Breakdown cover: Get the cheapest roadside recovery

jackyw

I've just bought a Europe Assistance breakdown package through Quoteline, linking through to it from this site.

READERS BEWARE: NO CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS WERE SUPPLIED OR EVIDENT ANYWHERE ONCE THE POLICY IS BOUGHT.

No customer service no.
No phone numbers to call when you've broken down and need to use the service!!!!!!!
The certificate of insurance has the wording: 'IN THE UK THE NUMBER IS' but is left blank!
The policy document able to be downloaded from the Quoteline website is not the same one supplied by Europe Assistance, as it is missing the cover and back pages which carry the phone numbers.

Had I not spotted it, I could have been left stranded with no way of getting help.

I think it is appalling.

Jacky

leadhead

Gotrek wrote: »

Kinda surprised about the bad reviews for First Call, I've found them excellent. £32 for full roadside assistance and recovery. Ive had to use them twice and have recently signed up for a third year with them.

2 callouts, 1 when my Mondeo cam belt snapped on a dual carriageway, (wrote off the engine) & 1 when I hit an ice patch on the carpark where I work and smashed the front end of an escort into a metal bollard (didn't mark the bollard but destroyed my radiator and bent the front up pretty badly). On both occasions the appointed breakdown van arrived within the hour, as stated, took the car back to my home (my choice), no problems or issues. The person I phoned was efficient and helpful, as were the drivers. I'm happy with them. And NO, I don't have any connection with them except as a paying customer.

I guess I must be lucky I think I'll stick with First Call thanks.

Just my opinion based on first hand experience :cool:

I can also vouch for First Call, having also been with them 3 years and used them three times, without problems...

I am now looking for either a 16 day cover to Ireland(Republic of) or a full years European Cover.....First Call want to charge me the full £44 for the remaining 6 months of my policy to upgrade to European, or i cancel my policy (no rebate, but only a £16 loss) and take out a full years cover for £76...

CPJames19

Just thought I'd let you know. Just bought Swinton UK & Home breakdown with onward travel. It was £75 for 12 months compared to £140+ for the same level cover with the RAC.

squink

Can anyone comment on how good Autonational is? ie. as the cheapest company I can see for older cars (calc. £49.50 for their Total Super Service for 15m, with their 25% NCD) - don't want to use and get my fingers burnt if they're dreadful....

littlebee100

squink wrote: »

Can anyone comment on how good Autonational is? ie. as the cheapest company I can see for older cars (calc. £49.50 for their Total Super Service for 15m, with their 25% NCD) - don't want to use and get my fingers burnt if they're dreadful....

im looking at them too? anyone used them???

mallard

Hi - have been with autonational on and off for quite a few years as have others in the family. Autonational use, like others, local garage breakdown and recovery but the service has always been excellent and friendly - that includes the call centre and the breakdown guys. They turn up when they say they will and usually within 30 mins. Plus they have always paid back quickly.

So all in all i rate them quite highly but went with First call this year (only because i got a better deal through cashback).

lisyloo

I called out First call in 2004 (now with AutoAid).
The local operator sent a text to say they were coming which was helpful.
They also dropped off our (disabled) parents on the way which they were not obliged to do.

instaunt

The thing is, when you sign up you see a big number of available recovery vehicles "across the country" ... but no mention of where those vehicles are. I'll tell you, there aren't a whole lot round where I live and after 2 hours of waiting and calling I eventually gave up and walked home after calling a local garage to come pick it up. I got a call a further 3 hours later asking where I was ... where I was?!

dirtmother

Sorry if this has already been covered...

I was going to cancel my RAC policy (we prefer personal cf car cover) and take out a new one with them as cheaper, but according to their call centre they won't let you do that for 120 days. No idea if it was true but no haggling required to get the new price, and quicker as I was already on the phone (and apparently retained NCD benefits). If it is true, I am very glad I told the truth about why I wasn't renewing!

leadhead

lisyloo wrote: »

I called out First call in 2004 (now with AutoAid).
The local operator sent a text to say they were coming which was helpful.
They also dropped off our (disabled) parents on the way which they were not obliged to do.

Ive been with First Call for 3 years, and called them out 3 times, cambelt snapped, alternator died, battery failure, each time, their service was within time and spot on....I am now looking for 17 day European Breakdown/Recovery cover, but dont want to pay the full year's subscription that First Call want...I'm only going to Ireland...Republic that is.

Any advice?...£32 is the cheapest I can find for the 17 days...I dont plan to drive in Europe again in the next 12 months..so a yearly policy isnt worth it...