Roadside Assistance - Can i fight this?

AbigailStaffs

I have been a member of a very well known roadside assistance organistion for a number of years.
On friday I had a flat, no problem I thought I can call them and get them to change it. So I ring up and they ask the reg of my car and it turns out I had not informed them I had changed my car 12months ago. So I then had to pay £49 to get them to come out even after I had paid my annual sub. Furious with them. Does anyone know if there is anything I can do? I have lodged a complaint. But I was over a barrel and had to get home.

TadleyBaggie

Name and Shame. In all the times I've had such cover (RAC & AA), I've never ever had to inform them of vehicle details, as the cover is on the person. In fact I've even used my own cover when travelling as a passenger in someone elses car.

ariba10

Some insure the vehicle not the driver.

(It is cheaper that way)

ariba10

AbigailStaffs wrote: »

I have been a member of a very well known roadside assistance organistion for a number of years.
On friday I had a flat, no problem I thought I can call them and get them to change it. So I ring up and they ask the reg of my car and it turns out I had not informed them I had changed my car 12months ago. So I then had to pay £49 to get them to come out even after I had paid my annual sub. Furious with them. Does anyone know if there is anything I can do? I have lodged a complaint. But I was over a barrel and had to get home.

I doubt you will forget again.

sarahjayne1977

If you have a policy which is for car not person and you not changed your car details, even though you had the car 12 months surely the policy would have been up for renewal sometime after changing your car ?
I would say you not kept up with terms and conditions ie informing them of a change.
Plus you said you had to pay £49 quid for them to come out, that would have been your choice to pay it ? you could have just changed it yourself and saved yourself the money

vax2002

I can tell you it was not the AA, they dont do stunts like that, you do get what you pay for in breakdown insurance, the lesser companies are like poor insurance companies, they use terms and hidden clauses to get out of providing the insurance you pay for.
A friend of mine I was out with was refused help by one of these budget breakdown companies because he had two wheels on a grass verge !, only just on, so he said hang on ill push it off, sorry they said, you can not call us out for the same fault twice and left us stuck there , luckily I was in the AA, as a passenger they came out, fixed the car and away we went, it was only a relay for the fuel pump, £3 for the part which he had and off we go.
It was not even my car, which I explained, no problem they said, if you are a passenger we are on our way.

AbigailStaffs

I could not have changed the tyre myself
1) And never done it before
2) Even the AA man had to get a rubber mallett out to get the wheel off the axle and it took him 20mins.
I appreciate I could have not paid, but then how woud I have got home?

I have asked for a copy my TOBS, but surely £49 is over the top?

sarahjayne1977

you might find £49 quid is the standard charge for a one of call out charge for someone who is not with the company etc.
As they had a diffrent car covered, the car you were driving was not covered by them if you know what i mean. I would say you could try complaining but don't be suprised if nothing comes out if, not a cheap lesson but next time you will tell them of a change and next time maybe cover you not car.

I had a flat tyre once after finishing work and was 5 months pregnant, only hubby on policy and he was away with work so i was stuck, lucky i had mates to help me. But since then i am also covered so i learnt my lesson as such.

oldagetraveller

You probably have vehicle cover and not personal cover? http://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/uk-breakdown/view-covertypes.do
See page 13 of the terms and conditions booklet relating to vehicle cover. Remember if the vehicle you are in isn't the same as that registered it could be you are driving someone else's (in their eyes). I still think they're being a bit harsh though. Surely they could re-imburse if you can prove it was an oversight on your part and the vehicle was changed.
"Name and Shame. In all the times I've had such cover (RAC & AA), I've never ever had to inform them of vehicle details, as the cover is on the person. In fact I've even used my own cover when travelling as a passenger in someone elses car."
You will have personal cover.

System

vax2002 wrote: »

I can tell you it was not the AA, they dont do stunts like that, you do get what you pay for in breakdown insurance, the lesser companies are like poor insurance companies, they use terms and hidden clauses to get out of providing the insurance you pay for.
A friend of mine I was out with was refused help by one of these budget breakdown companies because he had two wheels on a grass verge !, only just on, so he said hang on ill push it off, sorry they said, you can not call us out for the same fault twice and left us stuck there , luckily I was in the AA, as a passenger they came out, fixed the car and away we went, it was only a relay for the fuel pump, £3 for the part which he had and off we go.
It was not even my car, which I explained, no problem they said, if you are a passenger we are on our way.

AA offer personal membership which is more expensive and covers any car you are in. They also offer vehicle specific membership which only covers the car you have named in your policy. This is significantly cheaper. I think if you phone AA on a vehicle specific membership when you are not in the vehicle you have specified then you won't get the quality of service that you received above!

peachyprice

vax2002 wrote: »

I can tell you it was not the AA, they dont do stunts like that, you do get what you pay for in breakdown insurance, the lesser companies are like poor insurance companies, they use terms and hidden clauses to get out of providing the insurance you pay for.

Seems it was the AA.

AbigailStaffs wrote: »

I could not have changed the tyre myself
1) And never done it before
2) Even the AA man had to get a rubber mallett out to get the wheel off the axle and it took him 20mins.
I appreciate I could have not paid, but then how woud I have got home?