Free Green Flag or pay for AA cover
Discussion
I've been an AA member for 23 years and always go for the relay service, because I want my car fixing at a garage I trust, or by myself. My bank gave me free Green Flag cover, but it was to nearest garage or 10 miles. Now the bank include the Green Flag relay service and say they will take the car to any destination I choose.
My AA is up for renewal, its at £141.54, but I'm sure I can get that down to £72 like last year.
The AA renewal guy warned me about a Green Flag relay clause, which says they can still take my car to their garage if they believe it can be fixed within 2 hours. Then charge me for the repair (1st hour labour free?). I know the AA guy was trying to keep a customer, but is there any real reason I should still keep the AA cover, or any reason to avoid Green Flag?
My AA is up for renewal, its at £141.54, but I'm sure I can get that down to £72 like last year.
The AA renewal guy warned me about a Green Flag relay clause, which says they can still take my car to their garage if they believe it can be fixed within 2 hours. Then charge me for the repair (1st hour labour free?). I know the AA guy was trying to keep a customer, but is there any real reason I should still keep the AA cover, or any reason to avoid Green Flag?
I've had two reasons to call the AA, both sadly in the last 6 months, but on two separate vehicles. The first I really couldn't fault the service at all, the second they made hard work of and was less than ideal.
But, when you need them, you need them and I'm still confident that they are the best and most reliable breakdown service out there, so I'll be renewing next year.
But, when you need them, you need them and I'm still confident that they are the best and most reliable breakdown service out there, so I'll be renewing next year.
I would advise you pay for a full annual cover. I had free green flag cover through my bank account.
Broke down 85 miles away from home. Called green flag who sent the local independent recovery out and they could only tow the vehicle within a 10 mile radius to a nominated garage or safe place.
I had to pay a recovery firm £225 to recover the vehicle back to my home address, where if I had an AA gold membership at £80 quid a year I would have been covered for unlimited recovery mileage.
Broke down 85 miles away from home. Called green flag who sent the local independent recovery out and they could only tow the vehicle within a 10 mile radius to a nominated garage or safe place.
I had to pay a recovery firm £225 to recover the vehicle back to my home address, where if I had an AA gold membership at £80 quid a year I would have been covered for unlimited recovery mileage.
The cover on my bank account at the moment is just road side, so thats fix it at the road side, back to their garage or somewhere within 10 miles. Its being upgraded to include the relay, so thats fix it at side of road or transport me anywhere within the UK. "Hopefully" I shouldn't need the AA cover.
I have Green Flag cover with my bank account and have used them twice in the past year. The first time they were with me within ten minutes, the second time was about an hour. The second time they delivered my car to my house about 45 minutes away without any complaint, though I think at that point I only had cover for ten miles. They use local breakdown services, so the fact you haven't seen many Green Flag vans doesn't mean their response times aren't good.
Compare that to the AA who the last time I used them took four hours and in that time I saw three vans drive past my car, which simply needed a battery charge and to be followed a mile home, as the alternator had given up on the drive home. Each time I phoned it was always "within 45 minutes" and on one occasion a rude comment about how frequently I had phoned (twice previously).
Compare that to the AA who the last time I used them took four hours and in that time I saw three vans drive past my car, which simply needed a battery charge and to be followed a mile home, as the alternator had given up on the drive home. Each time I phoned it was always "within 45 minutes" and on one occasion a rude comment about how frequently I had phoned (twice previously).
lxm said:
I would advise you pay for a full annual cover. I had free green flag cover through my bank account.
Broke down 85 miles away from home. Called green flag who sent the local independent recovery out and they could only tow the vehicle within a 10 mile radius to a nominated garage or safe place.
I had to pay a recovery firm £225 to recover the vehicle back to my home address, where if I had an AA gold membership at £80 quid a year I would have been covered for unlimited recovery mileage.
Perhaps read the original post again? The cover is being upgraded - Strangely enough, so is my cover, probably same Bank and Acct type as the OP.Broke down 85 miles away from home. Called green flag who sent the local independent recovery out and they could only tow the vehicle within a 10 mile radius to a nominated garage or safe place.
I had to pay a recovery firm £225 to recover the vehicle back to my home address, where if I had an AA gold membership at £80 quid a year I would have been covered for unlimited recovery mileage.
They both use contractors. We've now moved away from AA after their contractor left us stranded with a flat last Christmas day saying we needed a flatbed. After he said that, the contractor in his *flatbed* drove away saying the AA hadn't authorised him to do anything except pump up a tyre and refusing to wait while I phoned the AA for clarificatin. The AA wasn't interested in my complaint at all. At renewal they made all the right noises, but it was too late then.
My concern with Green Flag is it can be a bit of a postcode lottery depending where you break down because of their use of independents. I was with them for a year but never had to call them out. My sister was with them through her bank account and had to call them out. Some gypsy in a hi-vis turned up, and ended up making the original problem worse. A day later she had to call an auto electrician to fix the original and subsequent problem!
Although from what I've read here it seems the AA are now using independents. I was with the AA and had to call them out once when my Laguna wouldn't start. It was quite an obscure problem as to why it wouldn't start, the guy was spot on and had it running in 20 minutes. I only waited 30minutes for him to arrive too. This was about 6 years ago and it was an AA livery van and I think he was an AA employee, not from a garage.
Purely on price I then switched to the RAC. Been with them a couple of years now but thankfully have never had to call them, so no idea what their service is like. I suppose everyone can have good and bad experiences with any of the breakdown services.
Although from what I've read here it seems the AA are now using independents. I was with the AA and had to call them out once when my Laguna wouldn't start. It was quite an obscure problem as to why it wouldn't start, the guy was spot on and had it running in 20 minutes. I only waited 30minutes for him to arrive too. This was about 6 years ago and it was an AA livery van and I think he was an AA employee, not from a garage.
Purely on price I then switched to the RAC. Been with them a couple of years now but thankfully have never had to call them, so no idea what their service is like. I suppose everyone can have good and bad experiences with any of the breakdown services.
I have a feeling that the AA & RAC running their own fleet is often a disadvantage, as they will be determined to use their own vehicles wherever possible, however long the wait.
I've been using insurance based services for years and have never found it to be a problem - needing breakdown cover is such a rare occurence that I'd rather keep the price right down. In fact I wonder whether I'd be better off paying when I need it, although at £40 PA for two people in any vehicle it's probably appropriately priced (and if the cover was free as in the OP then I'd definitely buy it).
I've been using insurance based services for years and have never found it to be a problem - needing breakdown cover is such a rare occurence that I'd rather keep the price right down. In fact I wonder whether I'd be better off paying when I need it, although at £40 PA for two people in any vehicle it's probably appropriately priced (and if the cover was free as in the OP then I'd definitely buy it).
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