Breakdown Cover Discussion

janh_2

Last night I signed up for 2 separate breakdown policies with TGIC (the Green lot) - I put in the EXPERT code both times but only got the discount with the first one.

I rang them today, but the person I spoke to said they can't help because the discount comes from MSE so I'd have to ask them??? (Sounds like a feeble excuse to me...)

Can anyone help, please? It's only £2.88 but it's the principle!

Gotrek

Despite some people giving poor reviews about FirstCall I've used them for a number of years as they offer a similar service to the bigger names at a cheaper price.

After 2 local call outs and subsequent recoveries to my home over a couple of years I couldn't see how anyone could fault them. They were great, quick and helpful.

Oh how things have changed though.

Travelling home to Derby from Skegness on a bank holiday monday my oil light came on and I heard a distinct knocking in my engine. Had to pull in on a busy dual carriageway with wife and 3 kids in the car and a trailer full of camping gear behind. After explaining the problem to FirstCall I was told that unless I could provide documents showing my car had been serviced within the last 12 months I was probably not covered and being a bank holiday the call out would be over £150. As I service the car myself (no service documents) and having spent too much while on holiday I had to tell them to stick it and managed to get a relative to tow me home, a 150 mile round trip for him (transport wife, kids and trailer home then come back for me and the car).

As it happens I probably would have been covered as the car had plenty of oil but bits of crank bearing had broken and got into the engine but in my hour need, the time I needed them most, they let me down.

Will I ever use them again? Not flipping likely!
Will I recommend them again? No way!
Instead I tell anyone who mentions breakdown cover "avoid Firstcall".

Money_saving_Martyn

Hi

I'm just wondering about Auto-Aid.

Do they just pay up whatever the receipts say? I'm just scanning their policy document and it uses the word "reasonable" costs. Do they ever question it?

Ie. There's a garage closer than where you were towed to who could have probably fixed it - tough?

matt_warby

Thanks to the newsletter I rang AA and got £97 off renewal. This was well over half the price. Many thanks. We had added home start as one of the cars did not start one morning and was fixed by the AA very quickly, so would like to stay with them as they are reliable (and don't have to worry about cashback or claiming money back)

debsjc

I just called the AA to cancel, and was offerd 50% of my renewal, bringing it to the same cost as the RAC. I wonder how many people just pay what is on the letter.

Azmataz

I'd recommend Start Rescue for car breakdown insurance. I've just renewed my policy with them for just under £50. Cheaper policies are available from them, but I wanted the 3 star option, which covers home breakdowns too. They use local recovery companies, so who comes out depends on where you are.

I've used them 4 times in the past year and my policy price was not increased on renewal. Breakdowns included: when the fuel line decided to give up the ghost and as I was well away from my base in Wales, they agreed to tow me from Kent to my destination - Leeds!!! Another time, my battery went kaput outside home and they came out to change it. Most recently, part of the exhaust fell off, and they came out, made it safe and as it wasn't noisy or fume-y, they advised me to make my way straight to the garage.

I've been impressed with them all along. I've never waited more than an hour for recovery to arrive. Take a look at their policies if you are thinking of getting new breakdown. :T

lisyloo

Do they just pay up whatever the receipts say? I'm just scanning their policy document and it uses the word "reasonable" costs. Do they ever question it?

I can't be specific but anecdotal reports of AutoAid are very favourable.
Usually it's best to ask them for a garage that way they can't question your choice.

katies_mum

Please can anyone help, I had an AA policy which expired in Feb 2011. If I take out another one - will it be classed as a new policy? also if possible am looking to do this thru one of the cashback sites (did this last time so again not sure if I can do it again even though policy lapsed 7 months ago). When I was getting prices last night it kept coming up for me to pay with credit or debit card. I really wanted to set up the DD (then it can be cancelled anytime I want) I did have a problems trying to stop a re-ocurring payment a while ago that was set up thru my debit card - does anyone know if there is an easy way to do this or if it is possible to set up a direct debit.

Many thanks

(I want AA becuase we use the AA card when on holiday in America for additional discounts)

The_AA_Company_Representative

To clarify, although in the past a Direct Debit could be used, currently, in order to take advantage of the cashback offer, a credit or debit card must be used.

katies_mum

Thank you.