RAC Roadside recovery....Or not !!
Discussion
Well I learned something new today...
Despite paying for the full all singing and dancing RAC roadside, homestart, accident care service, It seems you are not really covered at all. I have been a member of the RAC for more years than I care to remember and paid my £120 or so per year.
This evening I was involved in an accident. It was quite a big shunt and has probably written of my little Rover 25 Diesel. Anyhow. nobody hurt amd the police are happy that as an injury free incident they don't want to pursue matters.
My car although still running was stranded due to missing a rear tyre.
The RAC were duly called in order that I could have my car recovered home, Its an older car and not worth a lot so me not wanting to jump on the whiplash, injury claim and Blame bandwagon I thought I would just Ring my Roadside recovery people to have my little car brought home...Errr. Not so simple.
After waiting some 10 minutes I eventually got through to some blabbering fool to eventually be told that The car would not be recovered because it was involved in an accident.
Now despite discussing the merits of the car being actually broken down beside the road and the reason for the breakdown being matterless to a service provider I pay an annual fee to... it seems that the RAC get to decide whether you fit a criterior of being recovered or not! They would be happy to come and get me for an additional charge however???
So the Knights of the Road or whatever they are calling themselves these days... Thanks! I will cancel my direct debit tomorrow morning since I am comfortable that it is much more efficient for me to ring any local company and pay a one off fee.
I will have to also work out what the accident assist part of the policy is..It must be to whisper comforting words down the phoneline or pass out a message of sympathy.
In ending my Little Story I would comment as follows..
A Big Thanks to the Lads in the Northumberland County Council highways crash protection lorry who were first on the scene and protected the lane.
A big thanks to Northumberland Police who were very helpful and understanding and dealt very efficiently with the prang
Also a very big thanks to a certain Top guy and Hexham Based TVR Specialist who dropped everything to come and get me and my car after being so badly let down by the Knights of the Road, 4th Emergncy service or whatever they are professing to call themselves these days.
N.
Despite paying for the full all singing and dancing RAC roadside, homestart, accident care service, It seems you are not really covered at all. I have been a member of the RAC for more years than I care to remember and paid my £120 or so per year.
This evening I was involved in an accident. It was quite a big shunt and has probably written of my little Rover 25 Diesel. Anyhow. nobody hurt amd the police are happy that as an injury free incident they don't want to pursue matters.
My car although still running was stranded due to missing a rear tyre.
The RAC were duly called in order that I could have my car recovered home, Its an older car and not worth a lot so me not wanting to jump on the whiplash, injury claim and Blame bandwagon I thought I would just Ring my Roadside recovery people to have my little car brought home...Errr. Not so simple.
After waiting some 10 minutes I eventually got through to some blabbering fool to eventually be told that The car would not be recovered because it was involved in an accident.
Now despite discussing the merits of the car being actually broken down beside the road and the reason for the breakdown being matterless to a service provider I pay an annual fee to... it seems that the RAC get to decide whether you fit a criterior of being recovered or not! They would be happy to come and get me for an additional charge however???
So the Knights of the Road or whatever they are calling themselves these days... Thanks! I will cancel my direct debit tomorrow morning since I am comfortable that it is much more efficient for me to ring any local company and pay a one off fee.
I will have to also work out what the accident assist part of the policy is..It must be to whisper comforting words down the phoneline or pass out a message of sympathy.
In ending my Little Story I would comment as follows..
A Big Thanks to the Lads in the Northumberland County Council highways crash protection lorry who were first on the scene and protected the lane.
A big thanks to Northumberland Police who were very helpful and understanding and dealt very efficiently with the prang
Also a very big thanks to a certain Top guy and Hexham Based TVR Specialist who dropped everything to come and get me and my car after being so badly let down by the Knights of the Road, 4th Emergncy service or whatever they are professing to call themselves these days.
N.
Strange, the RAC collected both my and my brothers cars from a 5 car pile up in december 08.
