Breakdown cover that covers nothing
Discussion
Ive been using a breakdown cover for years without problems. I used the moneysupermarket website and buy cover from XXXXXX. About 40 quid for platinum cover including recovery, homestart, and hotel etc.
Ive used them a couple of times and they recovered me home no problems.
However....I was flying to Thailand on the evening of the 3rd May, I was dropped off from a boat in Falmouth on 2nd, my wife drove over 400 miles to pick me up, and we headed to Heathrow looking to stop at a hotel and continue next day.
We found a hotel just off the M5 j22, in the morning I noticed a big puddle of cooling water on the floor and none in the expansion bottle.
Breakdown company sent a truck within 30 minutes who quickly diagnosed a radiator leak. Car would need towing.
I asked to be towed home and I would sort it when I returned from holiday. They said the would contact me within 5 minutes with an offer.
10 minutes later they phoned back, their offer was to put me in a hotel the night and order the part from Weston super mare Toyota that day and get me going the following day.
I then told them it wasnt an offer that was any good and that what happened to the recovery part of the cover. They said it was whatever they decided was cheaper.
I told them it wasnt an option, as I had a plane to catch, and anyway how the hell can you order the parts on a bank holiday.
Anyway he had no answer to that and stuck to his stupid offer.
I told him to stick it up his arse and paid the recovery compay 596 quid to have it towed home, and another 90 for train tickets.
Really really pissed off!!
Be warned
Now wheres that AA membership form
Ive used them a couple of times and they recovered me home no problems.
However....I was flying to Thailand on the evening of the 3rd May, I was dropped off from a boat in Falmouth on 2nd, my wife drove over 400 miles to pick me up, and we headed to Heathrow looking to stop at a hotel and continue next day.
We found a hotel just off the M5 j22, in the morning I noticed a big puddle of cooling water on the floor and none in the expansion bottle.
Breakdown company sent a truck within 30 minutes who quickly diagnosed a radiator leak. Car would need towing.
I asked to be towed home and I would sort it when I returned from holiday. They said the would contact me within 5 minutes with an offer.
10 minutes later they phoned back, their offer was to put me in a hotel the night and order the part from Weston super mare Toyota that day and get me going the following day.
I then told them it wasnt an offer that was any good and that what happened to the recovery part of the cover. They said it was whatever they decided was cheaper.
I told them it wasnt an option, as I had a plane to catch, and anyway how the hell can you order the parts on a bank holiday.
Anyway he had no answer to that and stuck to his stupid offer.
I told him to stick it up his arse and paid the recovery compay 596 quid to have it towed home, and another 90 for train tickets.
Really really pissed off!!
Be warned
Now wheres that AA membership form
Edited by Bill on Thursday 13th May 12:00
Yes, the cheaper independent policies are a "tow to the nearest garage" not "tow to wherever you want". Even the AA/RAC basic roadside recovery policies are like that, they will only tow you home if it's nearer than a garage who can repair it (although they are quite flexible).
As mentioned I think it would have been cheaper to leave it with the garage and pick it up after the holiday, even if it would have meant messing around.
As mentioned I think it would have been cheaper to leave it with the garage and pick it up after the holiday, even if it would have meant messing around.
Edited by Gareth79 on Thursday 13th May 11:50
I've had various breakdown cover thrown in with cars and in my experience the AA are by far the best. Case in point: I had a car that needed a new coil-pack every so often as they used to go -
AA: Phoned them up and they turned up with one of their vans, with the part, swapped it over in 5 minutes, job done.
Green Flag: Phoned them up and explained what I needed, they said no problem we will be there in 30 minutes. 2 hours later and nothing so I phoned them back and it turns out their guy is driving around Manchester looking for my house, he's not likely to find it as I live in Hampshire. After explaining this they turn up another 2 hours later with a flat bed lorry (I am at home), the guy says he'll take a look. After a while he decides it needs a new coil-pack. He has no parts and isn't likely to get any so drives off again. Thanks for your help.
AA: Phoned them up and they turned up with one of their vans, with the part, swapped it over in 5 minutes, job done.
Green Flag: Phoned them up and explained what I needed, they said no problem we will be there in 30 minutes. 2 hours later and nothing so I phoned them back and it turns out their guy is driving around Manchester looking for my house, he's not likely to find it as I live in Hampshire. After explaining this they turn up another 2 hours later with a flat bed lorry (I am at home), the guy says he'll take a look. After a while he decides it needs a new coil-pack. He has no parts and isn't likely to get any so drives off again. Thanks for your help.
£40 a year and you expected it to be 5 star silver gold platinum bulletproof comprehensive?
This is why I pay over £100 a year for breakdown cover for the household. It DOES cover EVERYTHING.
I do chuckle when I read the threads about breakdown cover which usually involve people mocking me for paying lots of money for it when they get it free (£6-12 a month isn't free...) with their bank account or have paid peanuts for it....
Like any insurance, you get what you pay for.
This is why I pay over £100 a year for breakdown cover for the household. It DOES cover EVERYTHING.
I do chuckle when I read the threads about breakdown cover which usually involve people mocking me for paying lots of money for it when they get it free (£6-12 a month isn't free...) with their bank account or have paid peanuts for it....
Like any insurance, you get what you pay for.
Edited by bazking69 on Thursday 13th May 13:15
bazking69 said:
£40 a year and you expected it to be 5 star silver gold platinum bulletproof comprehensive?
This is why I pay over £100 a year for breakdown cover for the household. It DOES cover EVERYTHING.
I do chuckle when I read the threads about breakdown cover which usually involve people mocking me for paying lots of money for it when they get it free (£6-12 a month isn't free...) with their bank account or have paid peanuts for it....
Like any insurance, you get what you pay for.
