AA Breakdown Repair Cover - Refuses to pay out
Discussion
Ive been a member of the AA now for some years. Its only this year that Im disappointed with the service I have received. In January my car blew its intercooler pipe and they refused to pay for the repair stating it was due to a blockage. We are still currently arguing about this one. In fact I have made a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service and we are awaiting the response.
My car has since then broke down again. The day before the bank holiday (17th April) we left our home towing a caravan for a six day holiday to the forest of dean. We didnt get very far. Just 45min down the road before the clutch went, or so we thought. When the service man came, he diagnosed the fault as a turbo issue. First we dropped off the caravan to our house and then the car to our local garage.
On the way to the garage I gave my mechanic a quick heads up were coming. He said that the turbo if ordered today wouldnt get delivered until the following Tuesday / Wednesday and we were hoping to try and get away again that Wednesday. The campsite that we had booked with let us move our booking to that Wednesday. The mechanic said that we could drop off the old turbo and pick up a new one if we went our self to collect. So he removed the old turbo that night and then Friday morning I went and exchanged the turbo. I was curious, so while I was there I asked, Why it had failed? The man said the fan thing inside the turbo had come loose. I dropped the new / exchanged turbo to the mechanic Friday morning and by the Tuesday we had our car back. Then on the Wednesday night we went Holiday.
It was that Tuesday when the problems started. I had just got the car back and so I got the receipts for the new turbo and mechanic bill. I rang my mechanic and gave him the telephone for claims and my details. The next second my mechanic rang me back saying that the AA wouldn't take his word that the turbo is faulty and wanted to see it. Which was impossible as it was exchanged for a new one. And so when I rang them up they said they wouldn't pay as they haven't seen the turbo.
It seems to me that the AA are making anything as an excuse not to pay. The reason given for wanting to see the old turbo was they wanted to check for wear and tear.
My mechanic said "Everything is wear and tear". As soon as you drive a new car off the forecourt you will have some degree of wear and tear. What is the point of having insurance when every time I go to claim, the AA refuses to pay out? Anyone would think that they are trying to get me to cancel my insurance because my car is getting old. They are quite eager to take my money but very reluctant to pay out.
Am I right to be asking to cover this cost. What do you think?
My car has since then broke down again. The day before the bank holiday (17th April) we left our home towing a caravan for a six day holiday to the forest of dean. We didnt get very far. Just 45min down the road before the clutch went, or so we thought. When the service man came, he diagnosed the fault as a turbo issue. First we dropped off the caravan to our house and then the car to our local garage.
On the way to the garage I gave my mechanic a quick heads up were coming. He said that the turbo if ordered today wouldnt get delivered until the following Tuesday / Wednesday and we were hoping to try and get away again that Wednesday. The campsite that we had booked with let us move our booking to that Wednesday. The mechanic said that we could drop off the old turbo and pick up a new one if we went our self to collect. So he removed the old turbo that night and then Friday morning I went and exchanged the turbo. I was curious, so while I was there I asked, Why it had failed? The man said the fan thing inside the turbo had come loose. I dropped the new / exchanged turbo to the mechanic Friday morning and by the Tuesday we had our car back. Then on the Wednesday night we went Holiday.
It was that Tuesday when the problems started. I had just got the car back and so I got the receipts for the new turbo and mechanic bill. I rang my mechanic and gave him the telephone for claims and my details. The next second my mechanic rang me back saying that the AA wouldn't take his word that the turbo is faulty and wanted to see it. Which was impossible as it was exchanged for a new one. And so when I rang them up they said they wouldn't pay as they haven't seen the turbo.
It seems to me that the AA are making anything as an excuse not to pay. The reason given for wanting to see the old turbo was they wanted to check for wear and tear.
My mechanic said "Everything is wear and tear". As soon as you drive a new car off the forecourt you will have some degree of wear and tear. What is the point of having insurance when every time I go to claim, the AA refuses to pay out? Anyone would think that they are trying to get me to cancel my insurance because my car is getting old. They are quite eager to take my money but very reluctant to pay out.
