Breakdown Assistance

[philmccann]

Just tried Moneysupermarket.com for breakdown recovery service for two cars and me and the OH.
Prices vary from £60 to £100 for top level.
However the AA is £171.

Anyone comment on this, why is the AA so pricey. Is there a valid reason or simply rip-off time??

Any recommendations also welcome.

Cheers

Phil

[thunderbelmont]

One of their reasons is their fleet of service vehicles that are out there "patrolling".

Mrs Thunderbelmont and I have full AA cover courtesy of our bank account, which covers us in any vehicle that either of us may be driving for everything other than "homestart", which doesn't worry me as I can drag it into the workshop and beat it with a branch if that happens.

[Pickled Piper]

In my experience the AA have a high number of patrols with trained mechanics. Many of the cheaper providers simply subcontract to a local garage or you pay the recovery upfront and then claim the cost back from the insurer.

From memory Green Flag, RAC and AA have a high proportion of their own patrols. They also have a better record for getting out to you in less than an hour. They are usually happy to undercut each other to gain business, so don't be afraid of phoning round for the best offer.

pp

[Festive Ferg]

Pickled Piper said:

Many of the cheaper providers simply subcontract to a local garage or you pay the recovery upfront and then claim the cost back from the insurer.

That's precisely what I do with AutoAid. So long as you are the sort of person who always has a method of payment on you (credit card, debit card) it's great.
£36 for both my wife and I to be covered for whatever vehicle we happen to be driving.
I was recovered in the Type 2 a few months back, paid the excellent recovery driver and the cheque was in my possession within a week of me sending them the invoice.
Cheap as chips.

[Bad-Gerbil]

Phil
Phone the AA back and say you've had a quote from Brittania at £114 and see what they say.
This is how it went with me (2 cars, home, relay etc)
Original quote from AA = £177.50
Quote from Brittania = £114.00
Phone AA and told them this and they said they could do £102!
BG

[ZR1cliff]

I've got RAC personal cover which costs around £6 per month on direct debit, this covers me for any vehicle that I drive or am passenger in. Only used it once in the last 4 years and was very satisfied with the service and range of diagnostic tools available. I want a fully loaded RAC van for Christmas 09.

[loafer123]

I had a good experience with Green Flag when I broke down on the French autoroute a few years ago.

They are unable, legally, to tow you off the autoroute, but when the official tow truck arrived, we got a receipt, and Green Flag repaid it promptly.

[john2443]

Festive Ferg said:

Pickled Piper said:

Many of the cheaper providers simply subcontract to a local garage or you pay the recovery upfront and then claim the cost back from the insurer.

That's precisely what I do with AutoAid. So long as you are the sort of person who always has a method of payment on you (credit card, debit card) it's great.
£36 for both my wife and I to be covered for whatever vehicle we happen to be driving.
I was recovered in the Type 2 a few months back, paid the excellent recovery driver and the cheque was in my possession within a week of me sending them the invoice.
Cheap as chips.

^ What he said.

[philmccann]

Hi there

Thx for all the replies.

Signed up with Britannia. £104.73 (.73???) for 2 cars, 2 people, homestart, relay, keycover, flat tyre, no fuel, get you home etc etc. Seems a good deal.

Cheers

Phil

[big_lad]

I use the AA and although expensive, their mechanics are competant and customer service is excellent. I had lots of problems with my last car and with my plan could recover up to £500 parts and labour...I claimed, they paid. The way it should be!

[Festive Ferg]

philmccann said:

Signed up with Britannia. £104.73 (.73???) for 2 cars, 2 people, homestart, relay, keycover, flat tyre, no fuel, get you home etc etc. Seems a good deal.

Seems £68.73 too dear!

[ytrebil]

Check with your bank. I pay a few quid a month to Lloyds which entitles me to AA breakdown recovery among other benefits.

[ytrebil]

thunderbelmont said:

Mrs Thunderbelmont and I have full AA cover courtesy of our bank account

Oops you got their first. Sorry.

