Breakdown Cover Discussion

jicms

ScratchandSniff-->[X] wrote: »

Hello there.

I've just been caught out by AA Breakdown via Quidco.

I purchased AA Roadside via Quidco after seeing it in the weekly email.

Checked after a couple of weeks to find nothing logged for the transaction, so went to raise a query, only to find it says:

"AA UK Breakdown has a 60 day waiting period from the purchase date before it will consider queries about missing cashback. "

I therefore did not raise the query then but made the mistake of waiting the 60 days before doing so, only to be told the query has to be raised within 7 weeks.

I suspect they mean you can raise a query anytime you want within 7 weeks, but *Quidco* won't discuss the matter with AA until 60 days.

I think this is far from clear, and lost cashback as a result. Not a happy bunny.

Be very careful of AA. I purchased my son a policy two years ago for what I thought was a bargain after cashback. They automatically renew the policy annually and take the money out your account.

old_grouser

I joined Top Cashback six months ago at the suggestion of MSE to get the extra cheap RAC deal. Six months later no cashback has appeared, but this type of deal is still being promoted. I may have done something incorrectly - or it may be simply that the RAC knows it can just ignore (at least) a proportion of cashback claimants. If so, what makes this anything other than a scam? Is that the experience of anyone else?

lisyloo

I may have done something incorrectly - or it may be simply that the RAC knows it can just ignore (at least) a proportion of cashback claimants.

When you say "ignore", has your claim actually been denied or is it just taking ages?
It's a bit strong to call it a scam if it's just taking a long time.
Perhaps you can clarify the status.

Quentin

We are always warned by MSE that cashback isn't guaranteed from cashback sites.

Have you asked TCB where your money is?

anothersam

Note Tescos don't cover cars over 10 years old, and Green Flag inflate (double!) their quotes.

RAC is a better option in this case as its personal rather than vehicle cover.

Tiny_Tiger

Just a bit of quick feedback re green breakdown cover. I've signed up for Green Assist Recovery Basic - this one's the same as basic but with onward journey, instead of taking you to an expensive garage within 20 miles (£19.50). The 10% off 'EXPERT' code didn't work but I did go via topcashback and got 12% (hopefully), so I wasn't too fussed.

If I have any problems (or exceptionally good service) I will post again. But, hopefully, I won't get an oppurtunity to test out their service!!

baldmosher

If you rarely drive far from your home town, this is a neat trick to save a bit of money to get Recovery for free for 14 days at a time, if you can be bothered to do it of course. I've not tried it myself but in theory there's nothing to stop you doing this.... every two weeks! It should work for all companies as you're manipulating the Distance Selling Regulations / cooling off period. So it's not exactly amoral but it is a bit of a sneaky way around it.

1. Sign up for Breakdown / Roadside cover - usually about £30 a year minus £20+ cashback

2. Before you go on a long journey, call up customer services, and pay the extra charge for adding Recovery to your policy. (Usually about £50 extra for the year, priced pro rata.)

3. This is the first important part: don't break down.

4. This is the second important part: call up customer services again within 14 days of asking for it to be added and tell them you've changed your mind and would like to cancel Recovery. They will give you a full refund of whatever you were charged at the time.

5. Repeat the process each time you go on a long journey. (Until they politely tell you to stuff off.... this will probably never happen as they'd be daft to turn down possible extra income and would probably accept the risk that you might break down and if you don't they've not lost anything.)

hasankamal

I bought via quidco and got £30 cashback, so I've paid £18.70 for full cover including Home Start etc.

lanstrom

hasankamal wrote: »

I bought via quidco and got £30 cashback, so I've paid £18.70 for full cover including Home Start etc.

Who did you go with ?

My AutoAid is about to run out and I am looking for possible alternatives.

Thanks.

ezlucas

Hi,
I am looking for breakdown cover, currently with greenflag, but new quote was too expensive.
We have a 1 year old so I want cover that if we breakdown at night we are not left stranded in the middle of nowhere. All the wording of policies is so tricky as some will take you where you like, some will only take to nearest garage etc etc. Some will give you money for b and b, blah blah blah!

Basically, I would like them to try and repair at the roadside, and if not we could go home if we want to, or have accommodation overnight and I guess some kind of transport....I have no idea what would happen if we did breakdown, I guess hire a car!

Any help about companies/cover etc would be appreciated.

Thank you.