PING BREAKDOWN - anyone used them?
Discussion
Xenoous said:
I'm with Pong after a lot of back and forth with Ping.
Something didn't smell right about that company. Heading off on a tangent, how relevant are breakdown services these days? The majority of reasons for people needing them today seem reasonably avoidable.
The AA does a top 10.
1. Flat or faulty battery
2. Lost keys
3. Damaged tyres and wheels
4. AdBlue
5. Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
6. Engine oil
7. Alternator faults
8. Starter motor
9. Fuel problems
10. Overheating
Most of these most common issues are remarkably avoidable. Most are actually really just lifestyle choices where people are choosing to spend time in the dark and wet, waiting for help.
Damaged tyre can be a genuine one as you can't always get the tyre fitter to clean the faces and you can end up just unable to get an alloy off.
Alternator and starter are pretty kosher as you can't easily tell when they're on their last legs, more so than ever in modern cars. But choosing to not maintain the battery, to not ID tag keys, to not check adblue, oil, water, clear the dpf or put in the wrong fuel, these really are for the most part lifestyle choices.
DonkeyApple said:
Something didn't smell right about that company.
Heading off on a tangent, how relevant are breakdown services these days? The majority of reasons for people needing them today seem reasonably avoidable.
The AA does a top 10.
1. Flat or faulty battery
2. Lost keys
3. Damaged tyres and wheels
4. AdBlue
5. Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
6. Engine oil
7. Alternator faults
8. Starter motor
9. Fuel problems
10. Overheating
Most of these most common issues are remarkably avoidable. Most are actually really just lifestyle choices where people are choosing to spend time in the dark and wet, waiting for help.
Damaged tyre can be a genuine one as you can't always get the tyre fitter to clean the faces and you can end up just unable to get an alloy off.
Alternator and starter are pretty kosher as you can't easily tell when they're on their last legs, more so than ever in modern cars. But choosing to not maintain the battery, to not ID tag keys, to not check adblue, oil, water, clear the dpf or put in the wrong fuel, these really are for the most part lifestyle choices.
By your definition, even the alternator/starter issues could be 'lifestyle choices' whatever that actually means...as you could just plan to replace your alternator every year to mitigate the chance of it failing.Heading off on a tangent, how relevant are breakdown services these days? The majority of reasons for people needing them today seem reasonably avoidable.
The AA does a top 10.
1. Flat or faulty battery
2. Lost keys
3. Damaged tyres and wheels
4. AdBlue
5. Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)
6. Engine oil
7. Alternator faults
8. Starter motor
9. Fuel problems
10. Overheating
Most of these most common issues are remarkably avoidable. Most are actually really just lifestyle choices where people are choosing to spend time in the dark and wet, waiting for help.
Damaged tyre can be a genuine one as you can't always get the tyre fitter to clean the faces and you can end up just unable to get an alloy off.
Alternator and starter are pretty kosher as you can't easily tell when they're on their last legs, more so than ever in modern cars. But choosing to not maintain the battery, to not ID tag keys, to not check adblue, oil, water, clear the dpf or put in the wrong fuel, these really are for the most part lifestyle choices.
You could also use public transport instead to mitigate all of these problems...now that's a lifestyle choice!
mmm-five said:
By your definition, even the alternator/starter issues could be 'lifestyle choices' whatever that actually means...as you could just plan to replace your alternator every year to mitigate the chance of it failing.
You could also use public transport instead to mitigate all of these problems...now that's a lifestyle choice!
That would be being silly in the other direction. The majority of items on the list being mostly headed off by the most immensely basic thought or maintenance. You could also use public transport instead to mitigate all of these problems...now that's a lifestyle choice!
I'd say that a blown tyre is the main borderline issue as you can't always carry a spare, can't always get the car to somewhere safe and Murphy's Law also means even if you can do those things a modern alloy might not come away from the hub.
Opting to not at least check fluid levels really is a pure lifestyle choice, along with pouring the wrong liquid in the wrong hole. And cheap, modern tech even makes losing one's keys really quite difficult, unless you were to say, leave them in a drawer on the plane along with one's wallet.
Well, I'm guilty of calling them out for numbers 1, 3, 6, 7 and 9...over about 20 years.
