RAC ripping off existing breakdown customers. sick of it
Discussion
I got a renewal of £300+
Told them i was leaving by phone.
They asked me what I was prepared to pay, so i said £10 a month (that is what other companies were charging for a similar service) and within seconds they had agreed to it. Actually works out at less than £10 a month as I got 2 months for free, due to being an existing member.
But yes, this is how they make their money. Hoping that people won't question it.
Told them i was leaving by phone.
They asked me what I was prepared to pay, so i said £10 a month (that is what other companies were charging for a similar service) and within seconds they had agreed to it. Actually works out at less than £10 a month as I got 2 months for free, due to being an existing member.
But yes, this is how they make their money. Hoping that people won't question it.
There has been a Facebook group set up recently due to the terrible service of the RAC.
I've got a 2002 Peugeot 106 shed. I cover it with Emergency Assist through groupon. With discounts etc, works out at under £25 a year.
Can't be any worse than RAC and I have peace of mind should anything happen
I've got a 2002 Peugeot 106 shed. I cover it with Emergency Assist through groupon. With discounts etc, works out at under £25 a year.
Can't be any worse than RAC and I have peace of mind should anything happen
Bazsm said:
Renewal time for me and the RAC has gone up to an impressive £311 for recovery & at home (needed in case the wife gets stuck), we have 2 vehicles and mine is 22 years old but used regularly - any cheaper recommendatios for an older vehicle cover?
Autoaid will cover you. Their standard cover is vehicles up to 15 years old but you can pay a small amount extra to cover older vehicles. Worth a try. I can't recommend them highly enough.Gad-Westy said:
Bazsm said:
Renewal time for me and the RAC has gone up to an impressive £311 for recovery & at home (needed in case the wife gets stuck), we have 2 vehicles and mine is 22 years old but used regularly - any cheaper recommendatios for an older vehicle cover?
Autoaid will cover you. Their standard cover is vehicles up to 15 years old but you can pay a small amount extra to cover older vehicles. Worth a try. I can't recommend them highly enough.Bazsm said:
Renewal time for me and the RAC has gone up to an impressive £311 for recovery & at home (needed in case the wife gets stuck), we have 2 vehicles and mine is 22 years old but used regularly - any cheaper recommendatios for an older vehicle cover?
Get cover for yourself not the vehicle.I was with Start Rescue this year and they came out and recovered my 40yr old Mini with no issues
Similar with my Barclays Bank account
£12.50 a month for RAC & holiday insurance.
The holiday insurance covers all of our breaks.
Not used the RAC in the 10 years we’ve had it, but cover looks ok:-
Just double checked as one of our cars are 9 years old, seems no age limit:-
“ Q. Is there any age restriction on vehicles you will cover?
No, we cover vehicles of all ages. The only exception is our Battery Replace breakdown extra product which is only available to purchase on vehicles less than 15 years old and with mileage less that 150,000”
£12.50 a month for RAC & holiday insurance.
The holiday insurance covers all of our breaks.
Not used the RAC in the 10 years we’ve had it, but cover looks ok:-
Just double checked as one of our cars are 9 years old, seems no age limit:-
“ Q. Is there any age restriction on vehicles you will cover?
No, we cover vehicles of all ages. The only exception is our Battery Replace breakdown extra product which is only available to purchase on vehicles less than 15 years old and with mileage less that 150,000”
Edited by James6112 on Thursday 2nd November 08:37
Moodyman1 said:
I paid £0 this year, the same last year and in fact, the year before.
Remarkably, my breakdown cover has been inflation-free.
I drive an old Toyota. Service it myself and drive it sympathetically. No need for breakdown insurance in 20+years of driving.
Your smugness might be quickly wiped out when you're sat on the side of a dark road in the rain somewhere with a car that's given up on you. Remarkably, my breakdown cover has been inflation-free.
I drive an old Toyota. Service it myself and drive it sympathetically. No need for breakdown insurance in 20+years of driving.
As others have said, getting it through your bank is pretty decent; I have it via Nationwide FlexPlus account and needed to use it once - worked great and got me home with minimal hassle.
Funk said:
Your smugness might be quickly wiped out when you're sat on the side of a dark road in the rain somewhere with a car that's given up on you.
As others have said, getting it through your bank is pretty decent; I have it via Nationwide FlexPlus account and needed to use it once - worked great and got me home with minimal hassle.
