When breakdown cover isn't
Discussion
I drive an elderly Range Rover. It's not a sensible car, but I like it a lot.
Last week it disgraced itself in the MOT bay of Halfords, bursting a flexi-hose and dropping it's brake fluid. The brake fluid was leaking when driven in. IT was either lucky or unlucky, depending on your point of view. The test was abandoned. Halfords showed no enthusiasm in repairing the fault, and the car was actually booked in for a service the next day with a mechanic I use.
At this point it got complicated. My MOT had expired a couple of day previously. I'd got short of time, and did not need to use the car in between, so accepted it.
I have breakdown cover with a paid bank account with a national bank, who use a very yellow breakdown company.
The car needed recovering from Halfords to my mechanic...
The yellow peril's were quick to answer and confirmed if the car was on private land (eg my driveway), they would have recovered it. Because it was on a different type of private land (Halfords car park) they could not drive it legally so would not recover it. Some of this was anticipated. The next bit was not - they would recover it if I paid them £99 + something per mile). So it's clear that it's not the legality that is a concern, but dodging the recovery...
I got recovered in the end, having sourced a local company at £240.
I'm vaguely bitter. It's taken a few days to even get the energy to look at making a fuss. I suspect I'm onto a hiding to nothing, but it's entertainment if nothing else.
Careful out there folks!
PS Halfords - the branch I use are pretty decent. I've yet to see any of the usual drive to upsell etc.
Last week it disgraced itself in the MOT bay of Halfords, bursting a flexi-hose and dropping it's brake fluid. The brake fluid was leaking when driven in. IT was either lucky or unlucky, depending on your point of view. The test was abandoned. Halfords showed no enthusiasm in repairing the fault, and the car was actually booked in for a service the next day with a mechanic I use.
At this point it got complicated. My MOT had expired a couple of day previously. I'd got short of time, and did not need to use the car in between, so accepted it.
I have breakdown cover with a paid bank account with a national bank, who use a very yellow breakdown company.
The car needed recovering from Halfords to my mechanic...
The yellow peril's were quick to answer and confirmed if the car was on private land (eg my driveway), they would have recovered it. Because it was on a different type of private land (Halfords car park) they could not drive it legally so would not recover it. Some of this was anticipated. The next bit was not - they would recover it if I paid them £99 + something per mile). So it's clear that it's not the legality that is a concern, but dodging the recovery...
I got recovered in the end, having sourced a local company at £240.
I'm vaguely bitter. It's taken a few days to even get the energy to look at making a fuss. I suspect I'm onto a hiding to nothing, but it's entertainment if nothing else.
Careful out there folks!
PS Halfords - the branch I use are pretty decent. I've yet to see any of the usual drive to upsell etc.
It's the chance you take with an expired MoT. It's legal to drive a car without one (even SORN) to a test and for repair, I've done this myself.
But many breakdown companies require a car to have a current MoT to attend a breakdown. It's to avoid being called out to completely unroadworthy vehicles I presume.
But many breakdown companies require a car to have a current MoT to attend a breakdown. It's to avoid being called out to completely unroadworthy vehicles I presume.
Mr Tidy said:
That's one of the reasons I always take my cars for an MOT while they still have a valid one!
I can see why they want to avoid recovering spares or repairs cars, you just got unlucky with the timing.
I think if a car fails it's MOT, this superseds the old MOT regardless of the expiry, i.e. The car is no longer road worthy. I can see why they want to avoid recovering spares or repairs cars, you just got unlucky with the timing.
RemarkLima said:
Mr Tidy said:
That's one of the reasons I always take my cars for an MOT while they still have a valid one!
I can see why they want to avoid recovering spares or repairs cars, you just got unlucky with the timing.
I think if a car fails it's MOT, this superseds the old MOT regardless of the expiry, i.e. The car is no longer road worthy. I can see why they want to avoid recovering spares or repairs cars, you just got unlucky with the timing.
However, this is a different matter to whether or not the car is roadworthy. That is determined by the mechanical state of the car - in this case a ruptured brake hose would suggest not.