1) because it failed (swollen and spewing fumes) during a motorway commute, breakdown came out, said it was a battery issue and replaced it - for it to happen again 60 miles later (as it turned out to be the alternator). (no obvious signs until it failed)
3) hit a sumberged pothole on a Sunday night and the BMW mobility kit did bugger all for a 6" slash in the sidewall. Breakdown took me to the friend's house I was overnighting at, and picked me up the following morning to continue the journey to London..and took the car to BMW who wanted £360 for one 18" tyre. (could be considered lifestyle as I should have avoided puddles)
6) Returning from a BMW Inspection services and oil pressure warning came on, so pulled over, lifted the bonnet and saw oil spurting out of the tensioner diaphragm. (could be considered lifestyle as I should have avoided the BMW stealer)
7) see #1, plus the alternator that the Bosch service centre rebuilt/tested failed less than a week later on the way to the 'Ring, as they'd replaced the failed part (brushes) and not the part that triggered that to fail (commutator ring & a couple of burned out diodes). (not sure what lifestyle change I could make to avoid that)
9) car started running rough on another motorway commute, and then started throwing EML error. Pulled off the motorway and decided to call breakdown. Had just topped the tank at my regular garage near home, so I knew it was full, and even checked my receipt to ensure I'd not messed up and put VPOWER DIESEL in instead of VPOWER PETROL. Tank was dipped and it was found that it had diesel contamination - and the garage confirmed their delivery driver had also got confused between the two VPOWER tanks. (not sure what lifestyle change I could make to avoid that)
1) because it failed (swollen and spewing fumes) during a motorway commute, breakdown came out, said it was a battery issue and replaced it - for it to happen again 60 miles later (as it turned out to be the alternator). (no obvious signs until it failed)
3) hit a sumberged pothole on a Sunday night and the BMW mobility kit did bugger all for a 6" slash in the sidewall. Breakdown took me to the friend's house I was overnighting at, and picked me up the following morning to continue the journey to London..and took the car to BMW who wanted £360 for one 18" tyre. (could be considered lifestyle as I should have avoided puddles)
6) Returning from a BMW Inspection services and oil pressure warning came on, so pulled over, lifted the bonnet and saw oil spurting out of the tensioner diaphragm. (could be considered lifestyle as I should have avoided the BMW stealer)
7) see #1, plus the alternator that the Bosch service centre rebuilt/tested failed less than a week later on the way to the 'Ring, as they'd replaced the failed part (brushes) and not the part that triggered that to fail (commutator ring & a couple of burned out diodes). (not sure what lifestyle change I could make to avoid that)
9) car started running rough on another motorway commute, and then started throwing EML error. Pulled off the motorway and decided to call breakdown. Had just topped the tank at my regular garage near home, so I knew it was full, and even checked my receipt to ensure I'd not messed up and put VPOWER DIESEL in instead of VPOWER PETROL. Tank was dipped and it was found that it had diesel contamination - and the garage confirmed their delivery driver had also got confused between the two VPOWER tanks. (not sure what lifestyle change I could make to avoid that)
If you want the reassurance of cover but think it highly unlikely you will actually need a call out then have a look at a comparison site. Some of the big names (green flag, rac etc.) have policies with an excess they sell through comparison sites. Can get top cover inc home and nationwide recover for around £40 up front and a £40 excess.
I’ve gone with start rescue this year. Got an ok review in Which and in general reviews. They don’t have their own crews, instead they send a local but that’s pretty often the case with the well known ones in this area anyway.
RAC weren’t good to respond when my mum broke down in the rain and dark on a country road a few years back. Took 3 hours to arrive. The chap was good when he arrived but their call out time was too long (it wasn’t like the middle of nowhere) so I’ve avoided them myself although there will be someone out there with a story about every outfit!
I’ve gone with start rescue this year. Got an ok review in Which and in general reviews. They don’t have their own crews, instead they send a local but that’s pretty often the case with the well known ones in this area anyway.
RAC weren’t good to respond when my mum broke down in the rain and dark on a country road a few years back. Took 3 hours to arrive. The chap was good when he arrived but their call out time was too long (it wasn’t like the middle of nowhere) so I’ve avoided them myself although there will be someone out there with a story about every outfit!
Ping are just an insurance broker getting in on the market when people see the wacko prices that the big 3 are charging. I imagine they are priced slightly below Autoaid who are around £65-75 and will use independent contractors just like Autoaid. I couldn't be bothered to get a quote from Ping as they want all your details.
Not a fan of their fees:
Cancelling your policy within the 14 Cooling off Period £4.99
Cancelling your policy outside the 14 Cooling off Period £0.00
Transferring your policy to a new vehicle £9.99
Upgrading/Downgrading your Cover Level £9.99
Adding a Private plate/Changing the insured vehicles number plate £4.99
Updating your address £2.99
Requesting hard copies of policy documents £4.49
Updating your telephone Number/Email Address £0.00
£10 to change your vehicle? £4.99 to change your private plate? To me anyone with these fees are bottom feeding.
Not a fan of their fees:
Cancelling your policy within the 14 Cooling off Period £4.99
Cancelling your policy outside the 14 Cooling off Period £0.00
Transferring your policy to a new vehicle £9.99
Upgrading/Downgrading your Cover Level £9.99
Adding a Private plate/Changing the insured vehicles number plate £4.99
Updating your address £2.99
Requesting hard copies of policy documents £4.49
Updating your telephone Number/Email Address £0.00
£10 to change your vehicle? £4.99 to change your private plate? To me anyone with these fees are bottom feeding.
Dealing with this company was like stepping into a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. Picture this: You're stranded on a desolate road, the wind howling through the trees, and darkness creeping in. You reach out for help, only to be told that your lifeline, your so-called "coverage," is nothing but a ghost story. All because there's a bed in the back of your van.
When I bought this policy, I entered all the details of my vehicle, and their website, like some sinister trickster, offered me coverage without a single warning about modifications. I traveled with a false sense of security, only to discover too late that I'd been sold an illusion.
But the real horror? They auto-renewed this useless policy without my consent. It's like being trapped in a never-ending loop of deceit. If you're considering this company, run. Run far, and don't look back.
When I bought this policy, I entered all the details of my vehicle, and their website, like some sinister trickster, offered me coverage without a single warning about modifications. I traveled with a false sense of security, only to discover too late that I'd been sold an illusion.
But the real horror? They auto-renewed this useless policy without my consent. It's like being trapped in a never-ending loop of deceit. If you're considering this company, run. Run far, and don't look back.
Xenoous said:
I'm with Pong after a lot of back and forth with Ping.
Do not use Ping Breakdown Insurance they are a bunch of charlatans. They charged me £8 to cancel a £20 policy on the day - 'auto renewal' con !!You can't actually speak to anybody it's all email or online - totally avoid them !!!
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