CunningPlan Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 Not going to get this from my bank for free anymore. Any suggestions as to who offers a good service / value for money? Really can't be bothered with the annual cancel / change malarky that you need to go through to keep the price low with RAC / AA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hovis Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I moved from AA to Green Flag after the AA forgot to take my automatic renewal and didn't apologise when I found out several months later that my cover had lapsed and phoned them up. No explanation or apology so no thank you. I had cause to use AA when I was them and they were very good; I haven't had to use Green Flag but they have at least continued to renew my cover! They're also not ratcheting it up so I can wholegeartedly say: "They're ok". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitevanman Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I've used recovery three times in twenty years of driving. I must have done at least 400k miles in that time. Once I called upon the AA of which I was a member at the time, the second time I rang a bloke I know who has a low loader and the last time I joined the RAC on the spot for a couple of hundred quid and they towed me home. I think on balance I've probably saved quite a bit over paying every year to be a member of a breakdown service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I use Auto Aid as they are far cheaper than AA/RAC. They don't have their own fleet, but can arrange for a local company to come to you. You can also arrange your own recovery and reclaim the costs. I used them for the first time about a week ago. I had a faulty fuel tank indicator, and ran out of fuel. It took about 1.5 hours for a low loader to turn up. He put me on the back of his wagon and took me to a petrol station where I filled up, tested the car and unloaded it when it started working. They have just announced that they have been taken over, so I don't know how the future will pan out. At the end of the day, breakdown recovery is just insurance, and I don't think the (allegedly) enhanced services of the RAC/AA are worth it. I think that was the first time in about 7 years I have called out a breakdown service, which is remarkable given I have driven hundreds of miles on three cylinders when an ignition coil failed , and drove around for a while with bit of spark plug rattling around in the cylinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porca misèria Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I moved from AA to Green Flag after the AA forgot to take my automatic renewal and didn't apologise when I found out several months later that my cover had lapsed and phoned them up. No explanation or apology so no thank you. I had cause to use AA when I was them and they were very good; I haven't had to use Green Flag but they have at least continued to renew my cover! They're also not ratcheting it up so I can wholegeartedly say: "They're ok". AA or RAC will ensnare you with their services, but in joining you are in fact lending your voice to a campaigning organisation: a lobby group that serves a similar purpose to, for instance, the 'merkin NRA. Green Flag (and I expect Auto Aid, though I hadn't heard of them), offer the service without the sinister Agenda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 These are the best but they exclude things like transit vans and towing anything other than a caravan. https://www.motoringassist.com/breakdown-cover/ AA provides the most comprehensive range of vehicle scenarios but don't recover from accidents but GEM does they also don't jack up the subscription each year like the AA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rave Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I should really cancel my £13.50 a month 'premium' bank account that includes RAC membership. On the one occasion I've broken down in 10+ years of paying up they turned up and did everything I could have expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SillyBilly Posted August 2, 2016 Share Posted August 2, 2016 I use Auto Aid as they are far cheaper than AA/RAC. They don't have their own fleet, but can arrange for a local company to come to you. You can also arrange your own recovery and reclaim the costs. I used them for the first time about a week ago. I had a faulty fuel tank indicator, and ran out of fuel. It took about 1.5 hours for a low loader to turn up. He put me on the back of his wagon and took me to a petrol station where I filled up, tested the car and unloaded it when it started working. They have just announced that they have been taken over, so I don't know how the future will pan out. At the end of the day, breakdown recovery is just insurance, and I don't think the (allegedly) enhanced services of the RAC/AA are worth it. I think that was the first time in about 7 years I have called out a breakdown service, which is remarkable given I have driven hundreds of miles on three cylinders when an ignition coil failed , and drove around for a while with bit of spark plug rattling around in the cylinder. Did you know it was just fuel? Where were you? Just interested as would have thought there were about 3-4 options I'd have taken before getting the car on a low loader! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longtermrenter Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I use Auto Aid as they are far cheaper than AA/RAC. They don't have their own fleet, but can arrange for a local company to come to you. You can also arrange your own recovery and reclaim the costs. I used them for the first time about a week ago. I had a faulty fuel tank indicator, and ran out of fuel. It took about 1.5 hours for a low loader to turn up. He put me on the back of his wagon and took me to a petrol station where I filled up, tested the car and unloaded it when it started working. They have just announced that they have been taken over, so I don't know how the future will pan out. At the end of the day, breakdown recovery is just insurance, and I don't think the (allegedly) enhanced services of the RAC/AA are worth it. I think that was the first time in about 7 years I have called out a breakdown service, which is remarkable given I have driven hundreds of miles on three cylinders when an ignition coil failed , and drove around for a while with bit of spark plug rattling around in the cylinder. Also been using Auto Aid for years and have used them about 5 or 6 times. Having been an AA and RAC member at various points over the years they have always been slower