Breakdown Recover - fine detail ?

HJandR

Both my husband and I are with first call, I used them for the first time last year and they were great and recovered my car back home where it was later fixed by the mobile mechanic..

Hubby on the other hand works further afield, he was working 50 miles away from home, parked in a pay and display car park when his clutch gave way - could not get the car out of the car park (which was due to be locked for the night in 30 mins time...) On calling first call they said they could come out, but if they could not get to the car - because of the car park being locked - or the height restriction... they would not be able to re attend the same incident, and as they could not guarentee to attend within an hour - it was his call... all that is fair enough. However they also said that if they did attend and could not fix it - they would only be able to recover the car to the nearest garage - which was a renault main dealership across the road from the car park - 50 miles from home, and quoting £2k to repair... giving us no option to find a cheaper repair solution.

My husband relies heavily on his car and is frequently several hours away from home... my question is simply, would RAC or AA take the same stance regarding recovery... or would we be better taking the hit and paying for a "better known" recovery firm to have more flexibility in terms of recovery options ? looking at the wording on the websites the cover seems similar, but it appears to be at the discretion of the recovery firm where your car ends up...and I guess this may to an extent be at the discretion of the recovery driver to some degree ??

anybody got any experience of this ?

Gloomendoom

I can only relate to 28 years experience with the RAC who have never left me stranded and have always either sorted the problem at the roadside or recovered me to wherever I want to go.

I do have experience as a passenger of a long distance recovery with AA Relay. We got home... eventually. It isn't called 'Relay' for nothing. The RAC take you straight home.

They are expensive but I haven't any complaints.

HJandR

Thanks for that Gloomendoom, I appreciate that in some cases it must be worth the money, and perhaps I have to bite the bullet in my husbands case given his reliance on his car and the distance he covers.

I have to say that my personal experience of first call has been good - but as I am local anyway this is perhaps not the issue. It would be good to know if anybody else has experience of first call over longer distances.

vikingaero

I've had the AA and RAC tow me home at night with the broken down car, and then in the morning they've arranged for a low loader to collect the car and take it to my choice of garage for repairs.

And when I lived in Glasgow my flat had an underground car park with only about 6ft 6" of height clearance. The AA sent around a low loader who called out a Transit van, who called out another low loader, who called out a Astravan who finally towed the car out!

eddddy

Hi HJandR

I'm not familiar with First Call, but I think the issue is around the level of cover - not the company.

For example, looking at the AA website, you can get

Roadside assistance
24/7 cover at the roadside or tow to the local garage if your car can't be fixed. This seems to cost £28 from the AA, and sounds like the level of cover your husband has.

Or you can extend this to:

National recovery
Extends towing cover from a local garage to your preferred mainland destination. (e.g. your home) This seems to increase the cost to £69 - but perhaps this would be a better option for your husband. (But obviously you can't take this out once the car is broken down.)

Most of the other companies I have looked at have the similar options (e.g. RAC, Green Flag).

Personally, I use AutoAid. It includes national recovery on a 'pay and claim' basis - for about £37. Search the MSE forums - there's lots of discussion on this.

In your husband's current situation, I would be tempted to phone around and get quotes from car delivery/recovery companies for getting the car brought back to your local (cheaper) garage. The saving in repair costs might outweigh the cost of recovery. You could also ask First Call, if they, or their subcontractor, will give you a quote for this.

Or you could contact a local garage and explain that you want the car recovered 50 miles, and the clutch repaired. They may be able to give you an inclusive quote - either because they have their own recovery truck/trailer, or because they have contacts in the trade.

Then you can decide whether it makes sense to upgrade your cover or change companies in future.



I hope this helps.

HJandR

This is the wording from First Call..

A Call out and up to 1 hour’s roadside assistance by one of our approved recovery operators to attend the scene of the breakdown, and where possible carry out emergency repairs.
B If repairs cannot successfully be carried out at the scene of the breakdown then we will pay the cost of recovery of the vehicle driver and up to 4 passengers to the nearest suitable garage able to effect a repair, or to your onward destination, or to your home address whichever is nearer.
C If you breakdown at roadside and repairs cannot be carried out within an agreed reasonable period then you will be offered one of the following options: -
(i) The cost of alternative road or rail travel for the driver and up to 4 passengers from the scene of the breakdown to one destination within the Territorial Limits stated in this policy, plus a return journey for one person to collect the vehicle upon completion of repairs.
(ii) The cost of one nights accommodation up to a total of £100 a claim (excluding food and drink) in the vicinity of the breakdown for the driver and up to 4 passengers up to a maximum of £40.00 per person, subject to a maximum overall of £200.00 per claim.
(iii) The recovery of the vehicle, the driver and up to 4 passengers to any one destination within the territorial limits under Sub Section A.
(iv) The cost of suitable car hire for up to 48 hour’s up to a maximum of £100.00 per claim.
The maximum payable for any claim from any one breakdown including any reimbursement claim is £2,000 or the current market value of the vehicle at the time of the breakdown whichever is lower.

From what I could tell this was pretty similar to the wording from the RAC and AA, but there seems to be a fine line between point B and point C - point C appears to be fine - but I guess it is down to when B applies and when C applies ?

any thoughts ?

forgotmyname

Should have pushed it out of the carpark & waited until the garage was closed then phone them.


Used the RAC a few years back they were brilliant. Clutch problem on a range rover, It happened as
i was hitching up the caravan, Start of 2 weeks touring cornwall.

He tried his best to get us going but failed. They took us home where i managed to arrange a new part
& fit it that evening.

Gloomendoom

HJandR wrote: »

This is the wording from First Call..

A Call out and up to 1 hour’s roadside assistance by one of our approved recovery operators to attend the scene of the breakdown, and where possible carry out emergency repairs.

B If repairs cannot successfully be carried out at the scene of the breakdown then we will pay the cost of recovery of the vehicle driver and up to 4 passengers to the nearest suitable garage able to effect a repair, or to your onward destination, or to your home address whichever is nearer.

That is the clincher. They fulfilled their obligation to take your husband to the nearest suitable garage.

If the RAC can't repair the car at the roadside you get the same options... but you get to choose*. It doesn't have to be the nearest.

As has been said, it is your level of cover that needs upgrading. You may be able to do that by paying an additional premium to First Call.

* Assuming that you have chosen their 'Recovery' option.
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Hammyman

Seconded. If you buy the basic cover, you get the basic cover which is literally "tow to the nearest garage".

HJandR

I guess that pretty much confirms what I suspected ! As far as I am aware the First call policy is a single level, and while comprehensive - does seem to have some detail limitations. I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and pay for the big guns for hubby !! thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Hammyman

If you've got Tesco Clubcard points, use those to pay for RAC cover. You get 4x face value for them.