AA or RAC or Another?
Discussion
So, search isn't working at the moment but just realised my breakdown cover has expired.
I was on a joint policy with my Dad, but as he passed away last year, he obviously doesn't need breakdown now, and I don't need a joint policy.
Which is the prefered? I've only been driving a year so never had to use any of them, but would like a pretty good one.
Found AA & RAC are seperated by only £5 online, and greenflag didn't do a quick quote so didn't check them.
I was on a joint policy with my Dad, but as he passed away last year, he obviously doesn't need breakdown now, and I don't need a joint policy.
Which is the prefered? I've only been driving a year so never had to use any of them, but would like a pretty good one.
Found AA & RAC are seperated by only £5 online, and greenflag didn't do a quick quote so didn't check them.
On the two occassions I had to call out the AA:
1. They kept me on hold for over 20 minutes before I could get through to anyone.
2. After breaking down at 10:30 one evening I rang them and they sent out a repair man. He turned up about midnight and after 30 minutes of playing around with the electrics managed to screw things up further. He rang for a tow truck to come and collect our car which would be another hours wait. Once the hour had passed, we rang the AA again to find out what had happened and found out they'd forgotten to dispatch the tow truck so we had to wait another hour before the tow truck finally appeared. This guy turned out to be a lunatic and proceeded to jump every red light ("they don't count at that time of night") and take the racing line across all round abouts whilst telling us how he'd been on shift since 7am (it's gone 3am by now).
To take the p!ss a little further, when my wife cancelled our policy, then collected the money from her account any way.
Since then I've been with the RAC and had to call them out twice. Both times I got straight through on the phone and a mechanic was with me within half an hour. On the first occassion he wasn't able to fix the problem and offered to tow me any where I wanted the car taken, the second time the car was fixed within 10 minutes.
I'd definitely recommend the RAC!
1. They kept me on hold for over 20 minutes before I could get through to anyone.
2. After breaking down at 10:30 one evening I rang them and they sent out a repair man. He turned up about midnight and after 30 minutes of playing around with the electrics managed to screw things up further. He rang for a tow truck to come and collect our car which would be another hours wait. Once the hour had passed, we rang the AA again to find out what had happened and found out they'd forgotten to dispatch the tow truck so we had to wait another hour before the tow truck finally appeared. This guy turned out to be a lunatic and proceeded to jump every red light ("they don't count at that time of night") and take the racing line across all round abouts whilst telling us how he'd been on shift since 7am (it's gone 3am by now).
To take the p!ss a little further, when my wife cancelled our policy, then collected the money from her account any way.
Since then I've been with the RAC and had to call them out twice. Both times I got straight through on the phone and a mechanic was with me within half an hour. On the first occassion he wasn't able to fix the problem and offered to tow me any where I wanted the car taken, the second time the car was fixed within 10 minutes.
I'd definitely recommend the RAC!
Edited by Laughingman21 on Tuesday 6th April 18:54
I've used RAC for years, but got a bit peed off with them twice making me wait four hours for recovery because they'd sent the wrong type of truck (needed and requested a low loader because the car wouldn't go on anything else), and one peen who wouldn't take my word for it that his swan neck wouldn't go under a very low carbon fibre splitter.
Shifted to the AA in an emergency, they seemed pretty good, fairly prompt when I had some bike issues last year. Since moved to ADAC based on the recommendations from here because the AA renewal price was rediculous. Not used them yet, but I've heard nothing but good things. AFAIK in the UK you'll get the AA coming to your rescue when you break down, but it's cheap and covers you for anywhere in europe.
Shifted to the AA in an emergency, they seemed pretty good, fairly prompt when I had some bike issues last year. Since moved to ADAC based on the recommendations from here because the AA renewal price was rediculous. Not used them yet, but I've heard nothing but good things. AFAIK in the UK you'll get the AA coming to your rescue when you break down, but it's cheap and covers you for anywhere in europe.
I went through all this myself on Saturday.
The two best options are
- ADAC if you haven't or aren't a civil servant
- CSMA through Britannia - I worked for JobCentrePlus last year so this is what I did.
Join CSMA - £15. Then join the CSMA breakdown scheme - 69 quid a year for their very bestest cover (europe, UK, homestart, any vehicle, hire car blah blah) + 29 quid for Mrs Orbs and 10 quid off. Plus another 5 off for direct debit so 84 quid all in for both of us. I've heard good reviews of it so I regard it all as a bit of a bargain.
At no point has anyone asked for proof of my ex-civil servant status.
The two best options are
- ADAC if you haven't or aren't a civil servant
- CSMA through Britannia - I worked for JobCentrePlus last year so this is what I did.
Join CSMA - £15. Then join the CSMA breakdown scheme - 69 quid a year for their very bestest cover (europe, UK, homestart, any vehicle, hire car blah blah) + 29 quid for Mrs Orbs and 10 quid off. Plus another 5 off for direct debit so 84 quid all in for both of us. I've heard good reviews of it so I regard it all as a bit of a bargain.
At no point has anyone asked for proof of my ex-civil servant status.
AA have always been good to me, have had to wait in a call que a few times of about 20 mins but both times got quoted 2 hours for a truck to come out to me and both times they were less than 30 mins. Both were low loaders aswell.
Only thing I would say is make sure you have exactly the cover you need before you break down. If not they rape you on the night.
Only thing I would say is make sure you have exactly the cover you need before you break down. If not they rape you on the night.
Tallbut Buxomly said:
Very quick and efficient always arrive before they are meant to. Last time i was told an hr and a half and they were there within 25mins and i am a bloke.
Standard customer service tactic used everywhere- "manage customer expectations" .i.e. tell the customer the item will take longer to arrive. if does hapen to be longer than normal they will expect it, if it doesnt they will be pleased.
Jonny671 said:
Thanks for all the replies!
So RAC sounds top at the moment, will try them I recon.
Someone suggested Greenflag, do they have their own vans? Never, ever seen one.. See lots of RAC/AA though.
Nah i dont think so, only time we used them was when my dads Merc 560SEL went dead, got picked up in an hour and dropped back off home with the car, this was 10pm on a wednesday.So RAC sounds top at the moment, will try them I recon.
Someone suggested Greenflag, do they have their own vans? Never, ever seen one.. See lots of RAC/AA though.
t I feel old twenty years!!!)Jonny671 said:
Thanks for all the replies!
So RAC sounds top at the moment, will try them I recon.
Someone suggested Greenflag, do they have their own vans? Never, ever seen one.. See lots of RAC/AA though.
nope, use numerous companies, saying that AA also uses 3rd parties now too. So RAC sounds top at the moment, will try them I recon.
Someone suggested Greenflag, do they have their own vans? Never, ever seen one.. See lots of RAC/AA though.
Not used the RAC but would say go with them (AA are good but take ages to arrive)
Martin_Hx said:
Jonny671 said:
Thanks for all the replies!
So RAC sounds top at the moment, will try them I recon.
Someone suggested Greenflag, do they have their own vans? Never, ever seen one.. See lots of RAC/AA though.
Nah i dont think so, only time we used them was when my dads Merc 560SEL went dead, got picked up in an hour and dropped back off home with the car, this was 10pm on a wednesday.So RAC sounds top at the moment, will try them I recon.
Someone suggested Greenflag, do they have their own vans? Never, ever seen one.. See lots of RAC/AA though.
I think it may have been Garlick who suggested someone else?
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