£40?! £100?!!!!??!! you were ripped off:This is why I pay over £100 a year for breakdown cover for the household. It DOES cover EVERYTHING.
I do chuckle when I read the threads about breakdown cover which usually involve people mocking me for paying lots of money for it when they get it free (£6-12 a month isn't free...) with their bank account or have paid peanuts for it....
Like any insurance, you get what you pay for.
Edited by bazking69 on Thursday 13th May 13:15
http://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/
£37 - Pay and claim though, so you need to carry a credit car.
autoaid said:
The benefits and services apply to ANY breakdown, which occurs during the period of insurance and within the territorial limits
........
We will arrange help at the scene of the breakdown and will arrange and reimburse any call-out fees and labour charges needed to start the vehicle.
...........
If the vehicle cannot be repaired at the scene of the breakdown, we will arrange and reimburse any reasonable cost of taking the vehicle, you and up to 5 passengers from the place where the vehicle has broken down to anyone place you choose.
.......
If a vehicle breaks down while it is more than 25 miles from your home, and it cannot be repaired at the roadside or at a garage during the same day, and is not recovered to your home or destination, we will refund the cost of onward travel arrangements or necessary emergency overnight accommodation.
.......
alternative road, rail or air travel for you and your party to reach your destination and for one person to return to collect the vehicle; or
one night's hotel accommodation for you and up to 5 passengers. (The amount we will refund will only be for the rooms. We will not pay for meals or drinks.)
Before you arrange emergency travel or accommodation, you must call the Rescue Control Centre for their agreement. We will only refund amounts covered by this insurance if we receive valid invoices and receipts.
etc etc
........
We will arrange help at the scene of the breakdown and will arrange and reimburse any call-out fees and labour charges needed to start the vehicle.
...........
If the vehicle cannot be repaired at the scene of the breakdown, we will arrange and reimburse any reasonable cost of taking the vehicle, you and up to 5 passengers from the place where the vehicle has broken down to anyone place you choose.
.......
If a vehicle breaks down while it is more than 25 miles from your home, and it cannot be repaired at the roadside or at a garage during the same day, and is not recovered to your home or destination, we will refund the cost of onward travel arrangements or necessary emergency overnight accommodation.
.......
alternative road, rail or air travel for you and your party to reach your destination and for one person to return to collect the vehicle; or
one night's hotel accommodation for you and up to 5 passengers. (The amount we will refund will only be for the rooms. We will not pay for meals or drinks.)
Before you arrange emergency travel or accommodation, you must call the Rescue Control Centre for their agreement. We will only refund amounts covered by this insurance if we receive valid invoices and receipts.
etc etc
Edited by was8v on Thursday 13th May 13:54
I think I know the company you mean 
I too had a break down, asked them if they'd take it to the Audi garage and was told "no" as it was over 10 miles away.
It's about 7 miles in fact.
They said they'd only tow it to the nearest garage.
Also a bit concerned that they were going to tow my 4WD Haldex Audi anywhere!
Fecking great service considering I have their top level of cover!
I'll go with the AA next year...
I too had a break down, asked them if they'd take it to the Audi garage and was told "no" as it was over 10 miles away.
It's about 7 miles in fact.
They said they'd only tow it to the nearest garage.
Also a bit concerned that they were going to tow my 4WD Haldex Audi anywhere!
Fecking great service considering I have their top level of cover!
I'll go with the AA next year...
bazking69 said:
I do chuckle when I read the threads about breakdown cover which usually involve people mocking me for paying lots of money for it when they get it free (£6-12 a month isn't free...) with their bank account or have paid peanuts for it....
At my last "personal account review" (or "upsell opportunity") the woman at the bank simply couldn't get her head around why I would pay Britannia Rescue membership when "I got the same for free with my bank account". Thanks fellas!
I am actually still on holiday. I see the topic was edited as I initially put the name of the company in
Thing is I have used them before to recover me big distances with absoloutly no problems(twice in about 6 years). My Wife renewed the policy and paid just 32 pound in January, however I think they have changed the wording now, as no mention of recovery although the idiot on the phone said it did have recovery
I cant get my head around it but will send an email when I return.
If you work it out its still cost me less than A* cover over 6 years but its the buggerance factor.
Ive had cover from R** before and thought they were terrible and A* once forgot to even turn up!!
Why didnt I tow it to Heathrow? well it would of still cost a fortune to tow and I dont want a muppet working on my car charging me a fortune for parts and repair.
I also didnt have time to mess around over a few quid, if you add up the costs there will not be much in it. This way its at home and I cant have it repaired properly. Believe me I was sat thinking my options through.
My Bank doesnt give breakdown cover on its 12 quid a month insurance thingy.
Phone and holiday insurance with free withdrawals abroad was all I got.
Anyway I am off for a nice cold beer
cheers fellas
I am actually still on holiday. I see the topic was edited as I initially put the name of the company in
Thing is I have used them before to recover me big distances with absoloutly no problems(twice in about 6 years). My Wife renewed the policy and paid just 32 pound in January, however I think they have changed the wording now, as no mention of recovery although the idiot on the phone said it did have recovery
I cant get my head around it but will send an email when I return.If you work it out its still cost me less than A* cover over 6 years but its the buggerance factor.
Ive had cover from R** before and thought they were terrible and A* once forgot to even turn up!!
Why didnt I tow it to Heathrow? well it would of still cost a fortune to tow and I dont want a muppet working on my car charging me a fortune for parts and repair.
I also didnt have time to mess around over a few quid, if you add up the costs there will not be much in it. This way its at home and I cant have it repaired properly. Believe me I was sat thinking my options through.
My Bank doesnt give breakdown cover on its 12 quid a month insurance thingy.
Phone and holiday insurance with free withdrawals abroad was all I got.
Anyway I am off for a nice cold beer
cheers fellas
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