Am I right to be asking to cover this cost. What do you think?
On the second occasion, did you get authorisation first?. if you did they should have told you the keep the parts. If you didn't call them then you are not covered as in the T&Cs:-
4. What if I need to make a claim?
If your vehicle cannot be repaired at the roadside by the attending AA Patrol and requires the repair or replacement of a part, it should be taken without delay to a VAT registered garage. The repairer must call the Claims helpline on: 0844 579 0042, to obtain confirmation of cover and authorisation before repairs are started.
4. What if I need to make a claim?
If your vehicle cannot be repaired at the roadside by the attending AA Patrol and requires the repair or replacement of a part, it should be taken without delay to a VAT registered garage. The repairer must call the Claims helpline on: 0844 579 0042, to obtain confirmation of cover and authorisation before repairs are started.
TheEnd said:
I think you have mistook breakdown cover for a warranty.
They do a policy that pays the first 500 of any repair if the aa recover the car.I hate to say it but I think informing them for getting the work done is usually the way to do this kind of stuff.
I've used that policy before (a whole ago) and claimed a couple of times with no bother. When TVRs were a bit younger (it only covers cars up to 10 years) it used to be an absolute must to get the policy!
I have a 19 year old Porsche and they paid out when I had a loose rear wheel bearing.
The total cost ended up being near £2k as I had to replace both drive shafts but AA still paid out £500 minus my excess of £35.
I do wonder if I'd be so lucky next time though as surely everything on a 19year old car is wear and tear.
The total cost ended up being near £2k as I had to replace both drive shafts but AA still paid out £500 minus my excess of £35.
I do wonder if I'd be so lucky next time though as surely everything on a 19year old car is wear and tear.
I found the AA breakdown repair excellent on my old 7 series. They covered
Front springs x 2, 180 - 25 each time
ABS pump x 1 (500 - 25)
Rear springs x2 300 - 25 at the same time (had to argue that one), single excess of 25
Water pump x 1 (400 - 25)
Fuel tank x 1 (covered first 475 of 900)
I have had the cover for about 10 years, not claimed in the last 3 years.
Total cost has been ~ 800 and have claimed ~1,900
It also gives a little peace of mind.
Front springs x 2, 180 - 25 each time
ABS pump x 1 (500 - 25)
Rear springs x2 300 - 25 at the same time (had to argue that one), single excess of 25
Water pump x 1 (400 - 25)
Fuel tank x 1 (covered first 475 of 900)
I have had the cover for about 10 years, not claimed in the last 3 years.
Total cost has been ~ 800 and have claimed ~1,900
It also gives a little peace of mind.
Are they serious? Just got my renewal letter from the AA. This year up from £160 to a whopping £349 ! ! ! Yes £349, not a typo. That's a 130% increase!!! I rang them up and they gave a £60 discount. WOW. A huge increase and they didn't even pay for my breakdown repair to my turbo or even when cooler pipe blew. I think they are trying to get rid of cars older than 10 years old. I would not recommend the AA at all. Even the CEO of the AA is not interested. Total waste of space.
Vaud said:
Company charges you based on risk and breakdown history - are you surprised? Isn't that how companies work?
The AA simply double your premium on the hope you wont ring up and moanMy cover auto renewed the other day.....last year £110, this year £220
One phone call later they are refunding me £110
I spent 17 years running a 24hr breakdown and recovery company working for all the major motoring clubs and assistance companies and in that time never knew anyone claim successfully on that AA breakdown insurance. Off all the companies we were agents for the AA were by far the worst company to work for and Green Flag definately the best.
jules_s said:
Vaud said:
Company charges you based on risk and breakdown history - are you surprised? Isn't that how companies work?
The AA simply double your premium on the hope you wont ring up and moanMy cover auto renewed the other day.....last year £110, this year £220
One phone call later they are refunding me £110
k them. They are just hoping I don't bother to check it. Year in year out the same rigmarole so I voted with my feet.
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