Car Breakdown Discussion

icicles

Totally agree. Trying to renew AA breakdown & they will not lower extortionate price. The heavily published articles & surveys claiming victory with all the haggling have not helped so the company are now refusing to budge on price.

skija

Hi all

I just wanted to highlight an issue I was previously unaware of. I (perhaps foolishly) drive an Alfa Romeo. Incredibly, and much to my surprise (!) it had an electrical breakdown. I duly rang the AA who promised to try and fix it at the roadside, as per their usual spiel, and duly attended.

It transpires that they are not, in fact, able to fix many simple issues at the roadside as their computers do not interface with the car, so they have no way of interrogating the diagnostics on the car's computer. The nice patrolman told me this was a known problem, and tried to access it using other parameters (primarily trying to pretend it was a Fiat, which I guess it is).

In the end it would have been easier and cheaper for me to get a friend to tow me to a local garage, rather than being subjected to the whims of the patrolman, his rules on where to drop me and the prices of the franchised dealership to which I was taken (and left, incidentally, after hours on double yellow lines).

Anyway, I hope that's useful to you all? The AA aren't in the least bit interest that they probably mis-sold me my breakdown insurance and there's some loophole that takes it out of the remit of the FOS, so I hope this warns some of you in time before you make my mistake!

Stoke

So

AA vs RAC vs Green Flag

National Recovery vs Local Recovery?

Thoughts guys?

Stoke

Actually, I'm tempted take a punt on GEM Motoring Assist. Seems to have excellent reviews.

Crabman

skija wrote: »

Hi all

I just wanted to highlight an issue I was previously unaware of. I (perhaps foolishly) drive an Alfa Romeo. Incredibly, and much to my surprise (!) it had an electrical breakdown. I duly rang the AA who promised to try and fix it at the roadside, as per their usual spiel, and duly attended.

It transpires that they are not, in fact, able to fix many simple issues at the roadside as their computers do not interface with the car, so they have no way of interrogating the diagnostics on the car's computer. The nice patrolman told me this was a known problem, and tried to access it using other parameters (primarily trying to pretend it was a Fiat, which I guess it is).

In the end it would have been easier and cheaper for me to get a friend to tow me to a local garage, rather than being subjected to the whims of the patrolman, his rules on where to drop me and the prices of the franchised dealership to which I was taken (and left, incidentally, after hours on double yellow lines).

Anyway, I hope that's useful to you all? The AA aren't in the least bit interest that they probably mis-sold me my breakdown insurance and there's some loophole that takes it out of the remit of the FOS, so I hope this warns some of you in time before you make my mistake!

You should post a new thread on the following board and ask for help make a complaint:

Insurance & Life Assurance

If it's an insurance policy, the complaint can be dealt with by the FOS.

skidnote

Just phoned Quoteline Direct to renew my car breakdown insurance. They told me that the company they were using to provide it have gone bankrupt. So they not currently able to offer this. They apparently do intend to offer it again at some point in the future, when they can find a new provider.


It's a real shame as I thought their policy was excellent value for money. I suppose I'll have to try the Kwik Fit once mentioned - does anyone have any experience with it?

AndrewAfresh

[FONT=&quot]The article says "For basic cover for your vehicle only where breakdowns are more than a quarter of a mile from your home, AA cover* is £27.99/year" - it also says I will get £12.60 back if I click through to Topcashback (http://www.topcashback.co.uk/aa_uk_breakdown/?ihr=mse) - from there I clicked "Get cashback now" which takes me to the AA website with a column saying "Basic Breakdown Cover - buy now for £27.99 - No cashback available"[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]What am I doing wrong? Thank you if you can help me get the cashback X[/FONT]

Quentin

The article may be out of date - if the AA says no cashback on the basic cover you won't get any!

forgotmyname

Probably realised too many people get the basic cover for very little with the cashback so you need to get a more expensive policy to get cashback.

JenniferK

Green Flag

When taking out breakdown cover with Green Flag they forced me onto auto-renewal - no opt out. Means that at renewal one has to contact them to opt out and prevent them taking payment. Beware.