I did what you did and called them, the family has the all singing all dancing policy like yours..
Im not sure if they have changed this since.
Did they give you a reason why they would not recover you? Was it your fault for the smash?
My smash was some elses fault, my brothers was his, but 2 sub contractor's turned up and took the cars home.
I did what you did and called them, the family has the all singing all dancing policy like yours..
Im not sure if they have changed this since.
Did they give you a reason why they would not recover you? Was it your fault for the smash?
My smash was some elses fault, my brothers was his, but 2 sub contractor's turned up and took the cars home.
Sorry to point it out to you but it is the responsibility of your insurance company to bear the brunt of any costs regarding recovery after an RTA. Neither the RAC or AA will recover after an RTA for free or as part of the breakdown cover. They will both recover you but for a fee which is reclaimable from your insurance company. It's been this way for quite a few years now and is written in the terms and conditions of your membership.
fact of matter is that the accident wasn't my fault. My thoughts at the time were that I want to inform but actually not claim from my insurance company since why should I have the policy loaded next year for a non fault accident I expect the other parties insurance to stump up not mine, though that said I am fully comp.
At the end of the day I in my view pay for "roadside recovery" and accident care, at least thats what it says on the member card. Maybe the RAC should advertise that it is "Roadside recovery but only in prescribed circumstances as we se fit" ???
needless to say for what they have taken from me over tha last 10 or so years I could have bought a rather nice car trailer!!
i feel pretty let down by this service, enough to not bother renewing it, as you say if my Insurance company cover accident recovery then I am happy that a local outfit can cover the other eventualities and it will be a damn site cheaper than the £1400 or so I have happily paid the RAC since 2003!!
N.
At the end of the day I in my view pay for "roadside recovery" and accident care, at least thats what it says on the member card. Maybe the RAC should advertise that it is "Roadside recovery but only in prescribed circumstances as we se fit" ???
needless to say for what they have taken from me over tha last 10 or so years I could have bought a rather nice car trailer!!
i feel pretty let down by this service, enough to not bother renewing it, as you say if my Insurance company cover accident recovery then I am happy that a local outfit can cover the other eventualities and it will be a damn site cheaper than the £1400 or so I have happily paid the RAC since 2003!!
N.
wolf1 said:
They both will but they will charge you for it. It's around £100. I work for one of them but not saying which.
I have no issues at all with the guys doing the job out at the sharp edge but everything against a company that Takes a lot of money offering you a "Full" Service then tell you to "relax you're covered" to find out when you most need them that actually you're not!!My DD will be cancelled tomorrow and I will as a result do my level best to advise any other prospective customer that they would be better off just letting the insurance company sort in an accident or infact for everything else paying a local agent who in real terms is no more expensive!!
Don't you just love companies that wriggle out of doing what you thought you paid for!!
N.
heightswitch said:
fact of matter is that the accident wasn't my fault. My thoughts at the time were that I want to inform but actually not claim from my insurance company since why should I have the policy loaded next year for a non fault accident I expect the other parties insurance to stump up not mine, though that said I am fully comp.
Makes no odds whether you claim or not if the other party is at fault. You have to inform your insurance company (which you said you will anyway) and your premium will take account of the no-fault accident. Some companies load the premium, some don't.In theory you can recover any additional premium costs from the 3rd party.
OP I think you may have got the wrong person on the phone - contact them again and ask for an explanation.
Couple of years ago the RAC were on the way to recover my car after my wife, who was driving at the time, was run into.
They seemed quite happy to do it but Lincolnshire police had called another recovery company and had the car away before the RAC could get there.
I called the RAC to let them know and they thanked me and said it happens a lot as the police like to use their 'preferred' recovery company.
I have no doubt that a certain Lincs police officer got a nice back hander out of it.
Couple of years ago the RAC were on the way to recover my car after my wife, who was driving at the time, was run into.
