Swinton Breakdown

CPJames19

Dear all,

I was on holiday this week. Today, at about 8:30 I tried to start my car to find it wouldn't start so I called Swinton Breakdown. After the phone call about 5 minutes later I got a text message saying the breakdown man will be there in less the 50 minutes. My dad was with me and asked another car driver in the holiday car park if he had jump leads and could help and to our delight he did. After about 5 attempts we got it started. We loaded the car (with the car still running) and once we got going (about 60 minutes) and after hearing nothing from the recovery guys we cancelled our call out. Whilst on the phone we were told this we would still be classed as a call out because we didn't cancel our call out after 10 minutes from our first call. I can not see this anywhere in the breakdown policy booklet. They also offer £10 compensation if someone doesn't reach you "within one hour." Should I submit a written claim for this?

One thing I did notice in the booklet is the fact it says:
"You will have to pay the cost for the recovery or repair vehicle coming out to you, if after requesting assistance to which you are entitled, your vehicle is moved, recovered or repaired by any other means."

Thanks in advance!

Oscar_The_Grouch

I think you may find that the policy you have is run by UK Insurance. UK Insurance are also known as Green Flag, Direct Line, Churchill and Royal Bank of Scotland Insurance. So despite the fact that I wouldn't use anything offered by Swinton to wipe up cat mess, this may not be their fault (for once).

In this instance, I doubt you will be asked to pay the cost of the recovery vehicle; it failed to turn up within a reasonable timescale (the 50 minutes that they set for themselves) and you made alternative arrangements. Make sure you know the exact times of your call to make the claim and the time to cancel. If you can show that these are more than 60 minutes apart (and more than 50 minutes from the time of the text), go ahead and make your claim.

lisyloo

Whilst on the phone we were told this we would still be classed as a call out

Is it possible this is purely for the purposes of counting how many calls you've made before you hit the limit?

CPJames19

lisyloo wrote: »

Is it possible this is purely for the purposes of counting how many calls you've made before you hit the limit?

I only get 4 call outs in 12 months

CPJames19

According to the breakdown cover booklet, Swinton Breakdown is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance S.A and are a wholly owned subsidiary of AXA Assistance S.A

CPJames19

Phoned Inter Partner Assistance to complain shortly after getting advice on here and sent a letter of complaint also. At the beginning of the year I had a phone call from them to say they had received my letter and they would be making the decision that week. I've still not heard from them. Needless to say I won't be renewing my breakdown with them!

dacouch

Swintons and Axa is not a great combination

CPJames19

Whats makes you say that Dacouch? Have you heard similar experiences?

dacouch

Axa's customer service and claims is either good or more normally it is very bad / slow, Swintons do not have a great repuation either.

If Axa do not resolve your complaint try writing o Jessica at the Telegraph, she deals with quote a few Axa problems (Normally Travel Insurance). She has a contact at Axa and they normally sort the problems out for her, get the claim paid along with an ex gratia payment. (She quite often gets Axa claims paid that are not technically covered).

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/6966827/Banking-complications-after-death-resolved-by-Jessica.html (The address to write to is near the botton of the page)