I have Flexplus but watch out as they will only recover you locally. I have 2 policies in place, a cheapie £37 nationwide recovery service and the Flexplus. One might come and get me in reasonable time. My daughter was automatically opted into AA auto renewal which was shocking, they wanted £150 to renew and it was very hard to cancel. In the end she cancelled the policy. As others have said, getting it through your bank is pretty decent; I have it via Nationwide FlexPlus account and needed to use it once - worked great and got me home with minimal hassle.
lost in espace said:
Funk said:
Your smugness might be quickly wiped out when you're sat on the side of a dark road in the rain somewhere with a car that's given up on you.
As others have said, getting it through your bank is pretty decent; I have it via Nationwide FlexPlus account and needed to use it once - worked great and got me home with minimal hassle.
I have Flexplus but watch out as they will only recover you locally. I have 2 policies in place, a cheapie £37 nationwide recovery service and the Flexplus. One might come and get me in reasonable time. My daughter was automatically opted into AA auto renewal which was shocking, they wanted £150 to renew and it was very hard to cancel. In the end she cancelled the policy. As others have said, getting it through your bank is pretty decent; I have it via Nationwide FlexPlus account and needed to use it once - worked great and got me home with minimal hassle.
I agree with the OP, this really annoys me.
However I've sussed a simple solution to ensure every year I get the 'new customer only' price
Each year I just alternate between myself and my wife as the policy covers both drivers for any car.
The fact we are at the same address does not matter, I guess because GDPR or some such
However I've sussed a simple solution to ensure every year I get the 'new customer only' price
Each year I just alternate between myself and my wife as the policy covers both drivers for any car.
The fact we are at the same address does not matter, I guess because GDPR or some such
Avenicus said:
Scumbags were renewing my Dad's old policy even though he had another one included with his new car.
Didn't find out until he passed away and went through all the paperwork
To be fair they weren't to know that.Didn't find out until he passed away and went through all the paperwork
Many just accept the premiums.
My Mum was paying £230 pa with the AA when I got to find out.
If you think AA/RAC are bad then don't get me started on Domestic & General. They were charging £15pm to cover an oven that cost £300 nine years ago
I was switching between RAC and AA using TCB to get cover for around £60 a year. Never had to use either of them to date so cant vouch on speed or quality of a breakdown response.
This year I purchased a policy with RAC on October 26th to start on October 28th. After reading this thread I decided to bin it and go with Autoaid due to a) better service b) better price even after cashback. I called RAC same day to cancel but gave up waiting so emailed them instead. I managed to get through on the 28th but right at the end of the call their agent told me there was a £25 admin fee for setting the policy up. I disputed that as saw no mention of it and even the agent could not tell me where it was outlined other than in a Policy Booklet they were posting out to me. At this time I was heading into a work meeting so had to end the call.
Fast forward to Nov 10th and no sign of any of the money being refunded so have now raised a formal complaint and told them that if they do not refund the full amount I will refer it to the FO and request a chargeback on my credit card. The Autoaid policy was still cheaper than the RAC even with the £25 admin fee lost.
This year I purchased a policy with RAC on October 26th to start on October 28th. After reading this thread I decided to bin it and go with Autoaid due to a) better service b) better price even after cashback. I called RAC same day to cancel but gave up waiting so emailed them instead. I managed to get through on the 28th but right at the end of the call their agent told me there was a £25 admin fee for setting the policy up. I disputed that as saw no mention of it and even the agent could not tell me where it was outlined other than in a Policy Booklet they were posting out to me. At this time I was heading into a work meeting so had to end the call.
Fast forward to Nov 10th and no sign of any of the money being refunded so have now raised a formal complaint and told them that if they do not refund the full amount I will refer it to the FO and request a chargeback on my credit card. The Autoaid policy was still cheaper than the RAC even with the £25 admin fee lost.
I binned RAC off this year as the biggest reason for having it was my wife travelling a reasonable distance to work. Since COVID she now works from home and I am at home 2 days a week typically. From what follows, I guess they have had a lot of people leave.
RAC tried to sell me a 'pay as you go service', you still remain a member, but you don't pay anything thing unless you call them out.
Given their performance the last time I needed to use them, 5 hour wait for recovery due to a broken gear cable, I wouldn't want to use them again if they paid me.
RAC tried to sell me a 'pay as you go service', you still remain a member, but you don't pay anything thing unless you call them out.
Given their performance the last time I needed to use them, 5 hour wait for recovery due to a broken gear cable, I wouldn't want to use them again if they paid me.
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