They seemed quite happy to do it but Lincolnshire police had called another recovery company and had the car away before the RAC could get there.
I called the RAC to let them know and they thanked me and said it happens a lot as the police like to use their 'preferred' recovery company.
I have no doubt that a certain Lincs police officer got a nice back hander out of it.
i had a RTA last year on a sunday morning and was using ADAC, they sent the AA with 20 mins recovered my car on a low loader 100 miles to my prefered garage, and even offered to have a hire car waiting at the other end though it wasnt needed.
Great service, I wasnt asked for any extra payment or ADAC or the AA bearing in mind the ADAC policy is only 80 euros, and covers any vehicle im travelling in
Great service, I wasnt asked for any extra payment or ADAC or the AA bearing in mind the ADAC policy is only 80 euros, and covers any vehicle im travelling in
skeggysteve said:
OP I think you may have got the wrong person on the phone - contact them again and ask for an explanation.
Couple of years ago the RAC were on the way to recover my car after my wife, who was driving at the time, was run into.
They seemed quite happy to do it but Lincolnshire police had called another recovery company and had the car away before the RAC could get there.
I called the RAC to let them know and they thanked me and said it happens a lot as the police like to use their 'preferred' recovery company.
I have no doubt that a certain Lincs police officer got a nice back hander out of it.
An explanation aint much good to me now. I have sent some correspondance to the RAC but basically once bitten and all that!! All of the other persons were fantastic and helpful. after an accident the last thing I want to do is stand arguing the toss at the roadside. i want to know that whoever I call will attend. Next time the people I call will attend!! it won't be the RACCouple of years ago the RAC were on the way to recover my car after my wife, who was driving at the time, was run into.
They seemed quite happy to do it but Lincolnshire police had called another recovery company and had the car away before the RAC could get there.
I called the RAC to let them know and they thanked me and said it happens a lot as the police like to use their 'preferred' recovery company.
I have no doubt that a certain Lincs police officer got a nice back hander out of it.
N.
The benefit of the RAC over the AA used to be that the RAC would do recovery, the AA only breakdown recovery
I have a feeling I read a year or so back that the RAC under new owners would also only do breakdown recovery.
Anyone have the small print?
Whats the name of that european company that does both?
I have a feeling I read a year or so back that the RAC under new owners would also only do breakdown recovery.
Anyone have the small print?
Whats the name of that european company that does both?
Op i have to admit it sounds like you are giving them slightly short shrift.
I have not a bad word to say about rac other than their renewals policy whereby they charge you 120-130 for a year but offer the same deal to new customers for 80 ish.
Since finding that out i have simply upgraded my bank account which gives me free full rac package and a variety of other things.
I have not a bad word to say about rac other than their renewals policy whereby they charge you 120-130 for a year but offer the same deal to new customers for 80 ish.
Since finding that out i have simply upgraded my bank account which gives me free full rac package and a variety of other things.
If you're insured through an rbs brand it's always best to call green flag, if you're a member of caravan club you get it as a standard no cost thing (other than extra equipment to load a car), and they don't have a ruling if your car doesn't have a spare.
Failing that, I've never heard a bad word about a Adac from the more euro exploring hers.
Failing that, I've never heard a bad word about a Adac from the more euro exploring hers.
Have either of you ever actually read any of the terms and conditions of the policy you have with the RAC?
I have to listen to this sort of s
t all day long and the accusation is always the same, that we're trying to wriggle out of providing what the customer believed they were paying for.
(I don't work for RAC, AA or any other such firm, before you start)
Read the policy spec and don't whinge if you're surprised by something you decided not to look up.
I have to listen to this sort of s
t all day long and the accusation is always the same, that we're trying to wriggle out of providing what the customer believed they were paying for. (I don't work for RAC, AA or any other such firm, before you start)
Read the policy spec and don't whinge if you're surprised by something you decided not to look up.
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