getting out to you. I think this is because Auto Aid basically use whoever is nearest and available to get to you and then the insurance policy pays out. If you are'nt worried about the upfront cost of paying for recovery and reclaiming it later this is definitely for you. I have also had great experiences with the recovery people going the extra mile. One guy helped me take a broken down van full of PA equipment back to our depot to unload, then took me 100 miles back home to drop of the rental van, then took me another 10 miles to drop me off at my home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Did you know it was just fuel? Where were you? Just interested as would have thought there were about 3-4 options I'd have taken before getting the car on a low loader! Its a diesel. No warning lights came up - the engine just stopped without any suspicious noises. My first thought was fuel pump and that might still be a problem, but it is an old car and I'll now just keep it at least half full of fuel to ease the strain on the pumps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spunko2010 Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Green Flag or nothing! The RAC are woeful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I have not paid for this in years as I have hardly been travelling far in my car - hardly using iit in fact. Was just out now, about 3 miles from home, in Aldi and returning to the car the engine did not turn over. Just dead. I think I may have pressed the car lock/unlock button on the key as I turned over. Not sure. Anyhow, I waited a few minutes, prayed and then tried again. It turned over. At which point I drove home and have been looking at the options. I was quite surprised that Direct Line do not, on their website anyhow, offer a discount for current customers and their prices seem to have soared. Probably will go with them unless I can get a good deal from the A which is unlikely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecrashingisles Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Merge with the Hillary Clinton thread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I got the AA for £59 for their full UK service. It was £119 but Quidco has £60 back if you are a new customer. You don't get the £60 back for 3 months though but it worked and is showing that it will be in my account around... January 5th.... Next year I will go with someone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notMyName Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I use tesco clubcard points to buy rac cover every year. Cheapest option for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARIMA Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Just broke it annually on compare the market (or other). I just do it alongside my car insurance every year - usually pay £35 quid or something. Apart from the big brands they all just hire the nearest recovery firm anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARIMA Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 NB. Buy it seperate to car insurance though - that way you get cheapest for both covers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueRat Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 I was in Herne Bay a few years ago (miles from home) and I went back to my car, stepped on the clutch pedal and the clutch cable broke. A plastic bit on the end apparently, quite common on Peugeot 306's. The RAC man turned up and put a new one on. I thought that was pretty good service. I've got cover with my car insurance now, Hastings Premier. Just a basic level of cover I think. I suspect with a smartphone the DIY call-centre route is probably the way to go. I don't own a "devil's dildo" yet though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honkydonkey Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 I use l&v as their European cover is the only one that allows 6 months away at a time. Currently driving around Europe do worth the money for peace of mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gardener Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Get a Nationwide FlexPlus account. £10 per month and it gives European breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, travel insurance and some other benefits, plus 5% interest on first £2500 balance. Very good deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Get a Nationwide FlexPlus account. £10 per month and it gives European breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, travel insurance and some other benefits, plus 5% interest on first £2500 balance. Very good deal. You have to be careful with some of these 'free' insurances. The travel insurance often will not cover things such as diabetes, asthma, etc, and I was reading yesterday of similar insurance schemes where the firms wanted to see the service records of the cars, then billed the customer. I am not saying that is the case with the NW but it is something to bear in mind generally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilf Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 You have to be careful with some of these 'free' insurances. The travel insurance often will not cover things such as diabetes, asthma, etc, and I was reading yesterday of similar insurance schemes where the firms wanted to see the service records of the cars, then billed the customer. I am not saying that is the case with the NW but it is something to bear in mind generally. Same with the break down cover, had it with a bank account I think. When I needed to use it after my clutch went was told they will tow me 10 miles max, then £1 a mile. Complete waste of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gardener Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Same with the break down cover, had it with a bank account I think. When I needed to use it after my clutch went was told they will tow me 10 miles max, then £1 a mile. Complete waste of time.99% of most people's journeys are within 10 miles of home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilf Posted September 21, 2016 Share Posted September 21, 2016 99% of most people's journeys are within 10 miles of home. Fair enough, updated statement in coming... Complete waste of time for me and would never consider using a service with such levels. Anything under 10 miles I'm more than capable of getting a bus home or worst case scenario walk home. Equally would be able to recover the car easily with the aid of a friend and tow rope (fault permitting). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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