Breakdown cover: Misfuel

[mk08]

I am looking inot buying a breakdown cover. The policy say:

Covered in case of Misfuel. But then says cost of draining and removing contaminated fuel not covered.

My thinking is that if Misfuel is covered, they should removed it.

Is it same for all policies?

[E-bmw]

Just because they will come out if you mis-fuel doesn't mean it won't cost you.

Mis-fuelling is wholly 110% your fault, why would they not charge when they could have been directing their resources to "genuine breakdowns"?

[Tony1963]

I’m with AutoAid. Cheap and recommended by MoneysavingExpert. Called them out two years ago due to misfuel, no further charge.

[Chris32345]

Probably means they will cover recovery to a garage to have the work done

[mmm-five]

Just like most of there terms, they will recover you in almost all cases, but you'll still be responsible for the costs involved in fixing the problem...be that misfuelling, snapping a drive shaft, losing an exhaust, etc.

Unless you've got a parts & labour policy (which are usually very limited in themselves), then I'd not expect them to fix or pay to fix anything.

[anonymous-user]

Why should people who are too stupid to even put the right fuel in their car ( there’s only 3 to choose from , it’s not like there is 127 to confuse you), be subsidised by those who just want breakdown cover for genuine mechanical / electrical problems?

[mmm-five]

Cliffe60 said:

Why should people who are too stupid to even put the right fuel in their car ( there’s only 3 to choose from , it’s not like there is 127 to confuse you), be subsidised by those who just want breakdown cover for genuine mechanical / electrical problems?

What about those drivers who've misfuelled due to the fault of the garage putting the wrong fuel into their storage tanks?

What about those people who can't be arsed maintaining their cars in a roadworthy condition and rely on the breakdown service instead?

Should we be subsidising anyone who's breakdown is a result of poor maintenance/planning/checking?

[Tony1963]

Chris32345 said:

Probably means they will cover recovery to a garage to have the work done

Is that aimed at me?

If so, you're wrong. They turned up within the hour, accessed the fuel tank from under the rear seats, pumped out the petrol, and then I had to pay only for the diesel to go in. All done on the garage forecourt parking area, no payment for the service at all except for the AutoAid membership.

[mk08]

Tony1963 said:

Chris32345 said:

Probably means they will cover recovery to a garage to have the work done

Is that aimed at me?

If so, you're wrong. They turned up within the hour, accessed the fuel tank from under the rear seats, pumped out the petrol, and then I had to pay only for the diesel to go in. All done on the garage forecourt parking area, no payment for the service at all except for the AutoAid membership.

Did the garage removed the fuel for you? If Yes, how come they didn't charge?

[anonymous-user]

mmm-five said:

Cliffe60 said:

Why should people who are too stupid to even put the right fuel in their car ( there’s only 3 to choose from , it’s not like there is 127 to confuse you), be subsidised by those who just want breakdown cover for genuine mechanical / electrical problems?

What about those drivers who've misfuelled due to the fault of the garage putting the wrong fuel into their storage tanks?

What about those people who can't be arsed maintaining their cars in a roadworthy condition and rely on the breakdown service instead?

Should we be subsidising anyone who's breakdown is a result of poor maintenance/planning/checking?

How often do garages put the wrong fuel in the wrong tanks? Obviously that’s not your fault but the garage should pay.
Re poor maintenance, yes I think breakdown services should ask for proof of servicing. I am aware many people regard the breakdown services as their car maintenance .

[Vasco]

mmm-five said:

hat about those drivers who've misfuelled due to the fault of the garage putting the wrong fuel into their storage tanks?

What about those people who can't be arsed maintaining their cars in a roadworthy condition and rely on the breakdown service instead?

Should we be subsidising anyone who's breakdown is a result of poor maintenance/planning/checking?

Have there been numerous cases of garages putting the wrong fuel in their storage tanks ?

[mmm-five]

Vasco said:

Have there been numerous cases of garages putting the wrong fuel in their storage tanks ?

There have been cases, yes!

Some times it was contamination with water or silicon in the fuel (both Sainsbury & Tesco have been affected by this), other times a garage (Gulf IIRC) put unleaded in their diesel tank.

[Sheepshanks]

mk08 said:

Tony1963 said:

Chris32345 said:

Probably means they will cover recovery to a garage to have the work done

Is that aimed at me?

If so, you're wrong. They turned up within the hour, accessed the fuel tank from under the rear seats, pumped out the petrol, and then I had to pay only for the diesel to go in. All done on the garage forecourt parking area, no payment for the service at all except for the AutoAid membership.

Did the garage removed the fuel for you? If Yes, how come they didn't charge?

It's part of the cover - if they can do it while out on the road: https://secure.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/documents/Au...

I used Autoaid for a couple of years but never called them. I gather it is more of a scoop and run service than roadside assistance though, so perhaps Tony1963's is unusual.

I think AA & RAC send specialist vehicles and charge for it.

[Tony1963]

mk08 said:

Did the garage removed the fuel for you? If Yes, how come they didn't charge?

Sweet chocolate monkeys. Here goes in simple language.

Me with car > fuel station

Car is diesel

Me put petrol in

Me call AutoAid (me pay £65 ish for one year membership of their recovery service.)

One hour later, AutoAid man arrives

AutoAid man remove all fuel from tank.

Me pay for diesel to go in fuel tank

Me and car go home. Nothing to pay for misfuel

Edited by Tony1963 on Saturday 7th August 16:41

[Tony1963]

And just in case it needs to be clearer still:

[Vasco]

mmm-five said:

Vasco said:

Have there been numerous cases of garages putting the wrong fuel in their storage tanks ?

There have been cases, yes!

Some times it was contamination with water or silicon in the fuel (both Sainsbury & Tesco have been affected by this), other times a garage (Gulf IIRC) put unleaded in their diesel tank.

Yes, I'm sure there have been occasional muddles but I was trying to determine how often it has occurred - presumably, given the volumes involved, it's actually extremely rare ?

[ConnectionError]

Tony1963 said:

And just in case it needs to be clearer still:

So if you have started the car and the fuel is in the lines what happens then?

[Tony1963]

I suppose if I’d only just made it onto the forecourt with only fumes getting me there, then I’d driven a mile on petrol, I’d have had a different experience, but like many who make the same mistake I did, I realised after lobbing about four gallons of petrol in on top of about two gallons of diesel already there, I stopped the refuelling, and drove my car to the parking area. No harm done, fuel system still ok a fair few thousand miles later.

So to answer your question, I don’t know!