Shepherds Friendly Avis 

The website and application form was very straight forward, in minutes everything was done. The rates were the best at the time and I even got a £10 voucher as a thank you which I didn't even expect.

I have found being able to deposit money with the Society challenging I am still sitting with £2000 waiting to be added to my account so let's see if anyone actually reads this and contacts me

Signed up to shepherds friendly via top cashback and opened a stocks and shares ISA on 28th January. Did everything properly, have been funding the ISA for a number of months now and was notified recently that the topcashback offer which I signed up for has now been declined. What a waste of time. From the looks of the review this happens quite often so I personally wouldn't bother to sign up via topcashback or Quidco as it's likely they'll try and weasel out of paying you what they say they will.

I have been paying into my Shepherds Friendly income protection policy for 8 years. I had reservations regarding this company, prior to my claim, due to the twice yearly increase in premiums (inflation and age). But, I remained a loyal customer hoping that in the event of ever needing to claim, I would be in good hands.
Fast forward to 2025 and I unfortunately have had to make a claim, due to a work related injury. Shepherds Friendly did pay out, following my 4 week deferred period, so that was good! I did have to jump through hoops though and they tried to dispute my job title! They also expect you to wait 15 working days, every time you email them! They have since caused me untold amounts of stress, worry and anxiety, at the worst time! Financial security and confidence in the system, is not negotiable in circumstances like this and frankly, Shepherds Friendly's payment process and customer service is terrible! I will add here that my GP is equally as atrocious! I have been firmly stuck between the two services, whilst they play the blame game! Meanwhile, I am left worrying how my bills are going to be paid and I am expected to find money to cover my bills, until Shepherds Friendly decides how much and on which of their two pay run dates, they plan to pay me! Or, as has been the case more than once now, instead of paying me the full amount on the 20th, Shepherds Friendly pays me a percentage and then owes the rest to me on the 5th of the following month! This is why I continue to have to fund the difference myself and therefore this asks the question, exactly why have I paid into this policy for the last 8 years?!! I have provided Med3 certificates one after the other and back dated where applicable i.e. (when the GP has struggled to complete this simple task!). There have not been any gaps in my Med3 certificates what so ever. I have kept them up to date as much as I possibly can. But Shepherds Friendly are now disputing owing me over £300!! They have also paid me for 15 days at a certain figure, only to now be paying me 15 days at a lower figure, despite the daily rate being unchanged! I have emailed them, but of course I need to wait 15 working days! I have phoned them, but I prefer things like this in writing and it's a good job too. I have requested to speak to a manager (but I guess I need to wait 15 working days!). That's ok, I will see if my mortgage lender minds waiting, or perhaps my children could go hungry for a few weeks! They say charity starts at home .... well, once this is all over, my premiums are going into a high interest savings account and lining my pockets instead!

Thank you Shepherds Friendly and of course we must not forget to thank the NHS for their outstanding performance!

**Despite having a 'waiver of premium' on the policy, having no gaps in my Med3 certificates and providing the next Med3 certificate 'within 7 days of the previous one expiring' as per their terms, (in fact I always provide the next Med3 certificate within a day or two of expiry). Shepherds Friendly have collected the premium TWICE now (April and June)!! More money that they expect me to have available. What is the point of having the waiver of premium in place?!! Shepherds Friendly (name not allowed to be highlighted, only in positive reviews) assured me that the premium for June would NOT be collected, but it has been taken from my bank. All they say is 'it will be refunded' and it's down to their 'automated system'. Well perhaps they need to update their 'automated system' to a system that reads the Med3 certificate dates, that I have provided within the correct time frame!! It's not the point anyway!! It's all a load of rubbish. Poor excuses for them to make money out of people in vulnerable situations. Well, luckily for me and unluckily for them, I check my bank and it will not go unnoticed and I will receive what I am owed!! It should not be collected in the first place with a waiver on the policy and they have up to date Med3 certificates on file!! So I now need to send another email and wait 15 working days potentially for someone to reply and then wait however many days to receive the refund of my premium (for the second time)!! Appalling customer service!!

