Limitations with Auto Aid Cover

mrtobs

Thought it might be worth mentioning this - I took out AutoAid cover, but then discovered that it really wasn't worth it for me personally: My car broke down - the fault could only be diagnosed/repaired by running a diagnostic test on it. AutoAid work by giving the jobs to local garages - none of the garages that they had on their books in my area had this 'Diagnostic' equipment. I ended up having to get it to a garage that did. It was a very easy/quick repair that they could have done by the roadside, but it ended up costing me £150!
I'm sure in some areas this won't be an issue but it could be worth checking with them (that the garages they have can do diagnostic tests) if you were thinking of signing up as a lot of faults could need this test running - other breakdown companies and some garages DO have this equipment. I would still be able to use Autoaid for basic stuff like a flat tyre etc, but I do feel that I've wasted my money and won't be renewing.

davetrousers

What would another recovery service have done?

What was the repair that could have been done by the roadside?

nelly05

I guess for what you pay with them though it is worth it for the recovery alone if you were stranded on a motorway somewhere even with the same fault. That way you could at least get recovered to your local garage that you know has the equipment!!
What did you end up having done?

mrtobs

davetrousers wrote: »

What would another recovery service have done?

What was the repair that could have been done by the roadside?

Another recovery service would have been able to run a diagnostic test by the roadside and replace the part - I know because the same thing happened again a few months later (I had changd insurance and got RAC cover with it, so called them). It was one of the coils (the same fault as the first time) & just took them 30 mins to run the diagnostic & replace by the roadside.

Premier_2

mrtobs wrote: »

Thought it might be worth mentioning this - I took out AutoAid cover, but then discovered that it really wasn't worth it for me personally: My car broke down - the fault could only be diagnosed/repaired by running a diagnostic test on it. AutoAid work by giving the jobs to local garages - none of the garages that they had on their books in my area had this 'Diagnostic' equipment. I ended up having to get it to a garage that did. It was a very easy/quick repair that they could have done by the roadside, but it ended up costing me £150!
I'm sure in some areas this won't be an issue but it could be worth checking with them (that the garages they have can do diagnostic tests) if you were thinking of signing up as a lot of faults could need this test running - other breakdown companies and some garages DO have this equipment. I would still be able to use Autoaid for basic stuff like a flat tyre etc, but I do feel that I've wasted my money and won't be renewing.

Unlike most other recovery services, you are free to call out your own garage with autoaid; you don't have to get them to call you one (although that is an option).

However, like other rescue/recovery services, they only normally will pay for 30 minutes labour roadside.

As it cost you £150, it doesn't sound like the work could have been carried out within 30 minutes.

I doubt many roadside rescue companies carry the all necessary electronic diagnostic equipment for all different cars. In fact I doubt many garages have all the diagnostic equipment for every different manufacturer.

Was it a genuine RAC engineer who called the second time you called for assistance, or just a jobbing garage they so often contract to use?

colino

I'm amazed that none of the local garages carried basic diagnosic tools - even more perplexed that a coil down couldn't be spotted by an average mechanic on, presumeably, a mainstream car. With basic diagnostic tools, that a lot of independents and definitely RAC/AA carry, a five minute diagnostic would throw up such a fault and you would be driving away in 10 minutes (if the fault was a common one on a regular car that they carried spares for).

mrtobs

Premier wrote: »

Unlike most other recovery services, you are free to call out your own garage with autoaid; you don't have to get them to call you one (although that is an option).

However, like other rescue/recovery services, they only normally will pay for 30 minutes labour roadside.

As it cost you £150, it doesn't sound like the work could have been carried out within 30 minutes.

I doubt many roadside rescue companies carry the all necessary electronic diagnostic equipment for all different cars. In fact I doubt many garages have all the diagnostic equipment for every different manufacturer.

Was it a genuine RAC engineer who called the second time you called for assistance, or just a jobbing garage they so often contract to use?

hi there, when I rang autoaid they told me that I COULDN'T ask for a specific garage & I could only use those ones they had listed (I specifically asked as I was willing to ring round & find one) - seems that they gave me duff info! The £150 was with a local dealership (enough said - I've since found an independent one locally!). The work can be carried out in 15mins as I saw the RAC man do it (seemed quite straightforward really as long as you know which coil it is that isn't working). In answer to your other q - yes it was a genuine RAC man that came the second time - I had checked about diagnostics etc before I signed up with them and they told me (rightly or wrongly?) that they would always be able to do a roadside diagnostic.
Sure that autoaid is fine for most people - just trying to be helpful by pointing out something to bear in mind when deciding who to sign up with!

Premier_2

mrtobs wrote: »

hi there, when I rang autoaid they told me that I COULDN'T ask for a specific garage & I could only use those ones they had listed (I specifically asked as I was willing to ring round & find one) - seems that they gave me duff info! ...

Sadly it appears you were misled.

What to do if you breakdown…
If your vehicle breaks down you can call the 24 hour Rescue Control Centre on free phone, where our trained staff will deal with your request quickly.
...

Alternatively you can contact a local Breakdown Recovery specialist to attend.

http://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/help01.htm

But what you probably can't do is call the helpline and tell them who you want them to arrange to help you.

mrtobs wrote: »

...The £150 was with a local dealership (enough said - I've since found an independent one locally!). The work can be carried out in 15mins ...

Looks like you were ripped off there too! :eek:
£600 per hour, that's nothing less than extortionate. Not even the most expensive/luxuary main dealers in the centre of London charge that sort of rate.

mrtobs wrote: »

...yes it was a genuine RAC man that came the second time...

Then you were extremely lucky. In my county for example, they only often have a maximum of 2 genuine RAC enginners on call ... and often just the one. The genuine RAC engineer spends most of hiis time attending requests for recovery. The RAC will not approve any long distance recovery without the RAC engineer attending and recommending approval of the recovery with an indication of how long it would otherwise take to repair the fault roadside (if possible). Whilst the standard allowed time is 30 min labour, the RAC will often authorise significant extra labour roadside if it avoids an expensive recovery truck.

Most standard call outs for RAC assistence are handled by local garages contracted to the RAC.

mrtobs

Premier wrote: »

Sadly it appears you were misled.


http://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/help01.htm

But what you probably can't do is call the helpline and tell them who you want them to arrange to help you.



Looks like you were ripped off there too! :eek:
£600 per hour, that's nothing less than extortionate. Not even the most expensive/luxuary main dealers in the centre of London charge that sort of rate.

Then you were extremely lucky. In my county for example, they only often have a maximum of 2 genuine RAC enginners on call ... and often just the one. The genuine RAC engineer spends most of hiis time attending requests for recovery. The RAC will not approve any long distance recovery without the RAC engineer attending and recommending approval of the recovery with an indication of how long it would otherwise take to repair the fault roadside (if possible). Whilst the standard allowed time is 30 min labour, the RAC will often authorise significant extra labour roadside if it avoids an expensive recovery truck.

Most standard call outs for RAC assistence are handled by local garages contracted to the RAC.

Does sound like I was given the wrong info! Regarding the RAC, have to admit I'm not bothered who comes out as long as they can do the job (which they confirmed they could before I went ahead with the cover). To be fair, the £150 did include the part (which I think is around £40/50 - although I'm not using that dealership again & have found a really good small local garage! (not using Renault again either, I've since changed makes with my car & am hoping I won't need breakdown as much!).
Thanks for your help!