponsive unless you have been poked with a stick for a reply.
1. October 2020 I had the unfortunate diagnosis of cancer and was rushed in for surgery a couple of months later, but even when prompt with filling in your paperwork that was done in a timely manner you then told me (me who was laid in bed with stitches and bedridden for the next 3 weeks) to get myself down to the doctors and get my medical records so you can check that I haven't lied somewhere on my admission to BF insurance.
We give a bit of slack because of "Covid" but it looks like the customer support 3yrs later is still sh… think you know what I mean.
2. My next claim was down to a condition that was diagnosed that my foot needed some surgery in August, this again was put in and the claims forms were put in with the usual hospital letters and discharge notes as my previous claim had done and AMAZINGLY...... I didn't need to fetch my own medical records and you got them electronically! (Well done you, you have made such progress!!!).
Although the plain sailing was about to hit a rather large rock, yes you got it (in fact your probably reading the case notes now!) My sick note that the surgeon gave me.... well apparently you suggested that the date had been altered... hmmm yes, let me see oh yes.... the date was 5th August but he actually scribbled at the top of the sick note 0005/8/2023, now weirdly enough the date at the bottom of the sick note said 5/8/2023 even the hospital discharge letter said 5/8/2023. Now, unless I am much mistaken I don't EVER recall seeing a date that started 000 hmmm... that looks suspicious doesn't it? - Well actually it does if your a total numpty with an IQ of 2 who can't use common sense to actually think 0005/8/2023 is the same as 5/8/2023 especially when all the other attached documents from the hospital as the sick note was all given at the same time and handed to me by the surgeon at the end of the bed.
I hardly was going to examine each document to check he crossed all the T's and didn't mess it up!!! - I am a bit weird like that... I kind of like to trust the people in charge of this like that having something bigger than a pea in their head to check if they knew what the date was!!!!!!!
Next on my list for this lovely claim.... unfortunately, the mistrust by your company still holds no bounds.
After having to extend my sickness from work due to being unfit to do my role I had my sick note extended by another 2 week and after speaking to one of the claim managers (checking up on me) asked me if I would do some physio to help my return to work (which I am still doing and on my 3rd session), my payments on the other hand have been at best haphazard and as I found out on my first ever claim you need to pin them down to payment dates as I am sure you make this up as you go along (wouldn't surprise me - seems all your ideas are written on the back of the beer mat one night in the pub after a heavy session - the only reason someone could dream up the excuses and cynicism and its obviously catching as now I don't trust them).
My online physio that I used basically had stated, that the surgery I had would take time up to 3 months to heal (and also according to the surgeon who did the work), so with phased return recommended by occupational health and working with a local physio this has been going well (all but slow progress, but it’s getting better).
Two weeks ago, I was talking to one of the claims manager and he gave me a breakdown of the phased return payments into work and my final week I would let him know within a day that I would tell him my hours I would be doing, he had informed me as long as I don't go over 30hrs as you cover 70% of that I would be ok (note hours was stated, not percent!)
I spoke to my manager who was keen to get me in as much as I could comfortably, but he said he would start me on my longer hours with Monday 23rd as 5hrs then followed by 4x 6hrs, that would mean 29hrs. Now bear in mind I told BF nearly 2 weeks ago this, and only today while I am mid-way through this week you have the audacity to tell me that I have gone over the amount and I will receive FA!!!!
2 WEEKS AGO, THEY WERE INFORMED AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE DECEICENCY TO TELL ME I WOULD GO OVER MY HOURS FOR MY CLAIM!!!!!!
Even when I spoke to a girl last Friday about an odd payment of £112 that wasn't mentioned by the claim manager when she was talking to me about the hours, not even then was it mentioned.
This is exactly the Sh…y treatment that has been reflected in your reviews they are a disgrace.

30th October Update: after they have left a comment last week to be in touch with me below, they haven't! - They just make out to readers that they are doing something resolve the issue. Pigs will fly if they do!

I have been with BBFS for years and I find that I am kept updated on my policy, I find them very supportive during difficult times, which makes a big difference.

Took 2 months to let me know existing condition was not covered although not had treatment or visited doctor in 3 years. They could have let me know straight away I was not covered, taking another 2 months charges out.
Put monthly charges up Dec, age related, callex twice to get reduced, to lower acceptable sum with reduced premiums this was never actioned. Total rubbish company do not use.

Good at admin, Not very proactive to support during sickness times, I never had any support in a difficult time whilst I kept paying monthly premiums...

I spoke with Sharron Alexis - Members Services Executive, she was very helpful as I was sending an email 2nd time in 2 weeks with the documentation as requested. She checked and told me an email has not been received and stayed on the call until I had sent the email again and confirmed received.

She also responded to me as soon as she forwarded the emails to the Claims Managers and also responded confirming when I will be contacted with an update.

Sharron is a great star and deserves great feedback from the team manager with praises, 5 star service given, thank you so much Sharron *****

a very efficient service with good communication at all times

I had a problem with the payment because I changed my bank account. I wrote an e-mail asking for help. The response was very quick.I got what I wanted without any problems.

As an independent Financial Adviser I have recommended British Friendly several times. Their administration is efficient and the staff are very helpful.