Roadside Recovery: AutoAid Feedback

derrick

leighv wrote: »

I have just received the renewal on my top banana AA cover (Home Start - Relay and Relay Plus). It's shot from 125 to 175, so I'm looking at Autoaid.

Is it correct that they cover the person rather than the car (as I have both a car and a scooter).

Thanks in advance.

They cover the person and LEGAL spouse to drive any vehicle that is covered in their T&Cs

lisyloo

It does in general cover motorbikes but I recall that they are not covered below 100cc (please check the Ts&Cs) so it depends what cc your scooter is.

But in general, yes it's the person that is covered.

gem4

Just had my renewal reminder for GreenFlag - £47, thats just for Rescue.
It expires in Mid Sept and my Car Insurance expires Mid Oct. Should I go for AutoAid instead of GreenFlag or forget them both and just go for an Insurance Policy with breakdown included?

AutoAid sounds good but not sure I understand how it works entirely. Is this right? I break down, I ring them, they send someone to recover me and car, I pay him, he gives me reciept, I claim full amount of receipt back from AutoAid? This doesn't include the cost of the repair logically, so how do I separate the cost of the repair from the recovery or is it on two separate bills? I'm a bit dense when it comes to this stuff.

I've paid RAC hundreds of ££'s in the past 20 odd years and called them only twice, and been with Green Flag for the last 2 yrs. I'm thinking its time for another change. I cant afford the £47 at the moment and I haven't had cause to call out anyone in about 12 years but if I didnt have any cover you could bet I would surely break down. :rolleyes:

How does AutoAid compare with my GreenFlag rescue cover? I dont use the car very often, but 3 long journeys per year are my worries.

meno_2

gem4 wrote: »

Is this right? I break down, I ring them, they send someone to recover me and car, I pay him, he gives me reciept, I claim full amount of receipt back from AutoAid? This doesn't include the cost of the repair logically, so how do I separate the cost of the repair from the recovery or is it on two separate bills? I'm a bit dense when it comes to this stuff. .

Why would you have a repair and a recovery? if your car is repaired it wont need recovery, and if its recovered it hasnt been repaired?

Anyway, yes thats correct but you dont need to call them to arrange repair/recovery you can arrange it yourself

gristleboy

:mad: Copy of letter sent to Auto Aid:

1. On 6 Jul 07 I submitted a claim for the recovery of my car *****YOH when it broke down. I phoned at the end of July and was told that the cheque had been posted to me; it never turned up. I was told to submit a letter cancelling the first cheque and requesting another.

2. When I phoned to see if my letter dated 07 Aug 07 had arrived I was told that there was no trace of it. I was told to submit an e-mail, which I did on 21 Aug 07 again requesting that you issue a second cheque and also requested that you send the second cheque via Recorded Delivery so it would not go missing in the post. I also sent a contact form to you requesting that you reissue the cheque. I received a message on my phone to say that a cheque would be sent.

3. I phoned last week to be told that a second cheque had been issued on 29 Aug 07, that also has not turned up. I find it very strange now that 2 cheques and one letter to/from your company have ‘disappeared’. If I were to be cynical it would be easy for me to assume that after the first couple of attempts you would think that I would give up. I can understand 1 item not turning up but 3 is not a coincidence, someone is not doing their job.

4. I would be grateful if you would now cancel the second cheque as it appears that that also has disappeared in the mail and re-issue one for the same amount. You can appreciate that this is all very tiresome for me to have to keep chasing. My correct address is shown above, I have previously checked to make sure that you hold it correctly. I am sending this letter Recorded Delivery so that I know you have received it. I am copying this letter to the Chief Executive of Equity Red Star Motor Policies at Lloyd’s as I am very unhappy with the level of service I have received and have already placed an item on a forum on the Martin Lewis Money Saver website detailing my experiences to date.

I wait and see if the 3rd cheque turns up

quickstepqueen

meno wrote: »

Why would you have a repair and a recovery? if your car is repaired it wont need recovery, and if its recovered it hasnt been repaired?

Anyway, yes thats correct but you dont need to call them to arrange repair/recovery you can arrange it yourself

Hi, I think what gem4 was asking, was that if she had her car recovered and it was taken to a local garage, and they also repaired the car, would the garage issue a reciept for the recovery and repairs, or could they do 2 seperate bills.

I've not claimed with Autoaid so I cannot answer this but maybe someone who has had to claim in such a way could provide the answer. In general though gem4 the way you described the process is as it says in the handbook. As Meno says though, sometimes people will call a garage direct and then just send in the claim with the receipt. (Am assuming though that Autoaid have some sort of list of garages that you can use.)

To gristleboy.....I understand your frustrations though in this case it may be the fault of Royal Mail.

I had something similar happen with a Post Office cheque refund! When I heard nothing from my initial complaint I rang them and they said a cheque had been sent. I'd not received it. They issued a second cheque (I even spoke to the person who put the cheque inside the envelope)...this didn't arrive either despite having the correct address. In the end the Post Office had it sent to my local Post Office and I had to take ID with me to collect it from there, but surely this shows that even the Post Office can't trust Royal Mail. I would lodge a complaint with Royal Mail as we did (though nothing came of it...surprisingly!!! :rolleyes: )

I can understand why you are annoyed, I was with the Post Office, but I would suggest contacting Royal Mail aswell.

mrs_baggins

Have only been with them a couple of months when my car broke down. Managed to get home which I thought after may have been a bad idea as I could not remember if they covered me from home or not.Also when I was almost home the power steering went. Called the man who does my car and he asked if I could get the car towed to him. It was 5pm by this time. I called auto aid and explained waiting for them to refuse but they didnt. as time was getting on I called them back at 7am the next morning to arrange a tow vehicle. It came within 45 minutes and I paid the chappie and today about 7 days later I have just receive a cheque for the amount I had to pay. So a big thumbs up to AutoAid!!:D

don9999

I have used Autoaid for several years.

Last year my car broke down TWICE and on each occasion I had to contact Autoaid - I believe that you are allowed just to call a local garage, but since I was stuck in the middle of nowhere, far from home, I contacted Autoaid's own help number.

On each occasion because I was far from home I had to be put on the back of a low-loader and carried to a garage local to my house. In each case this involved traveling several hundred miles - I live in wales, but had broke down first near Portsmouth, and the second time near Derby.

Both claims were for over £300.

Both claims were paid in full, by cheque, within a few weeks. No questions asked.

I have recently renewed my membership with Autoaid.

In MY experience I have had no problems at all, and I am happy to recommend them.

Cheers,
Don

mariauk

I have also taken out Auto Aid cover and had to call them out. I was local and got a puncture and didn`t have my jack etc in the car. The guy turned up within 20 minutes and Auto aid paid them direct. I would and have recommended them and think that it`s on a very rare occasion that things go wrong with them compared to how many people who have have no problems at all.

Maria

meno_2

AutoAid have a list of recovery agents, if you use a garage they dont have listed and they are happy with the service/price they add they to their list, so they told me