Breakdown companies are a waste of money, I don’t bother with them. In the unlikely event of a breakdown in the UK I’ll just use a recovery company local to where I have broken down and swallow the cost. In 19 years of driving this has cost me £70 to get recovered to a tyre shop when I got a puncture in Manchester city centre
I was irritated but perfectly fine with them not recovering the car. What has annoyed me slightly is the fact that they would collect it for £.
As for spares and repairs, I certainly hope not.
They would have repaired it but not for nearly a week where it would have been stuck outside. They were conceded about the connection, legitimately as the mechanic I use had to cut it off and remake a new one.
As for spares and repairs, I certainly hope not.
They would have repaired it but not for nearly a week where it would have been stuck outside. They were conceded about the connection, legitimately as the mechanic I use had to cut it off and remake a new one.
fflump said:
Mr Tidy said:
That's one of the reasons I always take my cars for an MOT while they still have a valid one!
I can see why they want to avoid recovering spares or repairs cars, you just got unlucky with the timing.
How would the breakdown company know it had an expired MoT?I can see why they want to avoid recovering spares or repairs cars, you just got unlucky with the timing.
I’ve no idea why they use it as an exclusion but there you go.
OP my beef here though would be with Halfords- terrible service!
georgeyboy12345 said:
Breakdown companies are a waste of money, I don t bother with them. In the unlikely event of a breakdown in the UK I ll just use a recovery company local to where I have broken down and swallow the cost. In 19 years of driving this has cost me £70 to get recovered to a tyre shop when I got a puncture in Manchester city centre
Yep, I'm with you on this one. In 40 years of driving I've still never needed a vehicle recovery so I'm quids in. Even if you need a recovery every five years you're probably better off just contacting a local service.georgeyboy12345 said:
Breakdown companies are a waste of money, I don t bother with them. In the unlikely event of a breakdown in the UK I ll just use a recovery company local to where I have broken down and swallow the cost. In 19 years of driving this has cost me £70 to get recovered to a tyre shop when I got a puncture in Manchester city centre
You're lucky I reckon to not have broken down at an awkward place or time. I have, on a freezing cold, wet motorway, or on a dual carriageway with a shot gearbox a day before Christmas Eve (recovered 100 miles home, that would have stung!), 2 of the at least half a dozen occasions that I've need assistance. Clutch pedal dropped on a Triumph Toledo, couldn't select any gears on a 405, I've never had to get assistance for a puncture, yet. I have 2 cars that don't have a spare now. I find personal cover for all my vehicles a worthwhile policy to have. £65 with recovery for cars or motorcycles, which also don't have a spare....
Chubbyross said:
Yep, I'm with you on this one. In 40 years of driving I've still never needed a vehicle recovery so I'm quids in. Even if you need a recovery every five years you're probably better off just contacting a local service.
Hasn't happened to me but what about 200 miles away with a car filled with a family, which happened to a relative?? False economy not having it. It should be compulsory.Used breakdown services three times. All the manufacturers offer. Once in a four day old hire car, breakdown guy took me tho the hire company to collect another car on his way to the dealership with the broken one. Once 100 miles from home at 6pm on the A43 by Silverstone (not a fun place to be stopped) and once right outside my house when a hose failed within a minute of setting off and it was fixed on the spot for the cost of the part. Saved me maybe £250 labour and two bus trip across town to collect the car. Plus however many days before it could be looked at.
I will stick with having cover thanks
I will stick with having cover thanks
I've used rescuemycar.com for years and it's cheap and they've been brilliant the half dozen times I've had them out. Turned up quickly , taken cars long distances, no dicking about or trying to weasel out of actually doing what they're paid for.
Every time I read about someone getting ripped off and/or shafted by breakdown it's the "big two".
Every time I read about someone getting ripped off and/or shafted by breakdown it's the "big two".
sixor8 said:
Chubbyross said:
Yep, I'm with you on this one. In 40 years of driving I've still never needed a vehicle recovery so I'm quids in. Even if you need a recovery every five years you're probably better off just contacting a local service.
Hasn't happened to me but what about 200 miles away with a car filled with a family, which happened to a relative?? False economy not having it. It should be compulsory.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff