The AA NON Recovery Service

aliasojo

I was surprised to see the AA's reply to lesta_jesta above. It directly contradicts the information we were given.

We have had (the same) AA cover for years - RoadSide/Relay/HomeStart and used to be supplied with a courtesy car if needed, but not now. We broke down last week and were told no car and no tow to garage and then lift home (as it used to be) just one or the other...whichever was nearer. (Only top Option 400 provides car and lift etc.)

Thankfully we got a diamond of an AA man who upon hearing it was our daughter's birthday and that we were due to pick her up from school to give her a small party...decided to tow our car to the garage and give us a lift home 30 miles away as well. We were the last call out he had that day and the main control allocated 20 minutes to travel which was a lot less than was required. This meant he was then on his own time, but he did it in good grace to save us being stranded with loads of food for our daughter's party.

I do think he was a one-off though and I'm not sure we'd renew with the AA next time.

november

According to their web site currently Roadside helps if you are more than 1/4 mile from home. If car can't be fixed by road they take you to nearest garage. Relay says if they can't repair they will take you home or to any mainland UK destination. I can't find a bit saying garage or home whichever is nearer for any package! If anyone has a link I would be grateful as my AA membership is up for renewal next month.

I've never had any trouble with the AA having swopped to them from the RAC years ago due to a bit of bother with them. I've even had the AA find me on some narrow country lane in the middle of nowhere where I hadn't a clue where I was or the road name only the name of the last village I had left and my final destination I was aiming for They did take a bit longer than usual that time but they've always been out within half hour when I've called them. Mind you I don't think I've called them since I changed my car so thats probably a couple of years ago.

I was reconsidering my membership as I do every renewal particularly as its cheaper to leave and join again but I still don't like the RAC so I haven't. I would prefer a company like the AA/RAC where the people who come out are in uniform and coloured vans rather than any local garage being sent out because of the security aspect. Are there any others that have their own fleet?

Becles

I've had mixed experiences with RAC.

I got a flat tyre in a busy shopping centre car park, and I couldn't undo the wheel nuts to change the tyre I called the RAC. 2 vans arrived within 10 minutes. One changed the wheel, and the other one had come along for a chat as he was bored!

However when I went on holiday last year, I was travelling from Durham to Fort William. We'd just got past Gretna when the car started making a funny noise and intermittantly lost power. We managed to get to the next services and pulled in to call the RAC for assistance. I was told they would be with me in 6-8 hours :eek:

I explained I had to be in Fort William before 6pm to collect keys to the caravan we were renting, and I was a female travelling alone with 2 small children. I was told the motorway services is a safe area, so I wasn't classed as being in danger and therefore I had to wait the 6-8 hours.

I told them to forget it and drove onto the next town where I found a garage. The man spotted the fault and fixed it straight away (some rubbish had been sucked in and was blocking the air filter vent), and we managed to get to Fort William in time!

Raggie

Following Martins advice on recovery costs.. (see main page), last year we switched form the AA to More-Than, we pay about £6 per month for cover with them for their top package. any way.. the wife’s car broke down.. they sent a man out, who got her going, but because at that time he suspected it was a head gasket but would not confirm it,

But as the engine was running ok, and not wanting to risk it he put it on the trailer and took her home, via a local garage.

The local mechanic confirmed head gasket, so we contacted More-Than who said no problem, they sent the man back out, who recovered the car back to the Main Dealer to do the repair.. 10 miles away..

From the initial break down to the car being unloaded at the main dealers, and my wife being taken back home.. 3 hours passed..

all this without hassle

So if you are looking at recovery services, check out Martins reports..

BTW yes the premium has gone up £0.30 per month as a result of our break down.. but I am happy with that.

Savvy_Sue

november wrote:

I would prefer a company like the AA/RAC where the people who come out are in uniform and coloured vans rather than any local garage being sent out because of the security aspect. Are there any others that have their own fleet?

I think Britannia Rescue do, but I'm not sure. But when we've had to call out from one of the cheaper firms, we've always been told what the breakdown van which is coming to our rescue looks like and what the company is called.

MarkyMarkD

Either the AA have changed the definition of their cover, or people are reading different definitions than I am.

According to http://www.theaa.com/services/breakdowncover/index.jsp option 100 is completely rubbish - it's just roadside cover. I can't see why anyone would buy this when you can get full comprehensive cover from other operators for around the same price.

Hermia

I've got a mate who was an AA mechanic until he resigned 2 months ago. He said they were putting the mechanics under so much pressure to fix cars in such a short amount of time that he inevitably could not do the job properly. He had (happily) worked for the AA for 10 years, but he just couldn't work under those conditions.

tin

Haha. My most recent AA experiences (about 3 weeks ago)

(dials number) "for training, quality and fact verification purposes, your call may be recorded" (cuts off)

(dials number again after listening to silent phone for a minute or two) "for training, quality and fact verification purposes your call may be recorded" (cuts off again) (like a pillock I listened to silence again for a bit!)

Fantastic - imagine if I was stuck in the middle of the m6? !!!!!!.

Ellie2758

I have used Britannia Rescue since they started - used to be with CSMA till they split into Green Flag and Britannia Rescue. I have had many rescue experiences with them and they are EXCELLENT. I have never waited longer than half an hour and they will either get your car started or tow you home or to any garage you request. They do contract out to local garages but all mechanics I have dealt with have been courteous and professional. I cannot rate them highly enough and have never understood why anybody would use the AA or the RAC.

Oh yeh, and if you have kids with you they make you a priority case.

Ellie