Road Assistance cover

[Angua]

Originally Posted by Russ D

http://www.rac.co.uk/breakdowncover/...=WEB01#2276514

The 9th question down underneath 'General Questions':

Thanks Russ (I am somewhat out of date as I haven't worked for them for 16 years)

[SMHarman]

Greenflag is still vehicle based (I think).

[ZrByte]

So the main favorites are AA, RAC and greenflag (may also look at that autohome).
I think I know one or two people with the AA around here, may ask them to see what the local service is like around here.
I think the personal cover would be best for me as it would be handy for my Dad aswel, plus the fact that I will be changing cars between now and november if we ever get the other one running again and I could do without having to change details etc.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

<snip>
I think the personal cover would be best for me as it would be handy for my Dad aswel, plus the fact that I will be changing cars between now and november if we ever get the other one running again and I could do without having to change details etc.

Don't you then mean vehicle cover would be better. Changing cars is just a quick call.
Direct Line cover is run by Green Flag and cheaper IIR.

[etccarmageddon]

Our car brokedown at the weekend and I'm pleased to be able to append to this thread our experience of the RAC service.

We were 'stranded' in the countryside outside of stockport with the dog in an area where I had to walk up a hill to get a mobile signal. I'm still ANGRY and UPSET about the utterly dishonest attitude of the call centre and the amount of stress they added to the call out.

As you can imagine when you break down it's a stressful enough experience so you dont need someone telling you that your membership had expired at the end of march but "we'll come out to you anyway but you'll need to speak to our membership department"!

ok, I can forgive an admin error just but next I was told that they would come out but if the car required the use of 'specialist equipment' in order to recover it as the steering wasn't operative then the cost of the specialist equipment would be borne by myself and would be something that is between myself and the people/3rd party garage service that comes out.

I thought this was extremely disgusting as at the time of signing up there was no mention of a limited service provided by the RAC or mentioning 'specialist equipment' and just what is 'specialist equipment' - too much of a broad term which could be used to palm off all sorts of costs onto the member.

The lady then explained that this cost for 'specialist equipment' is just like the other exclusions they have which includes the costs involved in attending to you at a road traffic accident.

I discussed it with her indoors while we were waiting for the RAC man and we agreed that we'd go through the process of the insurance ombudsman if we were forced to make payments in order to achieve the service the RAC were already contracted to supply we also discussed the use of solcitors and speaking to trading standards. not the kind of discussion you should need to have when stranded miles away from home with no mobile signal.

Anyway, fortunately a very very nice man in an RAC van arrived who got the car sorted and I was very greatful for his help.

We got home and checked the documents - the RAC cover is clearly for breakdowns and no mention of specialist equipment costs and states also "accident care - in the event of a road traffic accident rac will assess the situation and also arrange recovery of the vehicle" which could be interpreted that the RAC arrange for recovery but dont absorb the cost except for this other section...

"recovery - if a roadside repair is not feasible - the rac will recover your vehicle... (the rac recovery service is also available in the event of illness or accident".
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after a search of their web site I have found this exclusion "Specialist equipment costs (which is equipment in Our view not usually carried by Our patrols). We will however arrange for the specialist services if needed, but You will have to pay for any additional costs direct to the contractor."

I think this is a pretty big way of copping out of costs and therefore would advise caution in spending money on RAC membership as it may be better to put the money in a savings account and use it when needed.
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I'm still completely puzzled as to why getting a car recovered would require 'specialist equipment'! I've had numerous breakdowns over the years including the recovery of the car by the AA after I mangled the front and not had the hassle of 'specialist equipment' mentioned.

the AA has this exclusion which you should also bear in mind "In the event that you require vehicle recovery following an accident, the AA can, if you require, provide this for you but will not be responsible for meeting the costs involved. If the AA does agree to provide recovery in these circumstances you will be responsible for, and required to pay, the AA's charges for this service (including, but not limited to, any charges relating to any specialist equipment used). In the event that, following a road traffic accident, you require one of the additional services available under Relay Plus or At Home travel services (and you have the relevant cover), the AA can arrange this for you but will not be responsible for any costs involved. You will, therefore, be required to pay on request any applicable charges. In regard to all matters referred to in this clause, you must give the AA, on request, any relevant information it reasonably requests."

[Marge]

I have Green Flag top tier cover as part of my Insurance and they have been brilliant on the few occasions I've had to call them out. The first time they were with me within 20 minutes, being a lone female it's considered a priority call. They got me home and part of the cover included the mechanic coming back to my house the day after to fit the new part that was needed. Can definately recommend them.

They also recovered my car when it was smashed to bits and kept it stored pending the police investigation, all in all very helpful and friendly.

[etccarmageddon]

I've just checked the green flag policy and it clearly states if specialist equipment is requied to recover a vehicle then you the policy holder will pay for it. At least in their document it's clear and concise and not small print.

[Gareth]

Have been looking into this, as I've recently bought a car... decided to go with the AA because I once had to call them out when I had a hire car, and they were excellent. I was returning the vehicle and had about an hour before the car rental place closed. I broke down en route, and ended up calling the AA, as advised by car rental co. Unfortunately, my mobile phone credits were very very low, and to make things worse, I didn't know the name of the street I was on. I just managed to give the guy from the AA the name of a cemetry that was nearby before my credit ran out, but the AA called me back and had already determined my exact location, and were sending the mechanic out already to ensure I wasn't late returning my vehicle. I decided at that point that I'd go for the AA when I took out cover personally.

Big to the AA!

[etccarmageddon]

the RAC cover we have is with the ford warranty and after this weekends experience they wont be getting our business once the policy expires. I'm still upset and angry about a stressful situation being made worse by someone telling us our membership expired in march - I am sat here with the document in front of me and it clearly contradicts all the bull I was told by the customer service person yesterday. next time I get hassled at a motorway service station to sign up I will explain how I would never sign up to them after the stress they caused us on that day.

[Ramrod]

AA all the way.......been members for 11 years.....they have always been good

[iain_herts]

well we have had the AA and RAC both were very good wen we had the RAC a few years ago our car broke down it over heated so we was towed to car spares were the RAC man fitted the part's for us was there for well over an hour.

then a few years ago we got the AA cos we get it cheaper. last year my car broke down out side called up with in 15min he was there and my car fixed.

so all in all iv had goot expirence with both of them.

iain

[SMHarman]

Well the AA cover I had with SAAB Assist worked well in that they got a patrol man out promptly who tried to get the car going again, the problem with the car though was a damaged (whatever the name is but effectivly the distributor). So it would not run, but he insisted on keep trying to start the car. When the repair was made I asked SAAB to test the emmisions, and as expected all the petrol that had not been ignited by the engine had made it to the CAT and destroyed it, necessitating a £700 replacement CAT on top of the £60 replacement part. Nice one AA. Great value membership there.

[zoombini]

I have been with the RAC/AA/Green Flag etc for the past 7 years etc.

never called them out.
now it's expired I shan't be bothering, only a complete breakdown would prevent me getting home so I'll chance it & pay for the tow if I ever need it.
I carry tools in the car for minor repairs (not that I could do much to a zetex engine).