[Sgt Bilko]

In a non-endorsing, slightly biased view (and the fact that we deal with the whole range of recovery agents daily), RAC everytime. Seriously. Though it may not happen, when the wotsit hits the fan the AA just bail and their 60min ETA's rocket to 3/4 hours plus. RAC never a problem.

Not sure of your location on the motorway? AA just take a ballpark guess, and if they get it wrong often don't bother to call you back. RAC ring us and see if we have seen you. If not observations go out for the vehicle to see if we can spot it for them.

Both tell you to get out of the vehicle and stand on the verge in a safe location. If there is something in the way, say like a huge feckin' big exit sliproad with a blind bend, the AA are happy for you to play chicken. The RAC are a bit more sensible.

[King Herald]

Festive Ferg said:

philmccann said:

Signed up with Britannia. £104.73 (.73???) for 2 cars, 2 people, homestart, relay, keycover, flat tyre, no fuel, get you home etc etc. Seems a good deal.

Seems £68.73 too dear!

I use CSMA, which I believe is Britannia, and pay £120 a year for full cover for me and the wife, in any car we are IN, whether driving or not. we've used them three times in six years, with no trouble whatsoever.

The first time was when dimbo here left his key fpob at home and the car immobilised itself 200 miles from home. That took a while to get sorted, and eventually trailered home. I once ran out of fuel on the motorway, cost me just a fiver for a gallon of juice.

[wolf1]

Sgt Bilko said:

In a non-endorsing, slightly biased view (and the fact that we deal with the whole range of recovery agents daily), RAC everytime. Seriously. Though it may not happen, when the wotsit hits the fan the AA just bail and their 60min ETA's rocket to 3/4 hours plus. RAC never a problem.

Not sure of your location on the motorway? AA just take a ballpark guess, and if they get it wrong often don't bother to call you back. RAC ring us and see if we have seen you. If not observations go out for the vehicle to see if we can spot it for them.

Both tell you to get out of the vehicle and stand on the verge in a safe location. If there is something in the way, say like a huge feckin' big exit sliproad with a blind bend, the AA are happy for you to play chicken. The RAC are a bit more sensible.

I'm sorry but you are talking rubbish.

Edited by wolf1 on Saturday 27th December 23:50

[Alfahorn]

wolf1 said:

Sgt Bilko said:

In a non-endorsing, slightly biased view (and the fact that we deal with the whole range of recovery agents daily), RAC everytime. Seriously. Though it may not happen, when the wotsit hits the fan the AA just bail and their 60min ETA's rocket to 3/4 hours plus. RAC never a problem.

Not sure of your location on the motorway? AA just take a ballpark guess, and if they get it wrong often don't bother to call you back. RAC ring us and see if we have seen you. If not observations go out for the vehicle to see if we can spot it for them.

Both tell you to get out of the vehicle and stand on the verge in a safe location. If there is something in the way, say like a huge feckin' big exit sliproad with a blind bend, the AA are happy for you to play chicken. The RAC are a bit more sensible.

I'm sorry but you are talking rubbish.

Edited by wolf1 on Saturday 27th December 23:50

Whether the comments form the poster are accurate or not I don't know, however what I do know is that even the mention of the AA makes my piss boil!

I have a hatred for this company like no other, I even like BMW more than the AA.

I have been dealing with the AA, RAC, Mondial Assistance & Green Flag for more than 11 years. I can honestly say that the AA consistently deliver the worst service, I have isssues with them on almost a daily basis.

I can't remember the last time I had an issue with the RAC or Mondial, don't use GF much these days.I would very strongly deter anyone from joining the AA, they WILL let you down believe me.

[wolf1]

So go on then in what capacity do you deal with them on an almost daily basis? Lets have some perspective here and not just a one off minor problem that has ballooned within your imagination.

[Alfahorn]

wolf1 said:

So go on then in what capacity do you deal with them on an almost daily basis? Lets have some perspective here and not just a one off minor problem that has ballooned within your imagination.

I work on the out of hours service for a Rental Company and I deal with arranging replacement car hire for various manufacturers and have done so for 11 years so my experience is considerable.

[Festive Ferg]

wolf1 said:

So go on then in what capacity do you deal with them on an almost daily basis?

He's got an Alfa.