Breakdown cover: Get the cheapest roadside recovery

hello24

And there is a free iPhone app for that. Check out Breakdown in the Apple App Store.

Lube

hello24 :spam: user reported along with signature

Bibbitybob

I've just signed up for the RAC's basic package - £28 online plus £20 quidco cashback so £8 for the year. Think the cashback offer ends tonight though.

Alfred1

Hello everyone,
I understand that some of the recovery services also offer "legal assistance". Is this an adequate substitute for the "motor legal cover" that is an extra when you buy car insurance? If so, which recovery service would you recommend if legal assistance was required to be part of the package?
Best Wishes,
Alfred.

ps apologies if there is already a giant thread about this that I have missed.

lisyloo

From the brief decription it sounds like it may not be the same thing.
Legal assistance may refer to access to solicitors over the phone for advice but they won't act for you or write solicitors letters, just advise you over the phone.
Legal expenses insurance provides you insurance up to a limit e.g. 50K, for solicitors to fight your case on your behalf.

Do you have a link or the name of the company to whom you are referring and then we can say for sure?

Whether you need it at all is a whole different question because there are lots of "no win-no fee" solicitors available these days, so you don't have to have insurance. Personally I prefer to have it, but it's not a huge deal if you don't.

Alfred1

I think it was rescuemycar.com who were making a big thing about the legal advice service bundled with their recovery business, but the RAC also offer something, albeit for a £15 fee. I seem to recall a couple of others but can't bring the names to mind just now. Good point about no win no fee lawyers, though I've a feeling that the situation is a bit more complicated here in Scotland, and that the motor legal insurance policies will usually provide a temporary car if yours is written off.
Best Wishes
Alfred

lisyloo

I can't see it on rescuemycar.com but anything labelled as "advice" or "assistance" sounds like just that. So you get telephone advice but not a solicitor working on your case.

Legal expenses insurance from the RAC is different, they do cover legal costs so that is to pay for a solicitor working on your case, writing letters, dealing with courts or other insurers on your behalf if necessary etc.

Be aware thought that the £15 price is for a single person.

and that the motor legal insurance policies will usually provide a temporary car if yours is written off

Are you sure?
I don't know about Scotland, but normally legal expenses covers you for getting money from a third party. So if you wanted a car, then you'd have to get it yourself and claim the costs back from the 3rd party or their insurer.
This has risks when liability isn't clear and doesn't work when there isn't a 3rd party e.g. hit & run.
But perhaps you are talking about a different policy where this is offered.

Personally I get my policy here for £12, which cover all the vehicles in my household plus my home.
http://www.payless.me.uk/clubspecial.htm

Disclaimer: I have no idea whether this is suitable for Scotland or indeed for your cirumstances.

mikeys4u

drive24-7. com (Cant post real link! Please edit the dot!)

If you go to gocompare and ask for a quote you can get FULL cover for £29.95

I phoned the company up and had a chat with them, they are going to all other websites like confused.com very soon, before Feb.....

Can anyone beat this? I take a bow......lol

Bascule_2

I just thought I'd hi-light my experience here as the general view seems to be that the big ones don't reward loyalty.

I recently called the AA to cancel my membership after nearly 30 years and I was quizzed as to why so I mentioned that fact that I could get the same level of cover much more cheaply elsewhere. Within seconds I was advised that they could (almost) half my quarterly payments! :j

I feel a bit annoyed that I had to call them to get this. I now feel as though they have been taking more than should from me for who knows how long!

Still, I decided to stay with them as I don't mind paying a bit of a premium for the convenience of not having to "pay and claim".

So any AA (and possibly RAC) members out there who are paying the standard rate and have been with them for a long time - It's worth giving them a ring and seeing if you can get a better price.

willowse

A few months ago, I took the plunge and went with Autoaid, with such incredible recommendations about them, how could I not?

My car broke down. My car was towed home, costing over £500. I paid using my credit card, expecting to have the cheque from Autoaid in two weeks.

However...it's taken over five weeks for the cheque to arrive and the credit card company have charged interest.
-week 1-3: me chasing the breakdown recovery company for proof of purchase. They post a credit card sales receipt. I post this to Autoaid. Autoaid post a letter to me saying I need to chase the company for an invoice.

-week 4-5: Autoaid receive invoice and process claim. Then I'm told that they have to wait for the manager to be in the office to sign off the cheque as it's over £500.

-week 6: finally I have the cheque in the post but have to wait for it to clear in the bank before I can pay my credit card.

I'm not saying don't use Autoaid, I'm saying make an informed decision before you go ahead with them...