** UPDATE 25.8.25
SF have been incredibly difficult to communicate with and treatment (**after I raised concerns) boarders on harrassment. I raised concerns regarding not receiving the full claim amount, despite meeting all of their terms and not having any gaps in my medical certificates. I had to fund the loss several times, defeating the object of this policy. 'Suddenly' SF felt the need to request medical evidence/payslips etc (that I had already provided) and asked ridiculous questions not even related to my
injury! They put pressure on me to return to work, with no reply to my email dated 20/7/25. No other questions clearly! 🤣🤣

Good rate that I caught as it's fixed but went down next day so I was lucky. Super easy process to open. Would prefer a couple of things: 1) the ability to send a small transaction first before sending the bulk of money. The fact you could only send one transaction for this product would put me off using it for a very large amount. 2) the ability to log into an app and at least view your account rather than rely on just an email.

Easy to use, easy to talk to someone.

I felt satisfied with the explanations I got from the staff that opened my account. He was quite professional and treated me right. Setting up my account was quite easy and fast. Will definitely recommend them to my friends.

Very bad customer service.... Also bad claim team for income protection... I made an claim regardless my surgery which was in may... Understand that was a preexisting illness and I couldn't claim anything. After all, last week I've been pressed on work, verbal abused, discriminated and all of thatadee so stressful and anxious. I called an private gp on Sunday to be seen because my gp dont work on Sunday. I sent all documentation trough emails, etc. They said gonna take weeks and they dont know if I will get paid... Is a new mental illness.. It says clearly on doctor certificate that I'm off due to work related stress... What do you need more than that? They said that I should visit my main gp surgery. For fk sake... My gp surgery was closed on Sunday and I won't to make a good thing for me to get some advice and eventually a fit note for that day as Im not well due to massive stress, because being abused on work. Hopefully they will pay me because I've been honest with them and this is not any preexisting symptoms

It’s been a great experience so far with Shepherds Friendly! I’ve had JISA for 2 years. Nice and easy. Love their App. Opened new JISA over the phone - very helpful customer service. No waiting. All done within minutes. Thank you.

It was simple and very straightforward for me to complete your application for an over 50's Life plan which I have done and the first of my payments has been taken from my Bank Account as planned. Thank you very much. I feel very pleased that I have your cover until I am no longer here.

Registering with any institution can be taxing, but for our benefit to prevent fraud, this was good , and no problem, and with good rate, I am very happy to invest with Shepherds

Very helpfull team friendly

The staff are great but email app would not work stills not working for me

I was able to learn as much as I needed about this Company which helped me compare the Shepherds Over 50's Life insurance policy against some of the other 'Over 50's Life Insurance' plans I have taken out with other Companies. Your plan seems very favourable and after going through all the details I needed to check, I decided to sign up for your Over 50's Life Cover policy.

Very helpful staff am easy process.

Thoroughly disappointed with this company, they are dishonest and misleading. I’ve signed up through Topcashback and was promised cashback for doing £100 monthly payments. The order didn’t track on Topcashback so I’ve submitted a claim for them to investigate. I also submitted a complaint to shepherds friendly and they promised to pay out by 5th may.

It’s now been many months since I’ve signed up and I still haven’t got any cashback. I have asked Topcashback to chase this, they have been extremely helpful, but they are saying they have emailed their network group many times with no response to my claim.

I emailed shepherds friendly who only blame their 3rd party network group saying they are responsible for cashback and I need to wait another 2 months, while the network group has completely ignored all contact.

All of this feels like a scam to keep my money in their ISA as long as possible , I do not believe this company honours any cashback claim and this is all done to get people to sign up and invest money with them.

Please avoid this company at all costs, it is not worth the stress they cause.

Attempted to claim on an income protection policy, initially called on my husbands behalf (because he was unconscious at the time! Told they had to speak to him to log a claim… quite difficult when someone is critically unwell and not awake) after later uploading all documents heard nothing for 2 weeks. Then told all the documents were missing, then miraculously found. Told that this claim could take many weeks to be looked at, not really the point of income protection insurance, seems as though this company are happy to take your premium but not pay out. Go elsewhere.

In response to the below - the documents were not uploaded this week - it was 2 weeks ago.

Lovely customer service staff

Great service